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

deeceep19_2

am I too late ?

Clutterfree

What a shame this thread has died, I enjoyed reading it.
I don't think I could work my way through just one recipe book because I have too many recipes from different books that I want to try.
I'm up for a "try a new recipe a week challenge" if anyone else is?

Fairenuff

Yes I'm up for it !!........now to decide which one to try ...decisions decisions !

Lizling

I'm up for this! I was thinking about working through Plenty, but it's a Yottam Ottolenghi book so it's about as ambitious as you can get for getting hold of the right ingredients. I think I could manage just making one new recipe per week from anywhere though, then I might cope when I haven't got much time.

downshifted

I too will do a recipe a week. I have made 2 new cake recipes recently, from a book I got in a clearance, a curry from a Sunday paper supplement and curried roast cauliflower from a supermarket mag. I couldn't do everything from one book as I like to be able to pick and choose from a wide range of sources.

tesuhoha

I didn't know about this thread but I have been working my way through the Hairy Dieters cookbook and lesser so, the Eat for Life. These are some of the recipes I have tried.

Sweet and sour chicken - I rather liked this, last time I made it I tried it with pork instead of chicken and that worked too. 8/10
Prawn Coconut Curry - This was rather good, my family loved it and my husband raved over it. I didn't put in as much spinach as the recipe said and then my daughter said it could do with more spinach. I had some coconut milk left over which I saved. 10/10
Spanish chicken - absolutely delicious, make it every other week now, easy recipe which works out perfect every time. All the family love it. Cook a little rice to go with it but it is very filling. 10/10
Chicken casserole - have made this twice. Its lovely and rich but would be better in the winter and is quite expensive to make as it takes a 500ml bottle of cider. 10/10
Beef and ale casserole - very nice. I used stout for cheapness and have made it twice. It is tasty but I think I would prefer swede to the parsnips in it and didn't enjoy them second time around. 9/10
Meatballs - these were quite nice. They didn't have as much flavour as the meatballs I have made before but we enjoyed them and they were very filling. 8/10
Mediterranean beefburgers - These were really delicious. The courgette in them is not noticeable when cooked. You have to be careful not to burn them but they are lovely. I made them with rosemary wedges the first time and homemade potato salad the second and third time around. Everyone thought they were really tasty. 10/10
Minestrone soup - this turned out okay but was not a favourite really. 7/10
Moroccan Tagine - this had a nice flavour but its a personal thing that the chickpeas upset my digestive system for a couple of days. Also was not keen on the sweet potato. 8/10
Lamb spinach curry - I have made this once. I really liked this and so did the family. I will make it again. 9/10
Cottage pie - this was the worst recipe. I have my own recipe for cottage pie and this did not taste as good. I would never normally put a can of tomatoes in cottage pie. 6/10
Rice pudding with fruit - this is a lovely little dessert, really tasty and surprisingly filling. Have used left over coconut milk in it and it turns out well. 10/10
Lemon drizzle cupcakes with blueberries - I have only made these once as I didn't like the texture of the blueberries and thought there were too many.. 7/10
Am going to make the Jambolaya next as have heard good reports.

jlhmd666

I like the idea of this although not sure I could do every recipe in a book due to differing tastes with the family. If I can adapt things though I will try. For example the kids won't eat fish although we like it so that would have to be a two meal night. It's not impossible though quite an exciting challenge.

I'm going to use the Hairy Dieters Cookbook - How to Love Food and Lose Weight. I've already tried the Skinny Beef Lasagne (p76)



It was nice but I have made similar before, using courgettes instead of leeks and preferred the courgettes. I also added extra cheese to the top so there were more calories in this one than the one in the book

I will have a look at the book today and see what I will add to the menu for next week. Thanks for this

D&DD

I hadn't seen this thread before thanks for the bump!

I have quite a few cookery books that have been mentioned here and its nice to see feedback on some of the recipes I've got on my to try list

I've been watching Ree Drummonds programmes on the food network (prairie Housewife) and have just downloaded her cookbook to my Kindle so I might try working my way through hers..

Anzac_Biscuit

I'll join you! I need to get back on track with cooking 'proper' meals and eating more healthily. I've just started looking at cutting down the sugar in my diet - so I'm going to work through Sarah Wilson's 'I quit sugar' book. Some of the things look a bit...interesting... but it'll certainly get me out of my rut!!

So far (in the last few days) I've made
Coco-nutty granola (this is amazing and soo easy! I've just made a second batch). 10/10
Green soup - made tonight but didn't quite follow the recipe so not sure how it will go.
Basil pesto - it was a bit too lemony for my liking, and I think it would be better with more basil - probably should have pressed the leaves down more when measuring! I'll make it again though. Had it tonight with pasta and it was great!
Pureed pumpkin - I just roasted some pumpkin for an hour, scooped out the flesh and put it in ziplock bags in the freezer in 1-cup portions. It tasted divine - and should be a great way to put together a quick meal. I squashed the bags flat so it will defrost quickly when I need it.

I'm looking forward to cooking more of her ideas! They seem very practical and easy so far.

Lizling

I made lemon and blueberry cake and it was a big hit. I'll definitely make it again.