do you use your older cookbooks, or your more recent ones, more?

OddjobKIA

I only ever use one...........cookery in colour

Nix143

Delia's old brown book as well, was first cook book I really started to cook from. Cooking more and more from Mary Berry at the moment though.

And I have a spiral bound book that lives in the kitchen that regular stuff gets written into - like white sauce and yorkshire pudding quantites - as I have the memory of a sieve and no matter how many times I make them I can never ever remember numbers

mummysaver

Def my older cookbooks get used the most, Delia's complete collection and a very old Marguerit Pattern cake book, but the one I always turn to if I need a recipe is an ancient edition of the Good Housekeeping book, passed on by a great aunt, it even tells you how to preserve eggs in a pail! None of the recipes in these three books has ever failed me!

Claudia Roden, an ancient Sainsbury's middle eastern cookbook she did for them, and any Nigel Slater are perhaps more modern ones that get used a fair bit as well. Elizabeth David is used for inspiration, especially her veg book. Newer writers would be John Burton Race, never had anything go wrong with any of his recipes, they're as accurate as Delia's! Jane Brocket's Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer has some lovely recipes,and Sian Blunos' Cooking for Coco has fantastic dishes adapted for all ages, many from their restaurant.

I love reading cookery books, even if I don't follow the recipes then they are often great for inspiration.

Mappygirl

I started off with up to date books - Jamie Oliver etc. But then I found a book in a charity shop from the 60's - and I love it!!! It covers all the basic foods and refers to microwaves as new and exciting!!! I've also got a new )ish) book called common sense cooking and that fab! It's got all the weight conversions etc to!

I got 2 for £1 from the charity shop last week - there called like mother used to make and Recipies from farmers wives - they look really interesting!

mother_noah

Another cookery book junkie here .My collection must be over 2,000 by now ( I might count them one day ) and will no doubt be added to as I help out in a charity shop.
I love old tatty books ,the sort with pages stuck together with cake mix !
I am not a big fan of the glossy celebrity chef offerings

thriftmonster

OddjobKIA wrote: »

I only ever use one...........cookery in colour

I love this book too - best ever brandy snap recipe!

competitionscafe

thriftlady wrote: »

2) Inspirational books. Shiny, new well-written books with gorgeous pictures (sometimes). Nigel, Nigella, Diana Henry, Ottolenghi, The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters, a couple of Jamie Olivers, the new Leon book (very unusual design).

I am still waiting for the postman to deliver my copy of the Leon cookbook, but have had Ottolenghi for 3 months and still haven't used it! Have enjoyed reading it though and the recipe for Zahtar and sumac chicken is very similar to one I already make. However tonight I will finally get round to using it as Waitrose had free-range duck breasts on an offer which ended yesterday - so I am making the duck breasts, with star anise and blood oranges (but with normal oranges) - sounds delicious!

thriftlady_2

competitionscafe wrote: »

I am still waiting for the postman to deliver my copy of the Leon cookbook, but have had Ottolenghi for 3 months and still haven't used it! Have enjoyed reading it though and the recipe for Zahtar and sumac chicken is very similar to one I already make. However tonight I will finally get round to using it as Waitrose had free-range duck breasts on an offer which ended yesterday - so I am making the duck breasts, with star anise and blood oranges (but with normal oranges) - sounds delicious!

Oh yum, let us know how it turns out. I haven't used Ottolenghi yet either but love reading it. I'm a bit sceptical about their insistence that you need a food mixer for their baking recipes though. God, those meringues look gorgeous don't they?

Triker

I found Margeurite Patten 'family cookery' for £1.99 in a charity shop today.;):D

elgar_2

Can I join in!! I feel bit like Im evesdropping!!

I ve not got into posting on MSE and feel wee bit scared!! But hey PC and internet up and running now soooooooooooo!!:T

I just moved into my own (first time buyer!) flat in August so I only have a few books,

I bought a Bero book, as I remember my mum using hers for years.

Then I saw a James Martin book, and the thought of 'eating in with james martin' was quite inspired and it was shiny and new (TK maxx special so its not a recent publication!)....then when I read somewhere here about Shirly Goode I decided to try buy one of hers!! think it was Goode Kitchen and the other cant remember but had the word 'one' in title..(cooking for one vaulabe me being wee single lass...still not found offer in supermarket for a husband!! Maybe at 31 1/2 im toooooo old:rolleyes: )) Any ways that was also my first experience of Amazon....we will see what they are like when they arrive. Im not sure if this is moneysaving or not!!

Also have a Delia one somewhere mum bought, but wasnt inspired by it..and a leflet from BHF I like the recepie in it for lemon delicious!

Sorry for waffle, poor spelling and grammer.....

Elaine
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