h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm going back for my second year of university in September and will be catering for myself for the first time. I'm in the market for a really good cookbook. Now I've already got one of those student meals books, but I'm thinking of something more substantial. I need a kitchen bible. Something to last, something with variety, something accessible to a culinary beginner, but that will also allow my skills to develop. Something that will provide simple meals for when I'm lazy but also allow me to learn to cook properly (eventually). Something that goes right from how to boil an egg to how to create a full meal. A tall order for one book, I know.

I am somewhat enticed by Delia Smith's 'Complete Cookery Course'. Any opinions on that one? Any other recommendations? Let me know what you think.

Much appreciated.

Delia's probably your best bet, yes.

Although I acquired all my cookery knowledge during my Unviersity years from watching Ready Steady Cook while skiving afternoon lectures, so I can recommend that as a cheaper course of action.

B

Try and avoid books done by the 'designer chefs' as most of them dont normally cover basic basics.

Delia has done loads of books and the one you mentioned is quite good, but i would always go for one that isnt done by a particular chef, any bookshop would do basic cookbooks have a look and flick through the pages first.

My mum gave me 'The Dairy Cookbook' when I left home and it's pretty good - all your proper grub, none of your poncey nonsense (though that might have changed in the intervening years).

Thanks for the help.

I also think that the key is that alongside recipes it also has the basics of how to cook. Ie. how to roast. How to prepare such-and-such a vegatable. How long things take to boil. And so on.

Recipes, yes, but technique too.

The Dairy one's got all that - and conversion tables and all that stuff. I think the Delia 'How To Cook' one does too.

I was in the exact same situation this time last year, and I picked up the three volume 'How to cook', also by Delia. I assume its a different book? Anyway, I've found that very very useful. The basics (egg boiling, stir frying and the like) are covered very very well. Not only does she teach you how to boil an egg (or fry one, scramble one, or make an omelette), she has clever methods to make sure you get it just how you like it every time.

The actual recipes, however, rely on you having a good stock of different ingredients, which you might not. Its not too hard to figure out what can be dropped from the recipe though.

This year me and my housemates (one of whom has a car) do a weekly shop at an out of town supermarket (cheap) and then cook together, which makes it easier to have all the ingredients we need, and means that making yourself a decent meal every evening is a lot less tiring. There can be downsides if you have different tastes, and be aware that people might be looking to spend different amounts of money, but it does allow you to eat really well. And you'd be able to learn off of each other.

Anyway, highly recommend Goddess Delia in all her incarnations.

Oh, and second volume of Delia 'How to Cook' has comprehensive and precise (rare quality in a cookbook for some reason) instructions on cooking various vegetables and meats for you .

My Student Cookbook years ago was Delia Smith's Evening Standard Cookbook, and I still use it, but there is nothing wrong with the British Milk Board's Dairy Cookbooks.

It depends on what you want to cook.

My other staple is Charmaine Solomon's Asian Cookery, sadly now out of print, but well worth getting. The cuisine is sooooooo cheap, and tasty.......

Blimey, what is it with blokes and Delia?

BBC website also has some good stuff on cooking. Me I'm a Rick Stein fan, and he's not poncey, likes his Lancashire Hot pot as much as the continental grub.

MY cookery bible is the Margueritte Patten that I got for Christmas when I was 16...My husband loves it because it supplies all the conversion tables and tell us how long to cook a joint or a turkey for per pound/kilo.I dunno if it's still in print but she was a formidable cookery book writer and her explanations were very good...I still use her Victoria Sponge cake recipe to this day.

It's even mentioned by Amazon..and even I didn't realise just how many cookbooks she wrote.However this one is out of print..it cost 19'11 shillings btw.Yes that's OLD money.

Damn I feel so old...

Dr Oetker's Schulkochbuch. And you can learn German, too . Anyway, maybe there is an English translation.

You could also pick all your recipes from hootoo ?

The dairy book of home cooking is a good basic recipe book which has the conversion tables and so on in but you'll be looking for a second hand copy. I think the last edition was published sometime in the early 90s.
Delia also does the basic cookbooks, either the older complete cookery course or the newer how to cook series should do you fine.

J and I both acquired the Good Housekeeping cookery book while at uni - although mine was a newer version than his. It depends on how you shop of course, I'd buy what ever was on cheap and then try to work out what to do with it - much like ready steady cook in fact. It was really handy to be able to look up an ingredient and find different ways to cook it, with nice clear sections on the basics. The BBC Food website is brilliant for looking up stuff to do with ingredients too, although sometimes requires multiple fancy ingredients. At least it is free though - the internet has caused me to hardly use any of my other cookbooks.

I do like the Jamie Oliver ones, my brother rediscovered an enthusiasm and a talent for cooking thanks to them

One of my best friends has the Leith's Techniques Bible - which does have *some* recipes in, but goes through pretty much *everything* you'll ever need to know about cooking *anything*, including what your basic kitchen equipment should be and what your basic storecupboard should have in it. It goes even goes into how to make ice creams and jams - but it breaks things down step-by-step and so clearly you'll be able to tell if you're doing it right or not. It also runs into common mistakes and how to avoid them.

It is a massive book, though probably the only cookery techniques book you'd ever need.

Oh yes, and Delia Smith got an honourary degree from my uni which was bestowed during my graduation ceremony - she was introduced as the woman who brought garlic to england I've always liked her since watching her making a pie - the pastry cracked as she lined the dish. Other Egos would have reshot that but she just bodged it together and said not to worry, nobody will look at the bottom. My kind of cook

I'd endorse the 'Good Housekeeping' books too. My Gran gave me the basic one when I went to uni & I still refer to it occasionally. I also have a heftier tome that covers a wider range of foodstuffs & recipes.
Delia's books are good too. Look out for is 'One is fun', helpful ideas when cooking for one.

As a chef I would tell you to get a copy of The Joy of Cooking, which will last you a lifetime and will be passed to your kids.
To learn the basics you should start with making soups. They can be made to be meals in themselves. One can buy tins of chicken broth and add veges, beans, or rice, or all the above. Big tip here is that any bean or legume and rice will create a protien. Since meat and fish is very dear it can extend a meal.Pasta cookery is another economical way to keep fed and there are many recipes that use both veges, beans, and bits of meat.
Good luck and if help is needed, feel freee to ask.

Cesarani & Kinton's (? It's been a while) isd a good'n that they dish out on BTEC & C&G chef's courses. It's 16 years since I last used it though!

Delia Smith's Illustrated Complete Cookery Course. Can't beat it.

For basic family cooking, I have a Hamlyn Family Cookbook where every recipe has a photo to show you what it ought to look like. I find that very reassuring. Sometimes I've even produced meals that vaguely resemble the photo.

Mol