River Cottage School

[Birdie Wife]

I don't mind Antony Worral Thompson, but I have to say Saturday Kitchen has never been the same since they ditched Greg Wallace and put AWT in his place. It went all 'lovey' and the producers got loads of celebrity chefs rather than the good old down-to-earth genuine cooks that Greg could have a laugh with. Brian Turner, he's good too. Rick Stein I used to like but now I'm not so sure... he's all for French cooking (though he did make that British food heroes programme), uses French cooking terms when there's a perfectly good English word and he's always banging on about 'why can't we do it like they do on the continent?'. Well, mostly we don't do it that way because we in this country abide by European standards whereas the French just ignore them. Grr.

[Earthbabe]

I miss Greg Wallace on Saturday mornings too. I let Miss E have the TV if she wants now and listen to Top Soil on local radio with the lovely sounding Pippa Greenwood.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Went off Rick Stein when I found out he'd got an auzzie "mistress" and expected his wife to say ok! talk about a mid-life crisis! DDL

[Earthbabe]

I'd heard there had been a problem but didn't know the details. May rethink but I like the way he champions seafood generally and particularly like the british seafood book.

Heard on the radio that JO is doing some kind of live "cook cast" to teach people to cook a meal from scratch. I'm sure Delia did something about teaching people basic cookery didn't she. However she isn't popular and trendy and doesn't talk in a funny accent........ Her recipes always work though.

[dexterdoglancashire]

I always go back to Delia if I can't find a recipe anywhere! Good old Delia! DDL

[Earthbabe]

Me too. Gods bless her. Shame about her choice of football team though!

[nick the grief]

Me too. Gods bless her. Shame about her choice of football team though!

No one is as perfick as what I am .

How about Johnny & Mrs Craddock what a team they were & the imortal quote

"May you wine be as good as Johnny's"

" May all your doughnuts turn out like ... " well I think you can guess the rest

[JennieAtkinson]

Glad someone mentioned the Craddocks before me! Showing our age now Nick.

We have a friend who is a chef and now teaches at the local college, and he reckons Delia's recipes are foolproof ......... not necessarily exciting, but foolproof. Years ago when my husband first took up cycling, I just couldn't cook enough to feed him (its before we knew about energy foods, pasta was unhead of etc) and my boss at the time knew Delia and mentioned it to her and she sent me a copy of her "Frugal Cooking" (which I think is now out of print). It is a super book if you can get it. I still use alot of the recipes.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Christmas isn't Christmas without the re-run (again and again) of Fanny and Johnny Craddock - well, mainly, Fanny! who can't forget those bloody awful bright green piped potatoes! (well, they looked green on the tv!) and those petit fours! DDL

[Alison]

My moto is to always use Delia's recipes if in doubt - never liked her as a presenter but her books are very reliable and you'll get what you expect. Am still using the complete cookery course I won in a competion at school - wasn't too impressed when I was 16 but it's been a faithful source of advice over the years.

[JennieAtkinson]

Apparently shortly to be scheduled is "The Private Life of Mrs Beeton". The trailer looked a bit steamy .......... and that was just the kitchen!
Hmmm ........

[Birdie Wife]

Along the same lines as the Elizabeth David one? Now there was an enlightened lady...! But I hate it when they try and sex up perfectly good stories for the sake of bringing in a bigger audience. Sadly, I'm sure it works too.

[Earthbabe]

One of my most reliable if incredibly staid books is my mum's old Marguerite Patten book that she got with a book token at 16 (she's now 61). No use for new ingredients but fab for info like which bit of a pig/cow/sheep is which for cooking and basics like batter, custard etc.

[dexterdoglancashire]

One of my favourite cook books (yes! another one!) is "The dairy book of home cookery" by the Milk Marketing Board - I had a really old one that I was given when much younger - before I got interested in cooking - but have an updated version - again, lots of very useful, basic cooking advice, and recipes. Well recommended! for those who are new to cooking (and oldies like me!). DDL

[nick the grief]

Have you got the Be-RO cook book as welll DDL? I think it was about 2/6 + three tokens of the flour Belting little book for cake & pastry recipes