I first bought this book when I was working very odd hours and found myself exhausted by the time it came to making dinner (I was starting work at 4am!). I had used other Delia cook books and I had always found them to be very easy to follow and they taught me everything from the absolute basics to things I had been too scared to attempt, so I did not hesitate to pick this up. I needed help! I was tired all the time and just the thought of peeling and chopping could put me into a coma. I only had to cook for myself, my boyfriend (his answer to making dinner is the chinese takeout menu) and my disabled mother so I dread to think how I would have coped if we had children too. My mum's illness has her on a rather strict diet and she is a vegetarian to boot so it was becoming very difficult for me to find different meals, so just for that this book was a Godsend.
Every recipe in this book is easy to follow step by step and you know the end result will be delicious! There are many useful tips in regards to what you should ideally keep in your cupboards to be able to whip up a decent meal in a hurry and a great section for the meals and ingredients that are perfect to freeze. This has been really helpful in my case and I can seemingly make something out of practically nothing which is great for the days leading up to pay day when you have to tighten the purse strings.
I ended up buying a second copy of this book for my mother in law who was always a wonderful cook until she suffered a stroke 3 years ago and lost most of the use of her right arm.She always told us everything was fine and then we discovered she had been living on microwave meals for quite some time. When I spoke to her about it she told me that she was actually scared to even try cooking because of the lack of strength in her arm and her memory loss.She was terrified she would set the house on fire.So, I gave her this book with the hope she would give it a try and that she may get some confidence in cooking again. It has more than done the trick! She started with a couple of the simple recipies and now just 4 months later she is confident enough to try baking her own bread.She has been gaining some strength in her arm and boosting her memory just from using this book.I really can't fault this book at all and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2008
'How to Cheat at Cooking', if you simply haven't got the time or maybe haven't got the experience and/or confidence.From the introduction:🥕 '...What is included in these pages is not going to win you any Michelin stars, but if you are afraid to cook or you're a very busy person, it will ~ at least some of the time ~ revolutionise your life. Interested? Read on.'A durable plastic cover opens to 256 high quality shiny pages, with 140 recipes split over main CHAPTERS, namely:(1) who peels the potatoes?: anyone but you(2) capers in the larder: not the naughty sort(3) laid-back lunches: lighter stuff(4) cool!: as in summer(5) uncool: what mums used to make(6) chicken on the run: real quick(7) Asian express: Oriental gravy training(8) lazy braising: duvet days(9) veggie?: so now you tell me!(10) pronto Italiano: bye bye pizza take-aways(11) such a tart!: tricks and treats(12) sweet cheats: ending on a high...all sandwiched between an introduction, a list of all the recipes, sections entitled:~ 'a new way to shop'~ 'hidden servants'~ 'life from the freezer'...the 'top cheats' lists, stockists (including phone numbers & website addresses) and a full alphabetical index.Each recipe has its title and opens with some relevant text written in typical 'Delia' fashion, followed by the list of ingredients and a clearly defined method. Any notes or variations are included, along with the number of servings.Recipes include:luxury seafood pieMediterranean fish stewBlack Forest ham & lentil soupeggs Benedictpamboliasparagus with no-panic Hollandaisemy mum's macaroni cheesesteak and kidney easyamazing moussakamemories of goulashbanana bread pudding with toffee sauceCaribbean chicken with salsadhal curryAsian steak sandwichesSicilian sausages with tomatoes & fennelboeuf Bourguignon easycauliflower cheese and broccoli souplightning lasagnewild mushroom risottoclassic quiche LorraineAmerican coconut cream piechocolate cupcakes5-minute panna cotta with fresh raspberriescheat's Eton messrhubarb & ginger beer jelliesThe 2-page spread of 'top cheats' at the back of the new publication is a compilation of Delia's 'personal favourites' and these equate to 'basics' and are split into three lists:~ Store Cupboard~ Fridge~ FreezerThese lists cover most of the major 'supermarkets' and some named brands...but I am sure that any equivalent size would be suitable in the recipe.It would be fair criticism, I think, to worry about how up-to-date the latter pages will remain over time, in respect of the smaller businesses. Another possible criticism is that, although there is colour photography throughout, there are relatively few of the finished dishes which might be negative to those of us less experienced cooks who like to see what we are aiming for on the plate!In my opinion, this cookery book is aimed at those of us who want to cut a few corners, but still want to achieve a good result. Delia has added a new dimension to this updated publication by sourcing what she feels is the best 'short-cut products'...but, I think, it would be safe to say that these should be taken as guidelines only. Therefore, if a can of M&S tinned minced lamb is on the recipe list and an M&S food-hall is not just down the road, the same size of another brand will be just as good...or fresh minced lamb...or a piece of lamb, freshly minced...whatever you prefer and suits your budget.I guess it all comes down to what one thinks is 'cheating' at cooking, and most cooks do it from time to time, I would imagine. I am presently guilty of owning a bottle of 'Garlic Infused Olive Oil'...just in case! Without trying to sound like Peter Kay and his 'Garlic Bread' reference, I am sure that there will be those out there who think that it is criminal not to have a bottle of extra virgin oil and a clove or two of garlic to hand, all the time?I would also certainly recommend theKENWOOD Mini Chopperwhich Delia uses in her recipes, affectionately known as 'the Delia' in my abode![16 images attached ©️ Delia Smith]
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2008
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