Complete Illustrated Cookery Course - Delia Smith

DELIA SMITH'S COMPLETE COOKERY COURSE


The book that I am reviewing is more than 15 years old and is the illustrated complete hardback version. I have seen paperback versions in the shops and also ones that are a smaller size than my copy. However, I believe the content is mostly the same.


***What's it all about?***


This is a complete illustrated cookery course and my copy contains 576 pages. ...
...book is then broken down into chapters. The chapters are the usual type:


Eggs
Bread and Yeast Cookery
Stocks and Soups
Pates and Starters
Fish
Meat
Poultry
Offal
Vegetables
Rice and other grains
Vegetarian Cooking
Pulses
Pasta and pancakes
Herbs
Spices
Sauces
Cheese
Salads
Barbecues
Cream, ice-cream and yoghurt
more

DELIA SMITH'S COMPLETE COOKERY COURSE

The book that I am reviewing is more than 15 years old and is the illustrated complete hardback version. I have seen paperback versions in the shops and also ones that are a smaller size than my copy. However, I believe the content is mostly the same.

***What's it all about?***

This is a complete illustrated cookery course and my copy contains 576 pages. There is a conversion chart at the beginning and the book is then broken down into chapters. The chapters are the usual type:

Eggs
Bread and Yeast Cookery
Stocks and Soups
Pates and Starters
Fish
Meat
Poultry
Offal
Vegetables
Rice and other grains
Vegetarian Cooking
Pulses
Pasta and pancakes
Herbs
Spices
Sauces
Cheese
Salads
Barbecues
Cream, ice-cream and yoghurt
Pastry
Cakes
Scones and Biscuits
Fruits
Preserves
Left-overs

Sorry to write a long list, but I think that it is good to know what you are buying. The layout of the book is good, with recipes interspersed with photos. Cooking temperatures are also given in both centigrade and fahrenheit. The typeface used is also easy to read, with the ingredients displayed in bold.

There is also a list of equipment that is recommended for kitting your kitchen out with.

***Opinion***

I have had this book for over 15 years and have used it at least once a week. It could hardly be described as 'fancy' cooking and doesn't necessarily need a cupboard full of exotic ingredients. However, if I am about to cook something that I have never attempted before, then this is the book I turn to. I think that it's simplicity is it's strength.

I have collected many other recipe books over the years and whilst they have had something new to offer, this book remains my favourite and the one that I get the most out of.

I know that Delia Smith, along with her tv shows, has written many new books, but I would say that she is best remembered for this one.

As well as describing the recipes in detail, she also gives an overview at the beginning of each section, detailing basic knowledge about the benefits and origins of certain ingredients. For example, with offal (not a popular choice), she details why it is good for you and the differences between the types available. I like this background knowledge. I think it is good for teenage cooks, who may not have come across many types of vegetables for instance.

There are some nice whole page illustrations, (funny mine end results don't seem to look much like them!). I am joking, most of the recipes attempted turn out fine. I just wish there were a few more of them. I particularly like how each recipe sets out how many servings it is for and the equipment needed before you get started.

As I have said earlier there are no demands for fancy or expensive ingredients. I think that it should be a staple of any kitchen and that it is a bargain considering I use it regularly and will continue to do so, for the rest of my life. Sometimes the old ones are the best and can't be improved on.

I lost my mum a short time after leaving home, when I was relatively young. It sounds silly, but I haven't had anyone to check basic queries with when it comes to cooking - this book has been the place I have looked to check. I remember having to cook duck for Christmas dinner for the first time and Delia didn't let me down! I have often bought it for a house-warming present.

Therefore as cookery books go - this is one of the best!

***Availability***

The hardback large version that I have is available from Amazon for £16.35, although there is a smaller paperback version available from £8.39.

Summary: A staple ingredient for any kitchen.

This review is also published on Dooyoo under the same username.
 

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