I wanna basic cook book for beginners

tomstickland

First Time Cook by Sophie Grigson is pretty good too.

Counting_Pennies_2

The problem I find with all the big names is the books tend to be enormous.

I have millions of the stars names and get one or two recipes from each, however I purchased a BBC Good Food recipe book from the supermarket, and have used nearly every recipe in the book. Quick and easy to follow, I would highly recommend it and cheap too. There are about 10 different books in the series

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Food-Simple-Suppers-Magazine/dp/0563488425/sr=1-9/qid=1167437493/ref=sr_1_9/026-8559325-9686838?ie=UTF8&s=books

lil_me

http://www.be-ro.co.uk/f_about.htm I think the bero one is cheapest direct. People on eBay getting over £3 for something which is £1.50! I have bought a basic one but decided I am going to make my own. Be-ro website has all the basics listed so can print them out. Loads in library going to copy recipes and make a file, there are loads online inc on here which I am going to print out, going to get friends to write my fave ones they make like a friends fruit loaf, might even laminate them as I overordered on laminating sheets by accident. That way I will get a cookbook filled with things I will like, not just one in 20 pages!

Crazychik

I also agree with moneymousey ref student books.

I joined the army at 18, with no life skills and trained as a chef. I brought the military version of basic cookery (dont think its available within civie street -sorry),
But Im sure if you contact your local college and ask for info regards to the manuals they use. They might even sell them to the general public!
Im no "Jamie Oliver or Delia Smith", but I do have a life time skill now. And Im 33 (dont laugh)
What about enquiring also for a short term basic cookery cousre also. Or evening cookery class!
Try searching through the OLD STYLE threads, there are plenty of recipe ideas. Try registering with Campbell's Soup (access via internet) they email you with recipe ideas also. They are easy to follow.
Good luck!

apple_mint

I have loads (and I do mean loads) of cook books that I have picked up at car boot sales / charity shops and have been given to me as presents. I pick and choose from several of them. However if you are starting out I can highly recommend Squeaky's Recipe Thread Index

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=458838#post458838

These recipes have been tried and tested by the OS gang and there are plenty of us around to help with any questions you have

sammy_kaye18

i was given a really good cook book when i moved into my first house - was 9 months preg, no idea how to run a house hold or cook and there i was abotu to become a yougn mum and had to try and feed my bf and babe by myself

My dad brought me The beginners cook book by Pamela Gwyther. It tells you how to do basics - down to how to prepare and chop different fruits and veg, different ways to cook, chop meats etc and then simple basic recipes. I found it very good and really helpul (has all the conversion charts too etc)

Otherwise i find Jamie Olivers new book really good - think i have it as an ebook on the computer so if you'd liek a copy ill happily send it to you if i can find it. he doesnt use all thsi smart bummed terminology which i like - other than that watch a few cooking programmes on the TV - you soon get the gist of things!!

sandieb

When in doubt I always refer to my now tattered Good Housekeeping Cookery Book - it's about 35 years old now but has EVERYTHING in it - I am sure there are up to date versions. I have a shelf of cookery books, but always go back to this one for essential stuff - bread baking, jam and chutney making, fish preparation, how to tell if eggs are off, etc, etc.

charlies_mum

sammy_kaye18 wrote:

Otherwise i find Jamie Olivers new book really good - think i have it as an ebook on the computer so if you'd liek a copy ill happily send it to you if i can find it. he doesnt use all thsi smart bummed terminology which i like - other than that watch a few cooking programmes on the TV - you soon get the gist of things!!

I know this is really cheeky, but if you find it would you mind sending me a copy please. I will happily cover any costs.

Essex-girl_2

I can second the Dairy Cook Books. I always go back to mine time and time again.Also would recommend a good look at the indexed collections, there are loads of simple tasty recipes in there.

dolly_day_dream

lil_me wrote:

http://www.be-ro.co.uk/f_about.htm Loads in library going to copy recipes and make a file, there are loads online inc on here which I am going to print out, going to get friends to write my fave ones they make like a friends fruit loaf, might even laminate them as I overordered on laminating sheets by accident. That way I will get a cookbook filled with things I will like, not just one in 20 pages!

I second this, when my DD went off to uni we made her a cookbook made up of her favourite recipes from my collection This was such a good idea that I have copied it. It is so much easier just to go to the one book (folder acutally) to find my usual recipe. These days recipes are available from so many sources that it would be impossible to reccomend just one book for it all. Yes I do still have my collection cos you "just never know:o " and I add new recipes to the collection as and when they have proved their worth.

BTW I have amassed my collection from charity shops - it seems that some people just buy recipe books to look at and then clear them out cos many that I have got were like new.