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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:
EsmeWeatherwax · 04/02/2009 14:46

"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"

I have this, and its very good!

ohdearwhatamess · 04/02/2009 14:47

Apple Cake from 'How to Feed....' is really yummy.

apsie · 04/02/2009 15:04

I got Rachel Allen's Favourite Food at Home for Christmas and it's great - simple stuff, but tasty and some different ideas, very much aimed at families with children.

TrillianAstra · 04/02/2009 15:09

I didn't mean MN officially recommends, just that some MNers (whose names I can't remember at the moment) said it was good.

If it is written by an MNer then does that mean it's all a big con and I'm getting recommendations so they'll get more royalties or does it make it even better ?

kneedeepinthedirtylaundry · 27/10/2009 18:14

If you like indian food try "Cooking with my Indian Mother-in-law" ? proper Indian home cooking, and lots of recipes can be done quick as they are everyday recipes. It was nominated for a Cookery Book of the Year award this year by the guild of food writers. Take out the chillies and most of the recipes are very kid friendly.

Eeek · 27/10/2009 18:30

The "Simply..." range from the BBC are really good. I was recommended the French one by a french friend and it's great. I've also got the Indian and Mediteranean. They also have Italian, Chinese, etc. At about £6 each they're worth a try.

Maria2007 · 27/10/2009 18:35

I like all of nigella's books actually, but I think 'how to eat' is the best, & has a section on cooking for/with children which is excellent. Her 'feast' is also lovely although you wouldn't describe it as a 'basic' family cookbook.

LittleSarah · 27/10/2009 18:39

Scanned and nobody appears to have said Nigel Slater, so I shall say; NIGEL SLATER!

Simple, glorious grub!

Real Food annd Real Cooking are fab for hearty, homely stuff.

henryhuggins · 27/10/2009 18:40

ministry of food is great, use it a lot

popmum · 27/10/2009 18:50

i think the bbc good food The Family Meal Planner: Thrifty Recipes and 7-day Meal Plans to Help You Save Time and Money is ab fab! I have it and use it all the time....
Product Description from amazon
"The Good Food Family Meal Planner" will help you to save time and money and reduce waste - three of our biggest and most timely concerns. Most cookbooks are arranged around type of dish or ingredient, but this book is structured around 5 types of meal which will give you 7 days' worth of dishes. The first chapter covers batch meals, which will provide you with enough food for another day. Chapter 2 is full of speedy weekday supper recipes - quick-and-easy meals that can be made in under 20 minutes, but also include a significant leftover ingredient that will form the basis of the next day's meal. Budget suppers use a smaller number of ingredients, while storecupboard and freezer meals are based on ingredients that you should have handy - meals you can create on short notice. Weekend feasts are more leisurely recipes, including ideas for entertaining, while the final chapter will offer over 25 seven-day meal plans based on the recipes in this book. And even if you don't follow a meal planner in its entirety, you can choose which meal is most appropriate for your needs. Also included within each chapter are handy features on freezing and defrosting, creating a storecupboard of essential ingredients, making the most of seasonal flavours and recipes for breads, stocks and sauces. This is the cookbook that every family needs, one that you will turn to week after week.

Earthstar · 27/10/2009 18:53

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...,

I have this book - it is utter crap imo and FFP to anyone if I haven't already sent it to the charity shop

Maria2007 · 28/10/2009 13:08

I'm afraid I have to agree with Earthstar. I also didn't like 'How to feed your whole family etc'. It mainly contains very basic family meals e.g. shepherd's pie etc, so for someone who is already used to cooking regularly it's not that inspiring. It doesn't have photos & the writing is ok but not great. I suppose for someone though whose cooking skills are very basic it might be OK. I guess what I'm trying to say is that in its category there are much better books.

I second what LittleSarah said btw, Nigel Slater is fantastic. His Appetite & his Kitchen diaries are my favourites.

TheBlairSnitchProject · 28/10/2009 13:25

Jamie's MOF and Nigel Slater are good (although Nigel goes for taste over health a lot of the time IMO)

I also like Fay's Family Food She has good suggestions on how to make one recipe that will feed the whole family from babies to adults with just a bit of mashing/seasoning at the table which makes life a lot easier!

Maria2007 · 28/10/2009 13:35

I agree about MOF, it's good & user friendly.

One thing about Nigel Slater. Much as I love reading his books (they make wonderful bedtime reading IMO ) for some strange reason I don't much cook from them. Don't know why. I cook all the time from Jamie's / Nigella's books (especially Nigella's whose recipes just seem to work every time) but not Nigel's... Wonder why that is.

sheeplikessleep · 28/10/2009 13:41

My sister has asked for the Fay Ripley book ('Fays Family Food') as a pressie for her birthday. I had a quick scan through when it arrived and it looked fab, really I'm tempted to get it for myself. Easy recipes, designed for whole family, from babies up.

NL3 · 28/10/2009 13:46

this is the one cookbook I would rescue in a house fire.
Stronly recommend it.

minimoonumbertwo · 28/10/2009 13:46

oh no what am i doing wrong? Got MOF but the couple of things i've made have been horrid (am generally a good cook!) the mince beef pie thing was grey & watery and the tikka salmon was just odd. What's going wrong?!? (sorry to hijack with my inadequacies!!)

NL3 · 28/10/2009 13:47

oops, "strongly"

PoppyIsApain · 28/10/2009 13:57

womens weekly ones are good

nannynick · 31/12/2009 10:32

Postman has just delivered: The Nursery Cookery Book (published in 1929). As yet I can not recommend it, as I haven't tried out the recipes but hope to do so in the near future, so will report back.
I prefer the older cookery books, they seem to keep things more simple.
The author says "food wants to be very simply cooked, but it must be nicely done." Quite agree, that's the sort of thing I am looking for in a cookbook, nice simple things.

Fifichef · 13/01/2010 20:47

A friend of mine has just loaned me a preview copy of a smashing family cookbook which is due out at the beginning of February - Favourite Family Food - Home Cooking. It is basic and simple - some mums might say it's for idiots but it is the ideal thing if you are not that confident in the kitchen or are learning to cook. It is full of simple, practical advice as well as everyday family recipes for anyone who wants to feed their family well. You will find that it is laid out in a very easily followed format and does not involve alot of comlicated ingredients. It will help you to have a weekly menu of affordable, tasty and nutritious meals that the whole family will enjoy.

asteri · 28/04/2010 11:31

Rachel Allens Home cooking is like, my bible at the minute

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