Join us on the 'Cook through a whole cookbook' challenge!

jap200

Following on from my previous thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4777251

The 'Cook through a whole cookbook challenge'

Anyone want to join me on this challenge to get out of the cooking rut, expand our horizens, discover new recipes and stop using recipe books as just bedtime reading?

The challenge is to pick a cookery book and to cook EVERY SINGLE RECIPE in it.

You can set your own rules as to what order you do the recipes in and how often and whether you will stick rigidly to the recipe or allow yourself some substitutions.

To make it even more fun, we can try and upload photos of what the dish is supposed to look like (by photographing the page in the book) next to a photo of your own version. And maybe a few notes about how well (or not) it worked and what it tasted like.

So if you would like to join, post a reply to name a book and give an idea of your family set-up.

So here is my own personal challenge - I thought this would be appropriate for MSE:

Jap200:
Cook book: 'Save with Jamie' by Jamie Oliver - he gets lots of criticism on MSE, so let's just see how moneysaving (and delicious) his recipes are
Family: 5 people: 2 adults working full time and 3 teen/pre-teen boys who eat us out of house and home.
Aim: 2-3 recipes per week



I'm starting tonight with Smokin' Chicken Chowder from p88. I already had all the ingredients except single cream which I just popped out for. So I'm ready to go and will report back later.

Edit: By popular demand - Instructions for adding photos to your posts using Photobucket:
1. Go to http://photobucket.com/ and sign up for a free account
2. Click on upload, but before you upload, click on the little cog at the top right of the upload window and select the size that you want the photos to be. My photos in post 2 are 320x240 - save
3. Click on choose photos and videos and browse to find your photos on your computer - select multiple photos by holding down Ctrl key
4. Wait for photos to upload, then click on 'view uploads'

To get a photo into your post you need to copy the link to it:
1. In the album view, hover over the cursor over the cog in the top right of the picture, then select 'Get Links'.
2. From the pop-up box left click on the link in the 'Direct' box and the link is automatically copied to the clipboard
3. In your MSE post click the picture icon at the top and then paste the link into pop-up box.
4. The picture should now appear in the post
5. If you delete the photo from photobucket at a later date it will then it will disappear from the post(s)

If you haven’t already, join the forum to join in. If you aren’t sure how it all works, watch our New to Forum? Intro Guide.

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jap200

So here is my first attempt: Save with Jamie - Recipe 1

Jamie Oliver version (left) Jap200 version (right)


Recipe feedback
I managed to burn the pan when frying the bacon (non-stick would have been better), so couldn't then use the same pan to fry the veg in the bacon oil - had to start again with some sunflower oil.
I like the fact that the recipe calls for a leftover roast chicken carcas with the meat picked off. It is a good way to use it up.

I was trying so hard to stick exactly to the recipe, but couldn't bring myself to sprinkle broken cream crackers over the soup - I think they would go all cardboardy. So we had this with some chunky bread instead.

Taste test
Pleasant - but nothing to right home about - a little on the bland side really - could have done with a pinch of cayenne or something.

According to Jamie I could have thown in a handful of clams if I happened to have any! Not quite sure what planet he is living on!

Overall the family rated it 6/10

pigpen

The big question is.. would you have it again?

None of my lot eat 'sloppy' food so this would be out at first glance.

mollymunchkin

Great post! The chowder with crackers on is an American thing. Ditto with the clams.

I have just got this book today and at first glance there seems to be some great recipes in there. I might aim to do one new one a week. I'm trying the fish pie this weekend.

Vala-Mal-Doran

What a good post- I was only thinking yesterday about doing the same thing but with my nigel slater book, wondered what rules I should stick to- probably 2/3 a week, theres only the two of us and oh happily eats what he's given so im lucky there!

emg

I really want to do this, I'm going to have a go with the Hairy Dieters cookbook but can only probably do one or two recipes a week so I think I will just set a deadline of having done all of them by October 2014. The first chapter is breakfasts so that will definitely have to wait until the weekend as I can barely get my porridge in the microwave on a weekday!

Kaz2904

*Subscribes to thread!
Had a good clear out of the bookshelf the other day and [EMAIL="couldn@t"]couldn@t[/EMAIL] bear to go through the recipe books. You have spurred me on. At least this way, I know which recipes I will never use again so can get rid of the recipe books!

aliwali

I want to do the Hairy Bikers Great Curries book. I'm not sure how to post photos but will try and work it out. It's a really big book so will take a while.

mam_of_five

i would love to do this too, just bought the hairy dieters book and not much i wouldn't eat, except pork as my husband is Muslim, but im sure i can substitute the pork...will aim for once a week maybe 2

VJsmum

I quite fancy trying this. I will need a few days to source the right book from my stash.

In the words of Arnie "I'll be back"

Muzikmaster

I really like this post jap200, well done!

I've noticed on MSE that Jamie has received lots of negative comments about this book/T.V. series. I own a copy of this book and like most cook books we all own there are some good recipes and some no so good ones. So far from the book I've tried the following:

Grated rainbow salad & sesame feta fritters - 7/10
Giant veg' rosti with poached egg, spinach & peas - 9/10
Chicken liver bolognese - 5/10
Sweet & sour fish balls - 6/10

As you can see I've rated what I think the recipe it worth in my opinion. 1 being poor and 10 being delicious.

I'm going to continue to share my thoughts on the ones I choose to cook but I don't feel I will commit to cook the entire recipe collection.

I will be honest though, I'm not enjoying the T.V. series as much as I thought. One things for sure I aint gonna be spending nearly £20 on a large piece of meat for any mothership recipe.