Your favourite cookbooks

culpepper

filigree wrote:

I've got several books about rationing and wartime cooking in general, it's a bit of a hobby of mine. I've never actually cooked any of them, but I fancy trying the pigs in blankets just for the fun of stuffing potatoes with sausage meat! I'm not sure if anyone would thank me for mashed potato sandwiches though

we did woolton pie from the we'll eat again book,it was really good.
Ive also made pastry with 'potato flour' which was quite good.
For some reason when using war time recipes, puddings suddenly become much more prolific in our house.

nickinoo

Caz2 wrote:

Hi I have loads of cook books and have tried loads of the recipes. For me Tanzin day-Lewis is my preferred choice but equally if i need to get food spot on its Delia I have all her books. Last year i made pickles and chutneys and jams for xmas presents Delias were far superior. Gary Rhodes receipes for chutneys turned out ok but we are eating those, as best went for pressies. Worst of all i feel, for any recipe is Jamie Oliver his measurements are never right. I dont use his measurements but i look through his ideas then do them myself. I also like The organic cookbook but i don't always use organic stuff ,best recipe i have ever had was for chilli jam. I make alsorts of stuff and add this to it, it gives a sweet and spicy flavour and is easy and cheap to make.

Any chance of the recipe please Caz? It sounds yummy.

Nicola

LilacLillie

Some years ago I read about a lady living on benefit, who wrote a book.
I rushed out and bought it, even though I wasn't on benefit, I was amazed that she claimed she could feed her family well on a very small budget.
The book was called 'How to feed your family for £4 a day', or 'The benefit book', by Bernadine Lawrence.
At the time 1989, it cost £3.50. I think there were 6 in her family.
I tried a couple of the bean recipes over the years. My family got fed up with me saying we eat/spend to much ......................... and hid the book.
Last night I came across it and have been having a look at it.
IMO food must have got cheaper over the years! It isn't as exciting as it could be and seems like hard work for little results. Very dated nowadays.
Did anyone else ever buy it, or indeed use it??
LL

squeaky

Hiya,

We have an older thread on books which includes the one you mention here so I'm going to merge your post into it.

Because posts are listed in date order you'll need to start reading from the beginning to catch up with us.

katieowl_2

Hi - I have the Bernadine Lawrence book, but find it a bit too 'wholemeal' I don't eat pastry very often but when I do, I'd rather it wasn't scratchy!

I like Hugh Fearnly Whittingstall's books, he tends to use all sorts of bits and pieces of meat too which can be obtained cheaply (Even from places like Borough Market!), if you grow your own food he is useful too for dealing with gluts.

I would recommend the Womens Institute cookbooks, particularly the cakes and biscuits one and the jams and preserves. Both useful if you make your own stuff.

Clare McDonald of Mcdonald - Seasonal Cookery is great for dealing with seasonal cheapies. Most seasonal books are usually a good bet - avoiding the oysters and asparagus pages

I'm actually writing a Frugal cookbook too!

Regards

Kate

Gingham_Ribbon

Without question, the 2 cookery books I use most often are

Cheap and Easy

The Bean Book

Both are by Rose Eliot, a vegetarian cookery writer. I've had them for over 15 years and they have seen me through some very lean times. The meals are nutritious, tasty, very very cheap and extremely easy to do.

We've also had friends round who were impressed enough with the food that they've asked for copies for Christmas!

JC67

I've really enjoyed reading through this thread and now have lots of books I want to reserve from the library! I have a Delia, Jamie Oliver etc but agree that the recipes do work out to be expensive.

One cookbook I use a lot (the type that has flour over it etc) is The Complete Farmhouse Kitchen. I think there was a TV series too years ago. There are hundreds of recipes, many contributed by viewers - everything from basic meals to pastry making, home-made sweets, wine, beer etc.

grannysmith_2

In my family the recipe from 1950's Bero book has been the winner and the celebratory cake for years. It is even better after freezing and lends itself to being big standard sandwich to luxurious Gateaux.

frugglewump

Our current favorite is "Art of Lithuanian Cooking" by Maria Gieystor de Gorgey. My OH has lithuanian background & we've been exploring the traditional dishes. You definately have to like cabbage and potatos. We tried one dish from it called "Hunter's Stew" which took 3 days to make but fed us for a week.

vanoonoo

LilacLillie wrote:

IMO food must have got cheaper over the years!

I absolutely agree - I am able to eat more cost effectively and more nutritionally now than I could when I was a student in the early 90's

I recall the book you are talking about but havent seen a copy for years!