Amazon.co.uk Review
Much has changed in the world of television cookery since Delia Smith first rose to fame in the late 1980s and many celebrity chefs have come and gone, taking a host of novelty gimmicks with them. But in the face of all challengers Delia remains the undisputed doyenne of cooking to camera, the only person capable of reducing otherwise sane adults to pitched battles over the last jar of sun-dried tomatoes at the local supermarket. Now she has gone back to basics once more to produce her
How to Cook course, based on explaining and demystifying key elements such as eggs, flour, vegetables and meat, and providing the building blocks for more exotic fare. Such homespun simplicity has always belied a willingness to embrace new influences and ingredients, and it may come as a surprise when, having started out with modest ambitions you find yourself launching into Oriental Pork Casserole with Stir-Fried Green Vegetables or Chocolate-Crunch Torte with Pistachios and Sour Cherries.
The 10 programmes in this second part of the How to Cook course (Part One is also available on video) are organised by straightforward subjects such as fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, cheese and chocolate. Over 80 new recipes are concisely and clearly presented over the course of five hours, including Pad Thai Noodles with Shrimps, Individual Steak, Mushroom and Kidney Pies, Paella, Char-Grilled Aubergine and Roasted Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese, Tropical Fruit Salad in Planter's Punch and Melting Chocolate Puddings. The video also allows you to find individual recipes quickly and easily using a very helpful "quick find" index of all recipes on each programme, referenced by their start time and the page number in the corresponding book. On-screen recipe details, including ingredients and equipment required, complete the perfect introduction to the joys of cooking Delia-style. --Steve Napleton
Synopsis
The second part of the series covers all aspects of cookery from preparation to cooking with cheese, fruits and chocolate and deciding what to keep in the store cupboard.