Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Any simple family cookbooks anyone could recommend please?

47 replies

wooga · 03/02/2009 12:34

The only books I have are old Christmas presents with fussy recipes in-like Delia Smith!

Classic and simple recipes that aren't too expensive or could be frozen would be great.

OP posts:
LightShinesInTheDarkness · 03/02/2009 12:36

Jamie Smith's Ministry of Food has been heavily recommended here. I really like Rachel Allen. Delia is my staple though!!

Nothing I have tried from James Martin has ever worked.

Twims · 03/02/2009 12:37

JO's ministry of food is pretty good

MaplePecanPlait · 03/02/2009 12:38

Had a really nice GAry Rhodes book from the library. Why not go and have a look there and then buy one.

SweetestThing · 03/02/2009 12:38

Another vote for Ministry of Food.

And if you can get hold of the original Good Housekeeping cookbook, it's brilliant.

RubyRioja · 03/02/2009 12:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

squeaver · 03/02/2009 12:39

Oh I immediately thought of Jamie Oliver's new boo but you all beat me to it. It really is good.

My dh also swears by this Gary Rhodes book

hannahsaunt · 03/02/2009 12:44

JO's Jamie's Dinners is fantastic - we use it a lot along with Nigella Express and the original Delia.

NonStopChatter · 03/02/2009 12:46

Jamies MOF is excellent, got me cooking from scratch.l Havent made a bad recipe yet

mamadiva · 03/02/2009 12:57

I have been looking at Jamies MOF too some of the recipes sound lovely and most of all easy!!!

Its £10 delivered on Amazon.

christywhisty · 03/02/2009 13:03

Delia Smith's cookery course taught me to cook and didn't find it fussy, but brilliant to learn basic cookery.
Have got in a rut lately so bought Jamie Oliver MOF, which is just really an updated version of the Delia book.

I got it last week and have made the Chicken Korma and the Minced Beef Wellington.My DCs and DH loved both of them.

snice · 03/02/2009 13:12

WHSmith were selling a Good Housekeeping Family Cook Book for £5 (on offer from £25)last week

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 03/02/2009 13:13

If you want a nuts and bolts bible for cooking pretty much most stuff, then Mary Berry's Complete Cookbook is AWESOME. Both DH and I love cooking and have loads of recipe books, but it's pretty much this one that we both fall back on. Have recommended it to a few friends and they've all said the same....

misspollysdolly · 03/02/2009 13:14

Also putting in a good word for Delia's Complete Cookery course...very thorough but everything I do from it works!

NoIAmTheNewQueenofMN · 03/02/2009 13:15

Can't beat Ministry of Food. Have tried loads of the recipes and they are easy and not too expensive to put together either.

Had the pork stew last night - it was flippin' lovely! As JO would say.

M44 · 04/02/2009 08:33

I would definitely second the original Good Housekeeping cookbook- mine is bound together with gaffer tape! Don't buy the gold cover version though-it is not as good at all.Mary Berry for cakes and Delia complete cookery course is totally reliable- not her latest attempts!

midnightexpress · 04/02/2009 08:36

I've got a really nice book called 'Eat Up' - hang on I'll try and get a link...

here

I really like this - the recipes are good and my children eat most things that I cook from it.

Hugh Fearnly-Wotsit has also done a family cookbook, but I don't know if it's any good - River Cottage FAmily Cookbook I think it's called.

lottiejenkins · 04/02/2009 08:46

I'll second Mary Berry!! I adore her Fast Cakes book too.

troutpout · 04/02/2009 09:00

The dairy book of home cooking. If you can get hold of a copy..it's well worth the money.

ZacharyQuack · 04/02/2009 09:10

Jamie's Ministry of Food and Jamie's Dinners are both fantastic.
Nigella's How to Eat
Jill Dupliex Old Food (aka Favourite Food) is very well used here
Nigel Slater Appetite, Real Fast Food and 30 Minute Meals are all good
The Dinner Lady

TrillianAstra · 04/02/2009 09:17

MN recommended How to Feed Your Whole Family a Healthy Balanced Diet, with Very Little Money and Hardly Any Time, Even If You Have a Tiny Kitchen, Only Three Saucepans ... - Unless You Count the Garlic Crusher..., which I have ordered and hopefully will be arriving soon. So I don't know if it's any good yet.

Original poster
wooga · 04/02/2009 13:32

Thank you for your suggestions.

I have ordered Jamie Oliver's MOF and the Good Housekeeping book to try out.

I've got stuck in a rut with my cooking(or lack of it)lately,it'll be good to start enjoying it again-I loved H.E. at school!

OP posts:
karala · 04/02/2009 13:47

Can I also add my support for the very basic Delia Complete Cookery Course - taught me to cook.

CharleeheartsherChains · 04/02/2009 13:48

MN recommended How to Feed Your Whole Family a Healthy Balanced Diet, with Very Little Money and Hardly Any Time, Even If You Have a Tiny Kitchen, Only Three Saucepans ... - Unless You Count the Garlic Crusher..., which I have ordered and hopefully will be arriving soon. So I don't know if it's any good yet.

Isn't that written by a Mumsnetter?

laumiere · 04/02/2009 14:32

I love the Green Light GI cookbook by Rick Gallop, you can pick it up for £2 on Amazon marketplace and it's great if you want to keep your family's sugar intake down. My lot love the meatball and pasta sauce recipes.

MuppetsMuggle · 04/02/2009 14:38

we like MOF too, also like James Martin too

Swipe left for the next trending thread