Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy [Hardcover]

 

 

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'In this book, GR shows you how you can eat great food at home - all the time - without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen.
Still using the very best ingredients (but not too many of them), brilliant combinations of flavours and uncomplicated cooking methods, he's produced a selection of over 100 recipes for every possible occasion - from breakfast through to formal dinner, informal and formal, for family and friends.
There recipes are, of course, smart and sophisticated - but they are also simple.....'

Includes a c 30 minute DVD, showing Gordon cooking in his own kitchen and explaining every step of the way, (plain cooking, and NOT a single 'F' word to be heard..... football.....or anything else)!

Durable hardboard covers, with GR looking on, open to 256 high quality, shiny pages, split over 9 main chapters:-

Breakfast & Brunch
Great Fast Food
Family & Friends
Summer Barbies
Just for Kids
Bellinis & Blinis
Posh
Dinner for Two
Cooking for a Crowd

plus an intro, an index and notes including 'My Store Cupboard & Equipment'.

The fresh, cornflower blue colour from the cover follows on throughout the book, as the title headers as well as the chapter opening narrative and main 'notes boxes'(the latter two having white text).

Each recipe is clearly laid out with the lower case title, the number of servings, the list of ingredients and a clear method, the main steps being enhanced in a bold text.

The aforementioned 'notes boxes', laced with typical GR humour are littered throughout the book, e.g.:-

'The secret of cooking fish is mastering the 'cuisson' or the point at which it is ready but not overcooked. Fish firms up during cooking and when it has reached 'cuisson' it will feel firm but give slightly if you press the flesh gently with your index finger.'

'Ready cooked lobsters are never as good as those you cook yourself, so I recommend that you get to grips with handling a live lobster! Their claws will be wrapped in thick bands so they won't nip you!'

A small taste of the recipes contained within:-

Gordon's Trifle
Sublime Scrambled Eggs
Sandwich of Crispy Pork
Banana and Passion Fruit Smoothie
Macaroni Cheese with Beenleigh Blue and Mushrooms
Roasted Cod and Tomatoes with Oven Chips
Fillets of Red Mullet with a Rustic Ratatouille
Braised Shin of Beef
Saddle of Lamb stuffed with Spinach
Barnsley Chops with Fresh Mint Sauce
Lemon Tart
Chunky Vegetable Soup
Party Biscuits
Cheese Toasties
Mini Meg Burgers
Roasted Pumpkin Crostini with Pancetta
Seared Tuna with Herbs
Steak Tartare
Pina Colada
Lobster Thermidor
Oven-Roast Duck Breast
Aubergine Gateau
Fondant Potatoes
Clam Soup with Samphire
Crab Salad
Chateaubriand for Two
Tagine of Lamb
Pecan Pie with a Cinnamon Crust
Hot Chocolate Fondant - 'Whenever I am asked for my favourite recipe, this is the one - it has a divine melting texture and the liquid centre is sublime.'

From the introduction:-

... 'Cooking still excites and entices me...Food is constantly evolving and I love the challenge of creating new dishes for my customers. However, I am not a fan of trendy, contrived food - it doesn't satisfy me. I would rather eat a tasty homemade fish pie than a tower of fish smothered with an unidentifiable sauce......'

A simple statement and the main reason why I like this book so much!
And I have to admit that 'Gordon's Fish Pie' is one of the tastiest recipes I have tried, especially followed by his 'Chocolate Pots with Grand Marnier'..... with a tiny 'tot' of the latter, along with a coffee and an 'After Eight', or two!
Simply heaven!

However, although 'Gordon Ramsay makes it easy', is certainly one of my most used GR books to date, it does come in at just under the maximum five stars, (in my opinion) due to the light number of illustrations of the finished recipes!
Having said that, what is pictured is excellent, naturally, and there a fair number of full colour shots of family and 'on-location' ones to balance the book.

The DVD foreword:-

'This book is not about the food I cook in my restaurants. Every dish is designed specially for you at home. The recipes are simple and sophisticated, they use the absolute best ingredients and they work every time. BUT they don't take hours to make or break the bank. And to make it even easier, I've cooked five at home - just to show you how to do it. GR'

BUT.......I couldn't possibly spoil it by telling what the recipes are!

Having always found his cooking wonderful but his style a little abrasive, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. As always the recipes sound delicious and are beautifully complimented by the photography, but this time it seems to be that the whole ethos is different.This book is not about reproducing a five star restaurant meal in your own kitchen, more a sensible, pragmatic approach to modern cooking for family and friends. The chapters are divided into different occasions ('summer barbies','just for kids','posh'etc), and the recipes whilst short and to the point are still distinctly Gordon Ramsay. One for both old and new fans, experienced and not so experienced cooks.

This book is a great book for both the starter and more exprienced cook. Where his previous book "Kitchen Secrets" was about those special occasion recipies this book is all about spicing up your daily food. It has lots of recipies that are easy to make and have great taste.

I highly recommend this book and hope you will enjoy the fantastic taste combinations that Gordon Ramsay creates in his recipies.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Hard to source ingredients
I live in Ireland & there are a couple of ingredients we can't get over here. I found this book is not suitable for family cooking as I thought it would be. Read more

Published 6 days ago by C Stone

2.0 out of 5 stars Not wonderful.
I bought this as a beginner/rubbish cook on the basis that i wanted to be able to make good food. It might be more suited to experts, coz it certainly isn't good for a novice. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Cavannaro

4.0 out of 5 stars Great cook book
Quite satisfied with the purchase. Great book with great recipes. One slight disappointment is the promised DVD. Read more

Published 24 months ago by I. Fetisova

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple delicious recipes
Gordon really makes it easy with some lovely recipes that anyone with some interest in cooking can make.

Published on 1 Dec 2008 by Arwin Nap

5.0 out of 5 stars The delectable Gordon Ramsay is excellent as always!
This was my first Ramsay cookbook and after using the recipes in here for a highly successful dinner party for friends, I am now a devoted Gordon Ramsay follower. Read more

Published on 2 Mar 2007 by Vienna Gal

5.0 out of 5 stars Does What It Says On The Tin
Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy. Perfect. As usual.

Published on 10 Oct 2006 by J. Chambers

5.0 out of 5 stars Gordon has done it again brillient
An excellent book, I have tried over half, and all come out perfect, the duck for two is sent from heaven, and if you follow Gordon to the letter, the duck is pink and perfect,... Read more

Published on 9 Oct 2006 by Lady Deborah Cox

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Value as it includes a five-recipe DVD filmed in GR's kitchen!
'In this book GR shows you how you can eat great food at home all the time without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen. Read more

Published on 14 Sep 2006 by Amazon Reviewer

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
While not all recipes are really usable (as in all cookbooks), there are some quite nice ideas and some good tricks and tips, making this book quite interesting. Read more

Published on 3 April 2006 by Philippe Marc Moreels

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
I was disappointed with this book. Too few photos. If I’m gonna cook something I would like to know what it’s supposed to look like. Read more

Published on 1 Feb 2006 by T. Oksanen

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