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  • #1

    Help wanted with cookbook recommendation!

    Does anyone have a recommendation for a basic cookery book?

    We want to get SIL a book to help her as she is starting to get into cooking normal food, rather than eating whatever Iceland have on offer.

    She has basic cookery skills, and limited money and 2 little kiddlies to feed.

    I've looked through some that I have, but I think Nigella is a bit fancy for her, Jamie has too many ingredients and Delia is a bit too posh (even her back to basics stuff)

    Any ideas gang??
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  • #2
    I found this one pretty useful when I was starting:

    Cooking Basics (Hamlyn Cookery): Amazon.co.uk: Books (And it's from £0.63 in the 'New & Used section!)
    It contains a load of good recipies, whilst also including sections on how to make stock, white sauces, butters and different ways to cook an egg.

    I also found this one quite good, although I don't think I've ever had a cookery book that I've done more than 5 recipies from. I'm really picky (and have far too many books now!)
    THE COMPLETE QUICK SHORT RECIPE COLLECTION Cookery: Amazon.co.uk: various: Books
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    • #3
      Are you sure Jamie Oliver's Food Factory book wouldn't be useful? One or two young people I know have learned basics from it.
      Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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      • #4
        Annabel Karmel is the queen of cooking for families with children. She does lots of fun stuff that the children can get involved with - and it is very easy. She has a book called the Family Meal Planner which is really very good. Not all of it is hot/cooked food ideas as well - so you SIL could have 'easy days'.
        Having had 2 kitchen fires I gave up on cooking until I was about 30ish. Then we moved here where there is an aga - much more forgiving . I used Mary Berry's aga book to learn how to cook (very simple, straightforward)..but, I don't know whether she covers conventional cookers.

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        • #5
          I know you said no to Jamie but one of the very best books I've used and recommended is Jamie Olivers Ministry of Food.

          Good 'proper' back to basics food...shepherds pies, mash potatoes, stews etc...really nice, simple recipes without too many ingredients

          http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamies-Minis...9245718&sr=8-1
          Last edited by Curvy Vixen; 26-11-2009, 02:44 PM.

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          • #6
            I was bought a couple of books last Christmas

            1 - Womans Weekly complete book of Everyday Classics
            and 2 - Good Food The Collection.

            Each book has hundreds of recipes and some are simple one-pot suppers, roasts etc as well as puds and cakes.

            Perhaps offer to help her shop a couple of times to help her get the most out of her money?

            We have a a junk/chips food night once a week or so.
            Last edited by kirsty b; 26-11-2009, 03:40 PM.
            Kirsty b xx

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            • #7
              My eldest son has Jamie's Ministry of Food and he loves it. If a 15 year old can do it then...?
              My favourite was a Good Housekeeping Basics book, it tells you how long to cook meat for and lots of other handy basics. I'll see if I can find it for the ISBN number...

              EDIT: This is it on Amazon, doesn't seem to be available new anymore
              http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Houseke...9249224&sr=1-1
              Last edited by SarzWix; 26-11-2009, 03:43 PM.

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              • #8
                I'd vote Ministry of Food too, it is 'back to basics' with an eye on costs too
                Hayley B

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                • #9
                  I've found this one really good. It's american, so there might be a few unfamiliar dishes, but there are some really fabulous (and cheap) recipes in it. If I could only have one book (from the many on my shelf) I might pick this one.

                  More-with-less Cook Book: Amazon.co.uk: Doris Janzen Longacre: Books
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                  • #10
                    IF you can find it in the second hand shops (or maybe there is an up to date version available) "The Good Housekeeping Step by Step Cookbook" is absolutley fantastic. Does everything from how to boil an egg / potato right up to the full gastronomic delights you would expect. PLUS it tells you how to store / freeze all your own homegrown stuff.

                    Managed to pick up a copy from an Oxfam shop for a friend for a fiver.

                    Wouldn't be without it.
                    Last edited by dogsbody; 26-11-2009, 06:20 PM. Reason: cannot type write
                    The cats' valet.

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                    • #11
                      Ok so it's not the Food Factory wot Jamie wrote! Sorry, I did mean the Ministry, just having a senior moment there.
                      Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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                      • #12
                        What about this one?


                        The River Cottage Family Cookbook: Amazon.co.uk: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Fizz Carr: Books

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                        • #13
                          I am a cook ( or chef if I'm feeling posh)
                          I think one of the best cookery books I've seen is 'The Cookery Year ' by Readers Digest
                          It was quite expensive when new, but it has been out of print for a long time, so look in charity shops & secondhand bookshops, it is usually about 3 or 4 pounds
                          It is in landscape format and has a distinctive greeny brown cover nade up from a picture of vegetables, lentils and so on
                          As it is for a present, and is obviously secondhand you could also get a new, simpler basic cookbook

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by geoff View Post
                            I am a cook ( or chef if I'm feeling posh)
                            I think one of the best cookery books I've seen is 'The Cookery Year ' by Readers Digest
                            It was quite expensive when new, but it has been out of print for a long time, so look in charity shops & secondhand bookshops, it is usually about 3 or 4 pounds
                            It is in landscape format and has a distinctive greeny brown cover nade up from a picture of vegetables, lentils and so on
                            As it is for a present, and is obviously secondhand you could also get a new, simpler basic cookbook
                            Yes, great book. Got mine in a charity shop for a few quid - money very well spent!
                            All at once I hear your voice
                            And time just slips away
                            Bonnie Raitt

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                            • #15
                              The Dairy Book of Home Cookery: New Edition for the Nineties: Amazon.co.uk: Sheelagh Donovan, Helen Mott: Books

                              Me and the missus really like this one, or Hamlyn cookbooks are great too.

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