Sunday 11 March 2012

Listography - Top 5 Cook Books

The theme for Listography this week is the top 5 cook books. In our house, the sign of a good cook book is one that you struggle to read because the pages are stuck together or there are stains on most pages. Here is my top 5 . . .

1. My Daddy Cooks - yes I talk about it a lot! I love this book so much. I got a signed copy from Nick when I met him at Cybermummy last year and it was well worth it. I cook from it several times a week.

2. Jamie's 30 minute meals - this is where it all started for me. A year ago, I couldn't cook at all. Short of heating things up in the oven or stirring in a sauce, I was pretty much useless! I got this book for Christmas and decided to Jamie Oliverise my kitchen. I bought lots of new utensils using the list from this book and cluttered up my worktops with spices and condiments. It worked and now I cook most of my meals from scratch, not a ready made pizza in sight!


3. Jamie's Ministry of Food - I love this book. For a person like me who is nervous about opening a cookbook because I have so little knowledge this book is the answer. No complicated recipes, good hearty, family food. 


4. Nigella's How To Be A Domestic Goddess - This was one of the very first baking books I bought. I have always been better at baking than cooking and this book was right up my street. My favourite recipe from this book is and always will be her chocolate brownies. It's like eating heaven from a spoon!


5. Netmums Recipes - I am kind of breaking the rules here as this is not a book but I couldn't not include it as it is my 'go to' place when I want to know how to cook something. It's where I have found my Beef Stew and Dumplings, Chinese 5 spice with honey salmon and my lentil and ham hock soup recipe but to name a few. This site is great as it's recipes are posted up by busy, skint mums like me who are looking for ways to feed their family healthy and tasty meals for as little money and time as they can. You can go to the search facility and type in an ingredient, let's say salmon for example. It will then bring up all the member's recipes they have with salmon in it. There is also notes at the bottom where users review the recipe or add a variation to the recipe.

This post is linking up to Kate Takes 5's Listography linky

Photobucket




23 comments:

  1. Got the Jamie Oliver 30 minute meals book already, not done anything out of it yet though...
    Agree with you on the netmum recipe pages, I actually included the Netmums Cookbook in my list! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've tried and tested several of Nick Coffer's recipes (and have the book) and I can testify that they are fool-proof - and fantastic. Great list of books. 

    ReplyDelete
  3. On the hunt for some new cookbooks I was somehow hoping that all the listography bloggers would agree on the same books, not really happening, though it looks like I should get one of Jamie's books!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I never really think of using many online recipes (helps now that I've got a working printer), but I'm a sucker for ripping them out of magazines - Essentials magazine is one of my standbys, there's always great recipes in there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I also have a couple of "not quite recipe books" among my cookery book collection. I'm very impressed that you went from being a complete novice to cookikng everything from scratch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Impressive and inspiring to hear how you went from zero to hero in the cookery stakes! And love that Nick and Netmums get a mention :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Seen a lot of Netmums suggestions through this link up- may have to check it out once Isaac is old enough to eat!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I use Netmums a lot too, it's really handy! I do love Jamie and Nigella and nice to see Nick in there too. Great selection :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have not  heard of Nick Coffer so am off to investigate. Love the collection you have shared.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Netmums sounds good, I will take a look.  I usually use BBC.co.uk/food...all the celeb chefs on there with great variety of recipes.  Who is Nick Coffer...looks good (looking!), may have to investigate #soshallow!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Definitely need to get my hands on a copy of Nick's book, can't believe I haven't bought myself one yet thanks for reminding me!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's brilliant! I've really enjoyed cooking from it over the past few months. 

    ReplyDelete
  13. He's a lovely guy and his book is great as is his blog. I like the Good Food website and the BBC food site. 

    ReplyDelete
  14. He is a fellow blogger (mydaddycooks) and I discovered him at Cybermummy last year. He's fab!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Netmums is my fall back if I need a quick easy recipe. x

    ReplyDelete
  16. won't be long now! Everyone has an opinion on weaning which I'm sure you'll be discovering but I highly recommend Baby Led Weaning (check out Gill Rapley) , it's worked really well for us as a family. 

    ReplyDelete
  17. I really was awful. The first time I made soup the whole batch ended up being binned, it was so bad! Now I cook fab meals most nights but I do have the odd disaster but then I see it as a learning curve!

    ReplyDelete
  18. It was my New Years Resolution to learn how to cook basic family meals and it's the only resolution I've ever achieved! There is still room in my life for the odd chicken nuggets, chips and beans night though just once and while though, not daily!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I don't even print the recipes, I just keep my laptop or phone beside me when I'm cooking - far enough away not to be covered in food!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love his books and although some of them can have longer than I'd like ingredient lists, they are worth it for a special dinner. 

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love his book and I have managed to get my husband to cook from it too! I haven't messed up a meal yet using his book. 

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yeah I saw that you had put the cookbook! I must try and get myself a copy. They are so simple to follow and practical for a family. 

    ReplyDelete
  23.  Nick's book sounds good. Must get one.

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments . . .