Couple cook book

carrieuk

I don't know what kind of food your son and his gf like but there is also the option of buying some cookbooks and then starting them off with a small spice pack with other added oils like rapeseed oil, groundnut oil and maybe some chinese spices? More than anything I have learn over the past few years how much my oils and spice shelves have grown as I've had to add different things to it.

heebie-jeebies

DSmiffy wrote: »

Point taken, but you can;t really wrap up an "App" for Christmas can you :rotfl: You still need inspiration in the first place

One option might be a Good Food magazine subscription though. I subscribe to the digital version and love reading it and trying new things.

If they are inexperienced cooks I would recommend any of the Lorraine Pascale books (her new one is on my Xmas list too) and Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food.

The idea of a spice hamper or ingredients based around a cuisine they like is nice but much better to do it yourself on ingredients or spices you know they'd use. As an example, you could get a tagine and use the tagine pot for the hamper including things like ras el hanout, harissa, preserved lemons.

I can see why some people would get offended but I'd have loved that present when we moved in together.

hazyjo

I was also bought a cook book by the mum of the first BF I lived with. It was a 'healthy alternative' kinda book - actually some great stuff in it. And yes I too was a tad offended. I now adore cookery books, but I think they should be bought for people who love cooking (I'm about to buy my BF a tapas book as he does all the cooking and loves it). I don't think they should be bought for people who haven't yet decided if they like cooking. Does she? Is she a good cook? If she doesn't enjoy it, it'll never get used.


Far better pressies to buy them - the same almost-MIL also bought us all our cleaning/housey stuff when we bought the flat. Bit boring for us at that age, but we did appreciate it!


They'd probably actually appreciate you buying them their first takeaway on moving-in day - they certainly won't want to be cooking then! Or arrange to take them for dinner the first week they're in so they can tell you all about it...


Jx

jemb

Could you not ask them if there's anything they want specifically? My Mother in law got us a spice rack when we didnt even have a duvet or plates etc. It rialled me at the time as it showed how she didnt know us.

trailingspouse

30 years and two husbands ago, I had a book called 'Cooking for Two'. I think it might have been from M&S.

Probably long since out of print, but I found it very useful in the early days for meals for two. And my ex-OH made a particularly fine Spicy Chicken using a recipe from the book. Might be worth a look on Amazon?

But I would agree - although I have a stock of recipe books (including Delia's How to Cook books 1, 2 and 3) I always use the internet these days if I'm looking for something different.

Kynthia

This is my favourite cookbook and my OH, when we weren't living together, really liked it so he bought one too. It has absolutely everything in it which was great for us beginners. It has how to do all the roasts, pies, lasagne, southern fried chicken, quiche, meatballs, Bolognese, fishcakes, etc. It instructs you on how to joint a chicken, and even explains all the ways of preparing veg and potatoes. Plus it has a nice cake and biscuit section. It isn't a dummies guide, but it is packed full of all the classics, rather than a tv chef's fancified version, and loads of things to give you inspiration.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooking-Commonsense-Guide-Murdoch-Books/dp/0864115024/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413823328&sr=1-1&keywords=cooking+a+common+sense+guide