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What are your favourite Cookery Books and why?


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Old 05-02-2013, 22:34
PixieGray
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Although I'm vegetarian, I don't limit myself to buying veggie cookery books as most others offer many non-meat recipes. I also look at recipes that contain meat and twist and change them to suit my diet.

I'm a bit of a cookbook addict and, although its really hard to decide, I suppose my three current favourites are:


Tender Vol 1: A Cook and his Vegetable Patch by Nigel Slater

I love Nigel Slater and his simple but highly effective approach to cooking. He lets the ingredients speak for themselves and never overloads with unnecessary spices/herbs. I also love the way he writes so evocatively about food. This book is beautiful, as is Vol 2 which focuses on fruit.

Food from Plenty by Diana Henry

This book is brilliant as it focuses on seasonal ingredients and also offers recipes for leftover foods. She's a fantastic writer of recipes that are always faultless and straightforward. Lots of alternatives are offered for some more obscure ingredients, although most are easily available anyway.

River Cottage Veg Everyday by Hugh Fearnley-Whittenstall

River Cottage always deliver! This one is great as its meat-free, but put together by a committed carnivore. HFW adopted a meat-free six months existence prior to this book being published, so really had to work hard to fill the void created by his loss!! He's done a great job here, with recipes that are delicious and seasonal.

Others I love are:

Plenty by Yotam Ottelenghi
How to Bake by Paul Hollywood
Polpo: A Venetian Cookbook of Sorts by Russell Norman
The Good Table by Valentine Warner
50 Great Curries of India by Camelia Panjabi

So, which ones are your favourites....and why? I hope to find some new ones that I can add to my stupidly large collection
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Old 06-02-2013, 07:07
norbitonite
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My long-term favourite remains 'The Readers Digest Cookery Year'. It's encyclopeadic and I love how it's split by foods in season.

Ironically, in spite of the shelves of cookbooks I have, I don't own a copy, but my mother does and one day it will be mine!
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Old 06-02-2013, 12:54
stud u like
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Book-Jew...0154838&sr=8-1

I love food history and Claudia Roden writes very well and is able to formulate a cookery book that covers so many different countries where Jewish people have settled. The recipes are tasty and easy to make.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Basque-Cu...0154948&sr=8-1

Ash Mair writes well. I love the food of the Basque Country. It reminds me of holidays. It is chatty and informative. There is a good use of colour that conjures up images of heat and fire.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Reci...0155040&sr=1-1

What can I say about Nigella? This is one of my favourite cookery books. There is a warmth and generousity within. It brings attention back to food and is used more often in the winter when you feel the need to have a lot of meat and vegetables.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anjums-India...155137&sr=1-12

I love vegetarian food. Anjum writes welll. It prepares the mind and the body to become vegetarian throughout the year. I enjoy the heat and the spices the book produces images of. A delicious book.
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Old 06-02-2013, 20:06
daisiesfan
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Nigella Christmas and Nigella Feast.
I have yet to make anything out of either that didn't work and wasn't excellent.
In fact all Nigella's books I have are winners.
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Old 06-02-2013, 21:32
PixieGray
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Book-Jew...0154838&sr=8-1

I love food history and Claudia Roden writes very well and is able to formulate a cookery book that covers so many different countries where Jewish people have settled. The recipes are tasty and easy to make.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Basque-Cu...0154948&sr=8-1

Ash Mair writes well. I love the food of the Basque Country. It reminds me of holidays. It is chatty and inoformative. There is a good use of colour that conjures up images of heat and fire.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Reci...0155040&sr=1-1

What can I say about Nigella? This is one of my favourite cookery books. There is a warmth and generousity within. It brings attention back to food and is used more often in the winter when you feel the need to have a lot of meat and vegetables.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anjums-India...155137&sr=1-12

I love vegetarian food. Anjum writes welll. It prepares the mind and the body to become vegetarian throughout the year. I enjoy the heat and the spices the book produces images of. A delicious book.
I've just ordered Arabesque! Can't wait to read it. I love books that convey the history of food, too, as well as a sense of the culture of the area/country. It makes making the recipes and sampling the food that bit more of an occasion...gives it far more resonance.

I've just checked out Anjum and I am going to order it BTW, you might like to check out this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ywords=prashad Prashad is an Indian veggie restaurant in Bradford; Kaushy Patel is the head chef. I've eaten there and it's truly amazing. The book is superb
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Old 07-02-2013, 01:54
misha06
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'The really useful student cook book'. I have had it nearly 20 years, and expect it's out of print now.

I bought it when I moved out of halls in my second year.

Showed me how to make Chowder, Spag Bol, Toad in the Hole, and numerous other meals. easily and cheaply.

Ideal for a young man who had never cooked before. Kept it and referred to it during my bachelor years

Still use it now and again.
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Old 07-02-2013, 10:33
Egg Monster
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Just like Misha, I have a student cookbook that I can't bear to part with. I never went to university, but I bought it for when I first moved out of home. The meals in there will never win awards for creativity, but they're basic, cheap and tasty. It's certainly my most used cookbook.
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Old 07-02-2013, 14:25
stud u like
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I've just ordered Arabesque! Can't wait to read it. I love books that convey the history of food, too, as well as a sense of the culture of the area/country. It makes making the recipes and sampling the food that bit more of an occasion...gives it far more resonance.

