Whats Your Favourite Cookbook of All Time and Why?

[northepaul]

As the title says really.
I was watching the Sphie Dahl thing the other night about Mrs Beeton's Household management. I remember it was the only cookbook my beloved Gran had, it had belonged to her mother. She kept it in her kitchen drawer and it was in a rather sorry state....this got me wondering about everyone here.

So what is your favourite cookbook? Old or new, unknown gem or renound the wold over? Why do you like it.....

I'll start the ball rolling....

My favourite cookbook is River Cottage Every day. I have had it ever since it came out and it literally changed the way I think and make food. I make my own bread, I grow (some) of my own food and pretty much buy good quality meat/fish etc.

Its in a very sorry state, with stains all over it, and the odd rip... However I refer it it if I need to check something out, and I know some of the recipes off by heart.


If I can, I want to give an honourable mentions to The Cranks Bible - which I have had for ages and love and also Linda McCartney's book which was my first ever cookbook.

[VirginVegGrower]

Larousse Gastronomique - quite simply the bible to which to refer on all matters culinary.

[Bren In Pots]

My old time favourite is a battered old Be-Ro cook book its been with for what seems like ever, then my latest couple of books have been River Cottage ones and they get used most days.

[miker2d2]

I like "Seafood" by Rick Stein, I love seafood and all the fish i eat i catch from my recreational sea fishing boat, I never know what I'll get but this book has a recipe for it all.

[Seahorse]

I am a cookbook junkie (500+) and I'm a huge fan of Hugh F-W, Nigel Slater and Simon Hopkinson. However, my most used volume is Marguerite Patten's Every Day Cook Book. It's ancient and tatty (published in 1968!) but it has simple, clear and straight-forward instructions for SO many basics, pretty much all of which can be adpated, or 'updated' according to my whim and available ingredients. It's fab

[BroadRipple]

hello cookbook obsessives...Northepaul that's a very convincing recommendation for RCEveryday...I find Hugh FW so unbelievably annoying but maybe I shd try again...I've become addicted to reading/dreaming from Bread Matters but have only made one loaf so far...Grapes, breadmaking is the future...
my favourites vary depending on need...Nigel Slater's Real Fast Food taught me how to cook and I still love it for easy but interesting food for 1 or 2...The Ballymaloe Cookbook for nostalgia reasons...Claudia Roden Jewish Food...and so so many others.

while I'm here, anyone recommend a good baking book?
and any cookery books you've been disappointed by?

[SarrissUK]

My nanna had a very old cookbook that was for all sorts of food, but I remember the jam and chutneys section especially well. The recipes never failed her and the result was always amazing tasting products. Wish I could've got my hands on that book...
My favourite recipe books is from anything Jamie Oliver has released for their beautiful graphics and very easy recipes. I love Nigel Slaters food too, but simply cannot watch him on tv - he bugs the hell outta me! His books are good though

[binley100]

My most used and oldest cookbook is Marguerite Pattens Perfect Cooking bought for me when I was taking my Domestic Science O level many moons ago.
I also have a copy of Mrs Beeton that was given to a relative as a prize in 1911........worth keeping for the fascination value if nothing else..

[northepaul]

My most used and oldest cookbook is Marguerite Pattens Perfect Cooking bought for me when I was taking my Domestic Science O level many moons ago.
I also have a copy of Mrs Beeton that was given to a relative as a prize in 1911........worth keeping for the fascination value if nothing else..

Monetary value too Binley - could be an heirloom to hand down

[Newton]

I was given the original Naked Chef when it came out. I still enjoy the recipes and return to them time after time. Who knew then that Jamie would become what he has.......and I'll leave that up to you.

[Florence Fennel]

I used to collect really old cook books (one was a school text book and gave instructions on, amongst other things, how to cook on a range open fire, how to make a hay oven etc.). Like Bren I loved the Be-Ro cook books, but my favourite was an old Cookery Encyclopedia that I used to refer to quite a lot. My son's partner borrowed it. They split up. Book has never been seen since. Pity.
Of the new ones, I love River Cottage and Jamie Oliver for the simplicity of the recipes.

[Headfry]

For every day 'how to cook its' then the cook book that came with the Aga, but for a book with an inspirational 'cookery hug' it has to be Nigel Slaters Tender vol one and two!!! but like SarrissUK said - boy I find him difficult to watch!

ps has he moved house or just re vamped his kitchen? - ref: new series

[JamieSmith]

Cooking for Dummies because thats the only one whats not complicated

[Hilary B]

The Cookery Year. I think I've cooked recipes out of it twice, but it's a lovely book to own!
Good Housekeeping Cookbook is the one I use, it has the 'base' recipe for my special Christmas cake (I do my own variation, but I need the book for the basics), and several other 'I don't do it quite like that' recipes, that I like to double-check for timing and temperatures when I make my own version.

[OverWyreGrower]

Eeek... I have over 100.... which to choose?!?

Actually, I have a Good Food Magazine book, which is called "Everyday Cooking", or some such thing and is divided into sections like storecupboard meals, or leftovers etc.... very useful!

I've got a mince cookbook, which I think came free with a food-related magazine, which is awesome - it gave me loads of new things to do with mince, other than spag bol/chilli/cottage pie

My other staple is my preserve book, however, it's not really a cookbook unless you live on jam!

My newest acquisition is Simon Hopkinson's book, from his recent TV series.... some fab recipes, none of which are awfully difficult!

I refer to Nigella on all matters cake/dessert based though