any good cookbooks

Posted by ellie55 (672 days ago)

which cookbooks do you use freqently?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Find what you are after in our Tokyo A-Z Directory

Posted by crj (672 days ago)

Hi Ellie

I used to use cookbooks a lot, but now rely upon the Internet.

http://www.epicurious.com
http://www.allrecipes.com
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com (baby and toddler)
http://www.care2.com/ (vegetarian/healthy)
and google for when I am looking for something specific.

For the maid to cook, I either use the cheap cookbooks from Dymocks that have the photos and clear instructions or I print out recipes and photos from the Internet.

I also have jsut a few specialty cookbooks that are collections of specific styles I like:
Claudia Roden's Invitation To Mediteranean Cooking

Sorry this isn't exactly what you asked, but with small HK flats I find the Internet a brilliant resource!

(I am based in Beijing)

Posted by Claire (672 days ago)

It's a bit of a broad request. Can we narrow it down?

Are you a novice in the kitchen? Any particular cuisine you are most interested in? Are you looking for quick, or low-fat, or dinner party, or ... etc.?

If you are a beginner, I would suggest Tamasin's Kitchen Bible by Tamasin Day-Lewis (yes, she is related) to get you going.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by ellie55 (672 days ago)

well,i meant the western cuisine to begin with.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Wheelymate (671 days ago)

i would buy delia smith's how to cook series. i don't have it myself but heard it's pretty basic for beginners.

she also has a website www.deliaonline.com lots of yummy recipes.

try www.bbc.co.uk/food too for lots of recipes.

(I am based in Singapore)

Posted by Claire (671 days ago)

Generally speaking I don't use cookbooks that often as I have enough recipes passed down through my family to fill dozens of cookbooks. But I do like to try special dishes for dinner parties.

"Western" food is a bit broad but I'll make suggestions for English, French and Italian food.

One of my first cookbooks (about 30 years' old!) is Jane Grigson's English Food. But it is available in reprint.

Nigell'a Lawson's Feast is not 100% English but has some good recipes - and she writes nicely.

I love the recipes in Raymond Blanc's Recipes from Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons which has recipes from his famous restaurant.

Another excellent French cookbook is Chef Georges Perrier's Le Bec-Fin Recipes - again recipes from the restaurant.

French Provincial Cooking by Elizabeth David is classic book.

Desserts: A Lifelong Passion by the fabulous French chef Michel Roux... too yummy for words.

A few books by Antonio Carluccio will help anyone get going with Italian good, yet simple, food: Italian Feast, An Invitation to Italian Cooking, and A Taste of Italy.

Claudia Roden's The Food of Italy is a good book, as is Mario Batali's Molto Italiano. Great recipes in Ursula Ferrigno's Trattoria.

(You might guess I love Italian food...)

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by crj (671 days ago)

Delia Smith is a great intro to English cooking - totally agree. My in-laws gave two to my husband years ago and they really do cover the basics.... too bad he never read them!

Marry Berry's cookbooks are also really great http://www.maryberry.co.uk/bk_books.asp
This one might be good to start with:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0789419963/maryberry-21

(I am based in Beijing)

Posted by Ruth at Clifford (670 days ago)

The Joy of Cooking

(I am based in Guangzhou)

Posted by expat97 (666 days ago)

Most book shops in HK stock some of the Australian Women's Weekly cookbook series (soft cover) - very easy to follow with nice pics and a glossary of ingredients in the back.

If you do a search, there is also a web site with recipes.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Claire (665 days ago)

Although ellie has not come back to us, if she does she should bear in mind to buy books with measurements she is familiar with. Metric measurements are the same the world over but some cookbooks are country-specific and she should know that a "cup" in the US differs from those in Canada or Australia.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by ellie55 (665 days ago)

hi claire,and all those wonderful replies-
im still here,but a bit busy of late!
i will read up some of the books recommeneded to see which suited me most,and i agree.www.bbc.co.uk/food is a good website.thanks.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by notmeok (665 days ago)

how are cups different in different countries? i thought they were 250 mls?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Claire (664 days ago)

The US cup is about 225ml. It can be rounded up to 250ml but obviously this can result in errors in baking. The UK cup was around 270-285 ml (people probably just using any handy cup) but it's kind of been standardised to 250ml. BTW, I've been baking for decades and have never used UK cups, always weight. Folks need to be aware of the UK cup size changing if making great-great-granny's favourite recipe. Canada tends to follow the US, but it's standardised cup is 250ml, as is Australia's; but there are many people still using non-standardised cups.

But then if the standard metric cup is 250ml, then the 1/2 cup should be 125 but look at measuring cup and it's 120ml. One third should be 62.5 while the measuring cup says 60ml.

Confusing, eh?

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by ellie55 (664 days ago)

ohh so confusing..well,i tried my hands on brownies today,they turned out quite well bake.what have you done recently..anyone?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Claire (664 days ago)

Recent baking episodes include coffee cake (as in British meaning), lemon drizzle cake, macaroons, lavender shortbread, lemon shortbread, Cantucci di Prato (aka biscotti in Starbucks). I enjoy baking and I hope you do too. What do you have mind to do next?

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by hkchoichoi (662 days ago)

I did a batch of brownies
toffee oatmeal cranberry cookies
white chocolate cherry cookies
banana muffins
banana bread
chocolate cake
it's been a fattening month!

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by FierceKitty (661 days ago)

You can't do better than Elizabeth David's books if you're a beginner. She's good at explaining how and why, which few cookery writers can manage. And you'll still be referring to many of her recipes thirty years later.

(I am based in Bangkok)

Posted by crj (658 days ago)

Well done Ellie

I would stay with Brownies, and start to experiment - add nuts, or chocolate chunks, or even coconut!

Then go on to your basic oatmeal raisin cookie - (healthier than chocolate chip, forgiving to cook and different from brownies) Again, after one time it works, then experiment - add different dry fruits, dark chocolcate chunks, coconut, cinammon, etc... and see what happens.

I think one part of cooking is following a recipe, but another part is being comfortable enough with one recipe to experiment with your own variations.

Enjoy!!

(I am based in Beijing)

Posted by Kimmi (655 days ago)

"Simply Bill" - Bill Granger BRILLIANT!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by dodie (645 days ago)

My first cook book was "The Joy of Cooking" and I still refer to it now as it seems to have everything in it (and I mean everything!). Except no pictures so may not be great for a true beginner, but it has everything from how to boil an egg and make toast to making fish and chips to over 5 different sponge cake recipes and how to make your own breadcrumbs.

For more contemporary recipes, any of Nigella Lawson books, although my favourite is "How to become a Domestic Goddess". I don't have FEAST, but will probably pick up a copy the next time I'm in Page One. Everyone says it's great.

Delia Lawson, also very good and easy to follow with some great recipes.

And let's not forget the Naked Chef.

I also can't resist picking up an Australian Women's Weekly recipe book when I'm in Taste. They are SO cheap ($15 - $20 for a small one) and easy to follow with gorgeous picks and generally great food.

(I am based in Hong Kong)