More with less cookbook

thriftlady_2

Gingernutmeg wrote:

What I'd love to see is a totally new edition of this book, updated and aimed more at what I'm sure is a more common kind of lifestyle both here and in the US, that of trying to live more frugally in cities and suburbs, and a book that is a bit more nutritionally sound ... now that would be a book I'd give five stars to!!

Oh yes ! That would be wonderful. Don't worry you haven't offended me , I bang on about this book a lot, but your review has made me realise that it is the introduction to the book that I find most inspiring.

I don't know whether you've read The Pauper's Cookbook by Jocasta Innes ? It was also originally written in the 70s but is much more cosmopolitan and exciting in it's recipes. It's also a lot more relevant to us rather than the US I use it more and more. Nigel Slater is another favourite.

Gingernutmeg

Thank you for the suggestions (and for being so kind lol;)) I'll definitely look out for the Innes book, it sounds like it will be right up my street.

I love Nigel Slater, his books are always a pleasure to read simply because of the wonderful way he writes. More like a novel than a cookbook lol - similar to Elizabeth David. Her 'English Bread and Yeast Cookery' is probably one of my favourite and most used books. I will admit I'm a sucker for nice pictures though lol ... cookbooks are one of my few vices (although not one my parter minds, as he gets to eat the experiments) and I love books that are a pleasure to own, as well as being useful. My most recent buy was 'Roast Figs and Sugar Snow' by Diana Henry - interesting recipes (if not really OS lol) and wonderful snowy pictures.

jennybb

Rose Prince's New English Kitchen is another great one (as recommended on here) mind you I am a sucker for cookbooks for reading, but do my own sweet thing anyway.

I agree with Thriftlady (on a lot of things actually ) about Joscata Innes, and like the philosophy of More with Less, but have only used granola recepies so far - but as I say, mountain of cookbooks but rarely follow anything by the letter.

eryn_kathleen

Gingernutmeg - thanks for posting that! I didn't mean to imply that your review was insulting, just that it made me think harder about whether to buy the book.

Based on what you've said here, I think I'll still buy it but maybe wait a bit and see if I can find it cheaper. It's still a bit pricey on Amazon.

Your comments on Amazon and here have been really, really helpful!

thriftlady_2

Gingernutmeg wrote:

My most recent buy was 'Roast Figs and Sugar Snow' by Diana Henry - interesting recipes (if not really OS lol) and wonderful snowy pictures.

I've got this one too, but haven't cooked anything from it yet. Have you seen Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons also by Diana Henry ? Gorgeous writing and recipes from the Mediterranean and Mid East.
I like Rose Prince's book too

Trow

thriftlady - thanks so much - you have just found my mothers birthday present for me!

thriftlady_2

jennybb wrote:

Rose Prince's New English Kitchen is another great one (as recommended on here) mind you I am a sucker for cookbooks for reading, but do my own sweet thing anyway.
I agree with Thriftlady (on a lot of things actually ) about Joscata Innes, and like the philosophy of More with Less, but have only used granola recepies so far - but as I say, mountain of cookbooks but rarely follow anything by the letter.

You sound spookily like me Jenny I think the more you read cookery books, the more ideas you absorb about how to put ingredients together, and the less you need to follow specific recipes. Maybe that's one of the reasons I've had success with More With Less - because I rarely actually do as I'm told in a recipe and go my own sweet way too

Gingernutmeg

thriftlady wrote:

I've got this one too, but haven't cooked anything from it yet. Have you seen Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons also by Diana Henry ? Gorgeous writing and recipes from the Mediterranean and Mid East.
I like Rose Prince's book too

That's next on my list I managed to get the Roast Figs book very cheaply from a local discount bookshop, so I'm waiting to see if they get that one in too ... Daren't go in there too often, I always end up buying far too many new books !

angelatgraceland

Yes I bought "more for less" realy for "inspiration". I rarely follow any recipe to the book but they get me started and get me motivated. It is easy to critiscise the 70s but if I take myself back to that time I was 4 stone lighter and in better health-no high blood pressure etc. When I look back to our diet then we had very little money and I was cooking a lot of pulses and soy. Therefore I bought this book to inspire me once again and to regain some of the benefits of great health I had back then when I was rather poor moneywise but rich in every other way. Not had a look at all of the recipes but what I have seen of it should take me back in time a little and may help me in the longrun. As Jamie Oliver said a while back-recipes are not necessarily to follow, but to inspire you. That is what they do for me.

moggins

I don't have the More with Less cookbook (yet) as I keep telling myself that I cannot fit another cookerybook on my windowsill (bearing in mind that my windowsill is 6 foot long) but I do have The Paupers Cookbook, both the original and the revised one from later on.

If you are going to go for this one the original is far the best. The later revised edition is nowhere near as good, she seemed to get too engrossed in the fancy cooking that was going on at the time and the philosophy of using leftovers was completely lost.