My Favourite Cookery Books
Although I have most of Nigella Lawson’s cookbooks, Nigella Express is by far my favourite. I love Nigella, she is by far my favourite “celebrity” chef and I can watch her tv shows over and over again. She is the queen of food porn and I only have praise for the woman (and empathy after what’s happened recently). Anyway, Nigella Express is a collection of meals that are aimed at people who don’t have much time to spend cooking but want delicious food anyway. They’re also a hell of a lot more attainable than say Jamie Oliver’s. Although I’m not that person and I can spend hours slaving over a meal I do like the simplicity of them.. and like with all Nigella’s recipes, they taste so bloody good! There is also a section at the back about simple entertaining during the festivities, I cannot wait to give the recipes a go in my wee house this Christmas.
My favourite recipe in the book is actually a vegetarian one, Linguine with Lemon, Garlic and Thyme Mushrooms, although I have made it with chicken. It is so achievable and tastes amazing.
As a rule of thumb, I’m not a huge Delia Smith fan, I find her recipes complicated and there isn’t many that I usually like when I have a flick through her books. However, I LOVE her How to Cheat at Cooking book. I have tried so many recipes out of this book and it’s one of my go to books when I’m writing my weekly shopping list as so many of the recipes use stuff I pretty much always have in my cupboards for every day use. How to Cheat at Cooking is a book aimed at people who want to make fantastic meals but don’t want to put in all the hard work. It’s for the 21st century man or woman.. or even student.. who wants to do one shop and fill the cupboards without buying all the specialist ingredients. It is a must have book especially for all those busy mummy’s out there, this book is especially good for you lot!
I could pick LOADS of favourite recipes from in here, but the one I have made the most is the Cracked Potatoes with Melting Cheese & Spring Onions, it is one of the most delicious sides ever or works well as a quick lunch. The photo itself is making me suddenly feel starving!
Now onto my favourite book for when it comes to baking cakes, The Hummingbird Bakery’s Home Sweet Home book. I’ve always wanted a Hummingbird Bakery cookbook but I never got around to getting one as baking really isn’t my forte. However, this one was on offer for £8 in Tesco earlier this year and I got a voucher through the post for an extra £2 off so at £6 I really couldn’t say no! A lot of the recipes are complicated in it and I would of been really put off a few years ago, but I’m gradually working up my confidence to try new recipes all the time. I baked the Cookies and Cream cake for my sisters birthday in July and it turned out amazingly, everyone who tried it said it was the best cake they’d ever eaten haha. I can’t for my nephew’s birthday next month for when I can try something else! Home Sweet Home isn’t just cakes, it has biscuits, pies and even puddings so there is probably something everyone can try in it.
My favourite recipe the Strawberry Milkshake Cupcakes, I just baked last night for the picnic i’m going on with Little Miss, my sister and nephew today and although I don’t think they ever taste as “milkshakey” as they should, they’re so moreish and easy to bake.
Finally, I think I might have a problem with the amount of Gordon Ramsay cookbooks I own.. my total is currently running at nine which I think is over half the ones he has published, the rest are on my Amazon wishlist. Although I do find a lot of his recipes quite a lot more complicated than what my little kitchen can handle, I can’t not like his food or his books. I find his recipes simple to follow and give great results. I’ve struggled to pick just one favourite so i’m going to share my two favourites, Fast Food and Healthy Eating. Fast Food was the first ever “celebrity” chef cook book I got. An ex bought it for me when I was obsessed with the F Word as it contains recipes off of there. It has some fantastically easy meals for a novice cook like I was at the time. Healthy Eating is my go to cookbook when I’m on a dieting kick, the recipes are tasty, filling and still healthy so I always use it when it comes to finding something for my evening meal.
My favourite recipe from Fast Food is the No Bake Berry Cheesecake. This is my dad’s all time favourite cheesecake and I ALWAYS make it for him. It’s become a bit of a signature dessert. In Healthy Eating, my favourite is the Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Sage and Parma Ham, goes fantastically with Parmesan polenta chips.
And there we have it, my favourite cookbooks and favourite recipes from them. I hope this has inspired you to get yourself a new cookbook and get experimenting in the kitchen! I though I’d leave you with a few of the cookery books that are currently floating around my amazon wishlist.
12 Comments
Sophie Wearing
This is great!Yuo have similar taste to me!Ive now added the 2 gordon to my wishliST!xx
Amy Marie
If you get them let me know what you think!
Chelsea Joan
I love the hummingbird bakery book, I tend to take most of my sweet bakes from there 🙂 I desperately want those cracked potatoes now though! Thanks! haha
xx
Amy Marie
I have another Hummingbird Bakery book in my amazon basket, I need some more cake recipes for when my cousin comes to visit!
Alice Christina
Such a good collection of cook books! I’ve slowly started collecting more and more since moving out. I can’t wait to have my own home with my own personal cook book shelf in it 😀
Amy Marie
It was such an important thing to have! I had one in my last home and a couple of homes back both in the dining room, luckily this time I have a big enough kitchen to keep them in!
Louise H
Great collection I am a huge ccokbook addict can’t resist buying new ones 🙂 I would thoroughly recommned Nigella’s Christmas so really nice recipes Express is probably my favourite tho xx
Amy Marie
I’m the same I have to avoid places that I know is going to sell them cheaply because I can’t help myself! I really want the Christmas one before Christmas this year!
Kate Pirouette
Wow! What a wonderful collection! They all sound amazing. I’ve had Nigella Express in my basket for an age, you’ve inspired me to actually get the thing! 🙂
Kate xx
Just Pirouette and Carry On…
Amy Marie
You’ll have to let me know what you think and what recipes you try!
Linderella
Those strawberry milkshake cupcakes look yum. Managed to find a recipe online – can’t wait to make them!
I am also someone who puts little post-it tabs on all my favourite recipes too!
http://iamlinderella.blogspot.co.uk
Amy Marie
Yeah, I originally used an online recipe and that’s what inspired me to buy the book!