I've just checked out Anjum and I am going to order it BTW, you might like to check out this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ywords=prashad Prashad is an Indian veggie restaurant in Bradford; Kaushy Patel is the head chef. I've eaten there and it's truly amazing. The book is superb
I've been desiring "Arabesque" for ages. I've asked the publisher to put it on Kindle as it is easier for me in the kitchen to use my Ipad.

I've asked Kindle to send me a sample of Kaushy Patel's book. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Old 07-02-2013, 23:59
PixieGray
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I've been desiring "Arabesque" for ages. I've asked the publisher to put it on Kindle as it is easier for me in the kitchen to use my Ipad.

I've asked Kindle to send me a sample of Kaushy Patel's book. Thanks for the suggestion.
At the risk of seeming to be force-feeding you, you might also want to have a look at Veggiestan: A Vegetable Lovers Tour of the Middle East by Sally Butcher. She runs a renowned Persian food shop, Persepolis, in London. Veggiestan is a stunner

I will shush now!
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Old 08-02-2013, 01:33
jazzyjazzy
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Healthy South Indian Cookery by Patricia Marquardt
This is a brilliant veggie cookbook - with a couple of added meat ones at the end. Some of my very favourite recipes in here and very easy to make. I once misplaced this book and ordered another one immediately and copied all my favourites just incase it happens again!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Healthy-Indi...0287346&sr=1-1

I am of pensionable age and still use the cookery book we were given as 11 year olds when we did Cookery at school

Was Kaushy Patels restaurant the one that was on the Gordon Ramsey programme?
I have hundreds of cookery books (due to my age) and keep saying I am not going to buy another but can't keep off Amazon.
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Old 08-02-2013, 01:55
jazzyjazzy
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Have a look at this site

http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webap...aa208c915d5450

found above mentioned books cheaper than amazon - have to pay postage but still cheaper
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Old 08-02-2013, 04:36
jazzyjazzy
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P.S.- If you spend £25 with book people the postage is free.
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Old 08-02-2013, 21:29
PixieGray
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Nigella Christmas and Nigella Feast.
I have yet to make anything out of either that didn't work and wasn't excellent.
In fact all Nigella's books I have are winners.
Strangely, I haven't got any of Nigella's books. I need to get over my dislike of her as it's completely irrational. It's based on the fact she's Nigel Lawson's daughter - can't stand him - and also a couple of her TV shows that I watched and didn't like (all the soft focus, yummy yah-yah food porn left me cold).

So, I'm probably missing out on one or two classics in terms of her books...I feel slightly ashamed and childish
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Old 08-02-2013, 21:39
PixieGray
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Healthy South Indian Cookery by Patricia Marquardt
This is a brilliant veggie cookbook - with a couple of added meat ones at the end. Some of my very favourite recipes in here and very easy to make. I once misplaced this book and ordered another one immediately and copied all my favourites just incase it happens again!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Healthy-Indi...0287346&sr=1-1

I am of pensionable age and still use the cookery book we were given as 11 year olds when we did Cookery at school

Was Kaushy Patels restaurant the one that was on the Gordon Ramsey programme?
I have hundreds of cookery books (due to my age) and keep saying I am not going to buy another but can't keep off Amazon.
Oooh, I've just had a look at this book and I must say, it looks very enticing indeed

Thanks for the heads up re: the Book People. I've joined and added the River Cottage box set of 10 to my basket as well. I mean, £20 for the lot?? That's a phenomenal saving of over £100!! There are loads of books I want, aaaargh

Yes, Prashad is the restaurant that featured on Ramsey's TV show; they came second which I was so pleased about, especially given his usual disdain towards vegetarianism!

Thanks so much for your info
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Old 08-02-2013, 21:47
Mrs de Winter
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Jill Dupleix - Lighten Up. Healthy but exciting food.
Delia Smith - Winter Collection. Several classic recipes.
Dan Lepard - The Handmade Loaf
Nigella - Express
Nigella - Kitchen

Those are the books I often cook from.
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Old 10-02-2013, 00:23
PixieGray
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Jill Dupleix - Lighten Up. Healthy but exciting food.
Delia Smith - Winter Collection. Several classic recipes.
Dan Lepard - The Handmade Loaf
Nigella - Express
Nigella - Kitchen

Those are the books I often cook from.
You're the third person to recommend Nigella! I really must get over my aversion

The Handmade Loaf looks fab btw...
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Old 10-02-2013, 13:17
jazzyjazzy
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I have only watched Nigella once and never again and would not even open one of her books. Read the article about how bad her latest Italian book is which also puts me off.
As a cook she really offends me.
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Old 10-02-2013, 14:40
Mrs de Winter
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You're the third person to recommend Nigella! I really must get over my aversion

The Handmade Loaf looks fab btw...
Honestly, I can well understand why some people aren't a fan of Nigella based on her TV programmes, but I think her books are fantastic. Every recipe I've made from them actually turned out exactly as expected and like the pictures. I also like the fact that she makes things as uncomplicated as possible, whilst still being

Her books also have a good mixture of classic recipes and combinations that I'd never have thought of before. I'm a definite fan!

The Handmade Loaf is excellent, though it's not a book that you'd just pick up one day, turn to a page and make the recipe. It's more of a whole philosophy of baking, there's a lot about technique and there's plenty of science too. If, like me, you're really keen on learning to bake bread and have some time to dedicate to doing so it's definitely the best book for the job. It's a bit of a revelation
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Old 10-02-2013, 17:13
Thrasymachus
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Have a look at this site

http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webap...aa208c915d5450

found above mentioned books cheaper than amazon - have to pay postage but still cheaper
The bookpeople do sell the books cheaper than on Amazon but I have had a bad experience with the company they use to deliver the books (Yodel). Hopefully I am alone

I have made over 200 orders from Amazon and I have never had an issue with them which is why I choose to use them.

As for some of my favourite books...

Salma Hage - The Lebanese Kitchen http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...ls_o02_s00_i09
Peter Gordon - Everyday http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...ls_o06_s00_i01
Lili Vanilli - Sweet Tooth http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...ls_o02_s00_i00
Nigel Slater - The Kitchen Diaries II http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...ls_o06_s00_i00
Anna Bergenstrom & Fanny Bergenstrom - Under The Walnut Tree http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...ls_o01_s00_i00
Yvette Van Boven - Home Made http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...ls_o02_s00_i01
Dan Lepard - Short & Sweet http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...ls_o05_s02_i02
Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi - Jerusalem http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...ls_o05_s04_i00
Denis Cotter - For The Love of Food: Vegetarian Recipes from the Heart http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...ls_o02_s00_i01
Tamasin Day-Lewis - Food You Can't Say No To http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...ls_o02_s01_i03
Lucas Hollweg - Good Things To Eat http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...ls_o04_s00_i04
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Old 10-02-2013, 19:04
HALibutt
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Nigel is my favourite! I love her!

I think I have every book she's done.

(plus too many other cookbooks to count)
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Old 10-02-2013, 20:00
molliepops
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Delia Smith cookery course a good starting place for anyone
Mary Berry Sunday lunches, also her baking bible
And my old hand written book handed down from eldest daughter to eldest daughter, started in 1848 by my great great grandmother Edith. A book that I couldn't do with out.
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Old 10-02-2013, 20:23
HALibutt
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I meant to put NIGELLA above, obviously..

Also Mary Berry goes without saying.
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Old 10-02-2013, 20:39
stud u like
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At the risk of seeming to be force-feeding you, you might also want to have a look at Veggiestan: A Vegetable Lovers Tour of the Middle East by Sally Butcher. She runs a renowned Persian food shop, Persepolis, in London. Veggiestan is a stunner

I will shush now!
That looks lovely. I have asked the publisher about it being on Kindle.

Thank you!
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Old 11-02-2013, 00:29
PixieGray
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Honestly, I can well understand why some people aren't a fan of Nigella based on her TV programmes, but I think her books are fantastic. Every recipe I've made from them actually turned out exactly as expected and like the pictures. I also like the fact that she makes things as uncomplicated as possible, whilst still being

Her books also have a good mixture of classic recipes and combinations that I'd never have thought of before. I'm a definite fan!

The Handmade Loaf is excellent, though it's not a book that you'd just pick up one day, turn to a page and make the recipe. It's more of a whole philosophy of baking, there's a lot about technique and there's plenty of science too. If, like me, you're really keen on learning to bake bread and have some time to dedicate to doing so it's definitely the best book for the job. It's a bit of a revelation
I've never been someone who bakes bread often, though I don't think I'm too bad when I do. Recently though, I've been giving it some attention and made quite good progress, especially with sourdough breads. A friend gave me Paul Hollywood's 'How to Bake', which has been a great help

As I've really enjoyed it, I think I'll give 'Handmade' a go. I'm scared, but in a good way

I have only watched Nigella once and never again and would not even open one of her books. Read the article about how bad her latest Italian book is which also puts me off.
As a cook she really offends me.


I read about her Italian job. The chocolate pizza made me feel angry. Never muck about with Italian food and try and come up with some freaky fusion type stuff. Stay true to it or be damned

Mary Berry Sunday lunches, also her baking bible
And my old hand written book handed down from eldest daughter to eldest daughter, started in 1848 by my great great grandmother Edith. A book that I couldn't do with out.
Love Mary Berry. What an elegant cook and woman

Your very own family book sounds wonderful. What an amazing family keepsake and so useful, too. I think every family should do this....but it must be hand written.
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Old 11-02-2013, 05:43
kate36
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Nigella Christmas and Nigella Feast.
I have yet to make anything out of either that didn't work and wasn't excellent.
In fact all Nigella's books I have are winners.
i love her cake recipes, never had any problems with her recipes, but that's about all i've tried...

mary berry is a firm favourite of mine and my mum's!!
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