Top Cookery Books

[Oola]

Got a cookery book you'd like to recommend? Then add it to the list! :)

Mine are:

1. Delia Smith's How to Cook Vol I-III
Just a great way to really get to grip with the fundamentals

2. Delia's Vegetarian Collection

3. Women's Institute Cakes & Bakes

4. Women's Institute Jams & Chutneys
Both WI books are full of modern twists and old favourites, great for flicking through on a rainy day for something interesting to do.

5. Delia's Complete Cookery Course
This is an old family favourite - we don't have an obsession with Delia, she just seems to have some great recipes and basics that stand the test of time. Mum's version of this book has been passed around and is well-thumbed, but well-loved!

[franbee]

I rely on my Be-ro book for baking, and if it's not in there, it'll be in the Stork book. Don't use a lot of cookery books any more, most stuff's in my head!

[fife]

nigella lawsons how to eat.

jamie olivers jamies dinners

nigella lawsons feast

rachel allens favourite food

[sheddie]

I use old cookery books that I find on my travels, some of the recipies used to be so simple, with far less expensive ingredients.

[SummerSkye]

Hi Oola, collecting cookery books is another fetish of mine, I have bookcases full. I really love old ones from the 40's and 50's, have my Mum's Good Housekeeping from '51.
For reference I use Stephanie Alexander's "A Cook's Companion". I also love Stephanie's "Cooking and Travelling in Sth West France" which is not so much a cookery book but an account of cooking.
I have all of Jaime Oliver's which are a good read and I do like Nigella Lawson as her recipes are almost aways failproof.

[Oola]

I've heard that Nigella's How to Eat is a really good book, it's something I've considered buying. However, I was a bit put off her when she starting rattling on about foie gras.

I have Jamie Oliver's 'Jamie's Kitchen' book, it's ok and quite a good read but I've yet to try any of the recipes from there. His 'Cook Your Way to the Good Life' looks good.

I'd love to see some recipes from days of yore. Nannie and Mum both keep old handwritten recipe books - it's something I want to start doing. I end up printing recipes off the Internet, or making photocopies from books and ending up with bits of paper all over the kitchen. I also want to transfer the recipes written down here on RM into a handwritten book. I was thinking about creating special printable recipe cards for the RM website too.

I haven't heard of Stephanie Alexander - will look into her. Also no one has mentioned James Martin, his puds always look delicious (a bit like him).

[jazzactivist]

I have found that Nigella Lawson's Feast doesn't actually serve the amount of people that it says - or maybe it's just the gutsy people I know!

My favourite cookery books are:

Madhur Jaffrey - Indian Cookery (good, basic, Indian food)
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - The River Cottage Year (great seasonal recipes)
Rose Elliot - The Bean Book (a classic reissue for vegetarian pulses)
Claudia Roden - Tamarind and Saffron (Middle Esatern cookery)
The What's Cooking: Potatoes - cheap and basic with lots of useful potato recipes
The Covent Garden Soup Book - lovely soups divided into thoughtful categories

[Oola]

I've got an Indian cook book but I don't get it out really. I should do, seeing as there's so many vegetarian curries. I also love north african vegetarian food, I ADORE chickpeas and love veggie tajines. I'm growing aubergines this year and will probably be getting some north african cook books out of the library for ideas.

Pulses are also a favourite of mine, I love the way they're used in Mexican dishes. I might look into that book jazz, I want to expand my beany horizons beyond baked beans, chickpeas, pinto and kidney beans!

Summerskye have you got Jamie's latest book? I think it's called Jamie at Home (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamie-Home-Cook-Your-Good/dp/0718152433/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203274488&sr=8-1) and accompanies his recent TV series.

[SummerSkye]

Hi Oola, no I haven't bought that one as yet, we just had the series here on TV and I missed half of them as with daylight saving don't make it inside by 7.30pm. He is entertaining to watch although I admit like you I haven't actually tried any of his recipes.
Jazz, I have Madhur Jaffrey too and Claudia Roden's The Food of Italy which I love!

[Healing Hands]

Jamie Oliver At Home...brill

Nigella Lawson Express...brill for something quick but also fresh

Like the sound of the WI cook books.

[Healing Hands]

I forgot to add to my list of good cookery books

The French Kitchen By Joanne Harris and Fran Warde. Not only is it a good book but it also has lovely photos in there are well. A lot of the food is good french rustic cooking and quite easy to make.

[fife]

Oola if you do ever get the book how to eat by nigella there is a brilliant recipe for veggie steak sandwich let me know if you want it and i will dig it out for you?

Fife

[Oola]

Yes please fife! Sounds intriguing :)

[fife]

Mushroom steak sandwich - taken from nigella lawson how to eat 1998

Get a flat field mushroom, put it in a preheated oven 200c gas mark 6 covered with butter, chopped garlic and flat leaf parsley for about 20 mins; when ready, and garlicky, buttery juices are oozing with black, cut open small ciabatta roll and wipe the sides all over the roasting tin to soak up the juices. Smear with dijon mustard, top with the mushroom, squeeze with lemon juice, sprinkle some salt and add some chopped lettuce.

Im having this for my tea tonight it has to be tried!!

Enjoy Fife

[JacquiMcR]

Rachel allens - Favourite food at home, Favourite food for friends and Favourite food. All three books are great. The use things that you will have in the cupboard, that are simple to prepare and that are delicious. Even my kids like these books.

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstalls family cookbook which again is very hands on and child friendly with a little supervision.