Not sure I like the sound of Delia's new book, it seems to be going against the trend

[Overrun]

I am bit amazed at all her recommendations, they are so specific, does any one else think she might not be totally unbiased? Most supermarkets are covered.
I admit I haven't read it, but there have been so many articles out about it, I feel as if I had.
Does any one else have any pithy thoughts on this?

Lol at nails too long for crumble!!!

I am always amazed by tv cooks, with long nails and lots of rings, making bread dough and crumble. Their hands never look messy enough to me, as if they have put their hands in the dough, but not really got stuck in. Probably the behind the scenes cook who does that

My mum is thrilled at the thought of this book. Ironically, she has bought it but not yet read it (although she has read the extracts and hype in The Mail ). I'm horribly afraid she is going to buy it for me. I have no objection to convenience cooking and don't even give a shit at the thought of the odd sausage roll but why cheat at food? Apparently this book is marketed at busy, working people who still want to eat tasty food.

I am a busy, working mum of 3 but tinned mince is not something I would ever buy. If you are busy, you cook simple soups (20 mins), eggs, baked potatoes, pasta, you do not buy overpriced, additive laden shit and add a slug of this or that to tart it up.

Shame on you Delia and I'm disappointed - I really liked most of your other books, if you're reading this. And another recommendation for Nigel Slater's 30 minute recipes. Real Food and fabulous.

Haven't read the whole thread but I received this book as a gift and am a bit disappointed. What bothers me most is that the dishes are expensive, create a lot of waste from packaging, and take ages to shop for.

Usually when I follow recipes I simplify them - with this book I do the opposite, ie boil my own lentils instead of opening a tin!

I tried four different shops to track down the stupid Indonesian spice mix and ended up using ordinary curry powder...

I don't know what the general view of Nigella Express is among MNetters but personally I much prefer it to this.

Oxocube - I too am worried that some well meaning relative might give me this as a gift.
Nature love, its good to have a review from some one who has tried the book. I agree with you, and think it is madness in this day and age of trying to shop more ethically, to be going to 4 different shops, to get heavily wrapped items for one recipe.

that she or her advisors didn't think how out of date this premise is

I saw an advert at the railway station today and it said something like 'No-one makes pastry any more, not even Delia.'
Now, not making puff I can understand, but shortcrust only takes a few minutes in a blender - I find it easier to do that with the flour and fat I generally have in than to remember to buy and defrost frozen ffs!
She doesn't seem very good at a middle ground, because in one of her old books she says you shouldn't make pastry in a blender because it's too heavy
It's like, she makes it out to be harder and more time-consuming than it is, then makes a wodge of cash from telling people not to bother their pretty little heads about it.

Naturelover - I am finding Nigella is not 100% reliable but it does have some great ideas and it is at least real cooking - when she says it's easy it really is.

I think it's a bit of a misjudgement. It's not Delia if you know what I mean. The point of a Delia recipe is that it works. Whether it's a Christmas cake or a boiled egg, if you do what she tells you it will turn out okay. All this grab a bit of this and that isn't her somehow.

I agree NKF.

The point of a cookery book is that it should empower you. That's why Jamie is such a saint (IMHO!) because he gives you the confidence to have a go. Delia's new book seems to be saying 'Real cooking's really hard, why bother?'