It's that time of year
again! I have been scouring the shelves on the hunt for the best
cookbooks to give and receive as presents this year. This year's
offerings are full of titles from well-known favourites plus the
debut book from the 2013 Great British Bake Off winner. So get
your pens at the ready to note down what you like to be unwrapping on
Christmas Day.
Top of my list is this
year's book spin-off the Great British Bake Off. It's not all
about cake as the weekly themes of the Bake Off are featured
with both sweet and savoury recipes. Learn how to do those technical
challenges just how Mary and Paul wanted them and try out some of the
contestants' signature and showstopper creations.
The winner of the 2013 Great
British Bake Off has released her first book which is full of the
trademark quirky and original bakes which we got used to admiring
each week. There's a vast range of styled bakes with owls, bees,
rainbows and ballet slippers all featuring. If you never seem to have
the right sized tin then recipes are written out with different tin
sized noted.
A familiar figure each week
on Saturday Kitchen it's time for James Martin to once again
to show his skills in the patisserie kitchen. Sweet will take
you from morning elevensies to afternoon tea and onwards to
spectacular dinner party creations.
The intrepid duo have been
busy gathering together 120 recipes purely centred on meat. However
you like to have your meat there's a section for you from roasts to
pies with hot, fiery recipes and even a section on leftovers. If
you've got bored with your meat and two veg meal then this is for
you.
Stepping out of the
Masterchef kitchen and into his own John Torode gives us an insight
into the meals that he actually likes to cook himself. There's some
relaxed breakfasts which run over into brunch and no self-respecting
Australian chef can bring out a cookbook without a few barbecue
recipes.
This may not have a
celebrity chef behind it or a television series to go with it but the
original Silver Spoon Italian cookbook has sold over 1 million
copies. If you want a gentler introduction to the delights of
traditional Italian cooking then this will guide you through over 100
recipes which can be made in 30 minutes or less.
If the British winter is
getting you down perhaps it's time to take a culinary trip to warmer
climes. Dream of the sunshine as you take a tour with Gino through
authentic Italian recipes from Sardinia and Sicily.
She's back! Putting behind
her the personal troubles of the last couple of years Nigella is back
with a new TV series, new house and most importantly new recipes. Her
recipes have been causing quite a stir on social media recently but
Nigella's books are always something a little more than just a list
of ingredients and method.
If you think Christmas is a
time of over indulgence then there's a selection of cookbooks to help
you get back on track. Going through the whole day Lorraine has
simple but tasting meals which won't want you yearning for something
else. Even for relaxed weekends there are recipes for movie nights
including popcorn, breadsticks and pizzas plus a range of Sunday
roasts for meat eaters, vegetarians and pescatarians.
If there's a food trend then
you can be sure that Jamie Oliver is on to it. As his slimmed down
face beams out from the cover inside you will find some traditional
favourites reworked with a few twists in order to make them that
little bit more better for you. The cream in a carbonara is replaced
by natural yoghurt and lasagna is made with squash, cottage cheese
and seeds.
If you're wanting to start
2016 off on the right foot nutrition wise then have a think about
this book. There's a six week plan to help you get on your way plus
tips on what to fill your kitchen cupboards with and negotiating the
tricky situations of eating out healthily.
Those familiar with Volumes
1 and 2 of Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries won't be disappointed with
this third book. The style of cook, photograph, eat and write all
still there. A treat for Nigel Slater fans whether you are reading in
the kitchen or the living room.
What cookbooks have you
bought this year? Which ones are on your Christmas gift list?
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