A SAVIOUR, BASIC COOKERY HANDBOOK, 27 Sep 2005
By Colin Neville (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
As a Type 1 Diabetic since 1963, blood testing, correct Insulin dosage and correct quantities of sensible foods are my first daily basic essentials for continuation of life. When my ex-wife announced an unexpected divorce in 1990, I had to learn very quickly, how to cook; in order to survive. This book was my saviour. It teaches the rudiments for the preparation and cooking of: vegetables, meats, poultry and fish, in an easy to understand no frills, no nonsense manner. It recommends portion sizes/weights, cooking times and temperatures. It also suggests which vegetables to accompany the subject meat, poultry or fish dish. A first ... Read More:
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This book is witty and seems to understand that people who can't cook can't cook. step by step simple stuff. unfortunately it is geared towards american cooks and shoppers and so the terms used, the measurements and the brands recommended are not relevant to the UK cook.
For example all the measurements are in 'cups' so i have had to invest in a set of measuring cups rather than being able to use my trusty set of scales. And Zucchini are listed instead of courgettes. For me this is ok, but for my struggling other half using these unfamilar terms is rather confusing and just adds to his anxiety about cooking.
Lastly there is an ingredient listed for a 'magic quiche' called 'bisquick'. what on earth is this??
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Okay, time to put jokes about egg powder and egg sarnies aside. I wouldn't want anyone thinking of buying this book to be put off as this is quietly a work of total genius. And actually that's the thing about the egg. It is a bit like the potato in that way - a humble, simple ingredient - but it can be used in so many delicious ways. It's a perfect food. If you only have an egg in the cupboard then you have a meal. And in this book Michel Roux exploits the egg oeufre (apologies...) to the maximum - from eggs as breakfast, as comfort food, as elegant dish, as bit of cheffy brilliance. But I quite disagree that his recipes are tricky. Yes, he might throw in the odd technique, but all that requires is a little bit more attention, nothing a regular kind ... Read More:
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The recipes look great, also there is some advice at the beginning, however I would like to have seen more pictures, it always helps in cookery.
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The recipes look great, also there is some advice at the beginning, however I would like to have seen more pictures, it always helps in cookery.
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The recipes look great, also there is some advice at the beginning, however I would like to have seen more pictures, it always helps in cookery.
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I'm an enthusaistic amateur with a wide variety of cookbooks covering many styles. This however, is one that I regularly return to. John Burton Race and Angela Harnett have written in a very open and easy style, but more importantly, the portion sizes, cooking times and temperatures are spot on which is an area that I find many other authors are weak with... also this isn't what might be termed "extravagant" restuarant food, it's just a great selection of fantastic quality, inventive yet achievable recipes. Thoroughly recommended, even if the book title is terrible!
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This book is very well presented, easy to read, fabulous photos!
Every recipe has a photo showing you what your creation should look like and all the different cooking techniques have step-by-step photos so you can't go wrong.
We have 5 chickens arriving with us soon and we are hoping to have lots of eggs - if you have hens, don't give your eggs away to neighbours, get this book. It's an absolute must!
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I bought this book so I could bake for my 5 year old daughter who is allergic to eggs, nuts, strawberries to name a few! Thank you so much Rosemarie for taking the time to write this book - the look of joy on her face that she can eat a cake for a change (even if she doesn't like the taste of it) is priceless. One comment I would like to make is that there are a few "americanisms" I don't understand. Luckily I have an American friend who can translate ingredients such as Club Soda which is Sparkling Water and not White lemonade as I was about to add in the recipe. A few other recipes suggest adding instant chocolate pudding mix or similar things which we don't have this side of the pond and we don't know what they are so we can't substitute them. It ... Read More:
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Travel books and cookery books are not my normal fare. But on this occasion, following a terrifically good holiday to Laos I was lent a copy of Ant Egg Soup - an account of a food tourist's visit to the Lao PDR.
Essentially, Ant Egg Soup is an exercise in journalism rather than literature. The theme is reportage, even if there is a leitmotif of food and recipes through the text. And that is fine, Laos is an interesting country about which the world knows little. Natasha du Pont de Bie's food orientated travel broke down barriers with the Lao people, allowing her to gain very personal perspectives on the nation's troubled history. This comes into particular focus in the Plain of Jars chapter, where Natasha du Pont de Bie meets the cousin of a Lao ... Read More:
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