Book recommendations for hopeless sister?

meritaten

Yep - kitchens are dangerous places! a heavy skillet pan is a lethal weapon and don't mention electric knives!
oh and I once caused myself an injury on a crumpet! posted a thread about that,and the Forum Team featured it in the newsletter!

missbiggles1

For a book, Delia would have my vote.

However, if that would be too much, what about something online? There seems to be lots around but the BBC looks a good place to start.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/techniques

rosie383

meritaten wrote: »

Yep - kitchens are dangerous places! a heavy skillet pan is a lethal weapon and don't mention electric knives!
oh and I once caused myself an injury on a crumpet! posted a thread about that,and the Forum Team featured it in the newsletter!

Go on then, give us the link. You know we all love a giggle.:D
Or was it deeply traumatic?:eek:

kboss2010

Delia is fantastic but if you feel it's too big, this book is fantastic:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-Up-And-Hungry-students/dp/0091904897

"Hard Up and Hungry" is a student cookbook but it covers the basics of cooking, food storage, using up leftovers and what all the basic cooking terms mean. It also gives approximate cooking times, temperatures and methods for various different meats and some basic simple recipes for everything from burgers to roast chicken.

It's A5-sized and 1cm thick so it's less intimidating than Delia's epic volumes but gives good all-round coverage of the basics.

jackyann

I think that I would find out about what food your sister wants to learn to cook.
I'd agree about Delia being a wonderful basic cookbook, and any of the student type ones are good.

However, one of the very best that I go back to time & again is the very first Nigella - before she went all goddessy. It was called How To Eat, and I got it as a gift years ago, before she went on the tele. I've never bought another one of hers, but it has everything in, clearly set out and in a lovely style.

Another suggestion is the Be-ro cook book, used by generations of my family, and now on-line: http://www.be-ro.co.uk/

It may be too late for this xmas, but could you & your mum assemble a cookbook for her? It's easier to make things when you already "know" them.

VfM4meplse

I'm going to take the online suggestion one step further.

There is very little you can't find on Yoitube. Often home cooks are happy to dispense common sense, pre-empt commonly asked questions and share tips during the course of their performances.

Sally_A

With many cook books on the shelf, this is the one I go back to for basics......http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dairy-Book-Home-Cookery/dp/1860194850 There is a newer edition, try The Book People.

CAT££

I'd agree with the Delia, however, Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food is excellent, covers all the basics and traditional dinners such as, roasts, curries, fajitas, mince.

pigpen

Don't bother.. nothing more daunting than a cookery book with 'perfect' pictures when yours looks like an autopsy on a plate!!!

Write down your own favourite easy recipes.. or type and print out, laminate and put in a ring binder.. Find out her favourite meals and go from there.. add a page with cooking lumps of meat.. this weight takes this long .. and a meat thermometer to check the inside is properly cooked too!



You can give her a few more each month to extend her ability and knowledge!

I'm a wing it in the kitchen kinda gal and I hate the books!!

ivyleaf

I'd suggest Jamie's Ministry of Food too, or Mary Berry has a How to Cook one which is smaller so wouldn't look so daunting

I bought the Mary Berry one for DD2, and her husband really likes it though he was already a good cook before they met. I had a look through it and found out the correct way to dice an onion, after 40 years of cooking!