I have ordered the new Jamie Oliver cookbook and as I said in a recent post I ought not to buy another cookery book. What are you favourite cook books?

The most used in my kitchen is Madhur Jaffrey’s Cook Book subtitled Food for Family and Friends. My book is disintegrating with use or should I say my books as I have two the same. I bought a copy for my mum and kept hers when she died 4 years ago. I find it useful as she tells me the whole meal. I don’t always do the whole meal unless I am entertaining, but it gives me, especially, an interesting way of cooking the vegetables in my organic box. I always cook asparagus in the way she says with a toss in hot oil, add a drop of water and a sprinkle of salt and cook with lid on for a few minutes and then add oriental sesame oil. Delicious.

Cauliflower is cooked with ginger and grated parmesan or I do Delia Smith’s recipe with bacon and garlic. Actually, I do Delia’s cauliflower the most often. It is wonderful.

Away from vegetables, I always cook salmon with minty yoghourt sauce in summer. (Madhur Jaffrey again) Prawns are always cooked with courgette and coriander out of Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery.

Mackerel is always cooked with a Moroccan chermoula out of Nigel Slater’s “30 Minute Cook”. My chicken is always roasted with herbs inserted under the skin and rosemary, half a lemon and bay leaves in the cavity a la Jamie Oliver in the The Naked Chef.

Other recipes that I do frequently out of “Family & Friends” are Pasta with Chicken Livers and Tomato Sauce, Gingery Chicken Breasts served with Fried Potatoes flavoured with Fennel Seeds, Chicken with Fresh Dill and Double-Pepper Broccoli and Spicy Chicken stewed with Chickpeas. Pork chops are always cooked the Madhur Jaffrey way with delicious aromatic cabbage and neeps and tatties.

Now, while the lovage is around, I cook Sue Lawrence’s kedgeree with lovage and saffron.

These are some of my favourites. Tell us yours.

Audrey

I am surprised that nobody has responded to this posting. In my case, I am reluctant to admit what my most-used recipe book is.

Like most people, I have loads of cookery books but only take the occasional recipe from one or another. Another excellent source of ideas rather than recipes are the many TV cookery programmes. And, when I taste something good in a UK restaurant or when overseas, I try to re-create it back home. So I have ended up with a collection of recipes and ideas which I both use and play tunes on.

Now the admission, when I need to cook something traditional that I have never done before or not done for years, where better to go than the Delia Smith book that went with her first major TV series? You know, the one where the cover shows her looking very young holding an egg.

David

Hello Audrey,

Have been meaning to reply but have been busy getting ready for our local cheese festival and then after a very hectic weekend, recovering. We really are getting too long in the tooth for these larks! Managed to distribute quite a few Herb Society leaflets including a bundle to the local herb grower for his customers. Favourite cookbooks, a difficult one. I've got so many, I don't buy new ones now except from the jumble or charity shop. I must admit a great liking for traditional country recipes, especially unusual ones and have several W.I. books, especially good for cakes. When we were first married I bought a copy of Farmhouse Fair, collection of recipes from the Farmer's Weekly, my copy wore out but I found another at a table-top sale for 10p. Last of the big spenders me! I did find a Madhur Jaffrey book a few month's ago but have to stock up on my spices etc. Living in the sticks means I have to remember to make a list on the odd occasions I venture into town. One of the books I use most often is a Good Housekeeping Book of Vegetables, I often make Pepper and Onion Flan, Runner Beans Provencal, and a very simple but delicious Tomato Sauce from this one. An absolute gem of a find was an Ambrose Heath book of 'Jams, Preserves and Chutneys', published in the early 60's. I made some Spicy Plum Sauce the other week and tried a dessertsponful in some gravy with some Venison Burgers from the Festival. Wow! There are some good herby recipes in it too. The only problem with so many cookbooks is that when I want a particular recipe half the time I can't remember which book it's in. Sad isn't it?

Jane