The River Cottage Family Cookbook (River Cottage Cookbook)

Everytime I use or even flick through this cookbook, I am more and more impressed. It has a lot of useful information about ingredients and methods, and even as a seasoned cook I have learnt so much. The recipes are so easy to follow, as you would expect in a family cookbook, and it gives warnings and advice to ensure everyone's safety in the kitchen. And every recipe I have tried has worked perfectly.

This cookbook inspired me to make my own jelly (I am talking the wobbly dessert type of jelly, not jam), home made ice cream (the best vanilla ice cream I have ever had) and brownies (crisp outer, soft inner - wonderful!). Plus the chocolate chip cookie recipe is top notch and so easy and quick. And I have also started making my own bread from this cookbook, easier than you think! It is one of the few cookbooks where I can see myself, eventually, having tried every recipe...they are all so appealing and useful.

I am shocked that anyone gave this cookbook one star - I say ignore that review and listen to all the others. I have a large collection of cookbooks and this would be the one I would recommend most highly.

essential (2/2 people found this helpful)

We bought this for my daughter when she was 2, ok we bought it for ourselves but she opened it on christmas day.
For about a year after getting it I would find her muttering to herself flicking through the pages, it is lovely to do as an adult too.
I cook from this book on a weekly basis, and I have learnt alot about why and how receipes work and I think I have more confidence to experiment now.
It is a great book to have for all those good meals and baking goods that have withstood the test of time, it is an essential cookbook to have in any collection. Many recipes are easy to make with children, and it is worth owning for the banana bread and fish pie recipes alone.

The River Cottage Family Cookbook. (1/1 people found this helpful)

For me a cookery book really needs to stand out.How many times have i ploughed though endless amount of cookery books and to find them extremely over powering with recipes that require a long list of ingredients along with the fact that most recipes cater for large amounts of people.This i would highly recommend,if you love Hugh Fearnley-Whittingsta then buy the book which is co written with Fizz Carr.Hugh's books in the River Cottage series have scooped all the top food writing awards including the Glenfiddich trophy,the guild of food writer's Michael Smith Award and the Andre Simon Award.This book won the Guild Of Food Writer's Cookery Book of the year award in 2006 and you can understand why with this family Cookbook.This is a counter-top bible,designed for the whole family,crammed with delicious recipes,simply & clearly explained,its a great way to learn the basic without feeling patronised like all those other cookery books tend to do.Ok the book has some of the most basic recipes going from how to boil a egg,making scrambled eggs,poaching eggs making Eggy bread the pefect camping food,perfect breakfast food,making basic and quick eay omelettes from the french omelette to the Spanish omelette.It cover's making Pancakes,Drop Scones,Banana Bread and so much more.He explains everything so you just cant go wrong which is great if you sometimes get a bit confused. He even tells you on most of the pages how to eat the food which will suit uou and you family.Yes,some will say who wants to know how to boil a egg,which most of us can do,but some will have done no cooking or any cooking at all,so this will be a book made in heaven for those starting.I was taught to cook from my mum with her skills being passed onto me,but for me the most enjoyable thing about cooking is always going back to the basics.If you have children younger or older then age wont be a problem to those that want to get their hands stuck in.Its a family book as it says but anyone can use it.The recipes are probably all do-able for a child with a parent's supervision, but the book isn't actually written for children. The prose reads at about the same level as a newspaper and is of general interest to anyone wanting to know more about food and cooking. It's an excellent place to start for a person of any age who wants to cook good, healthy food from scratch. This book is NOT one for an encyclopedic source of recipes.He covers many basic dishes, but you likely won't find everything you'd like to try and cook. If anything, the majority of recipes tend to center on basic, wholesome comfort food.The book also looks at the principles behind cookery and the ethics of where food comes from. This really is a book about food rather than a simple recipe book.
For anyone who has a similar philosophy to Hugh, then this book is a breath of fresh air. For those that don't - this book could be a revelation!and for the price,who cant beat it.

A really good easy cookbook to use!! (1/1 people found this helpful)

It's a really good easy cookbook to use. The whole family can use it and enjoy it, the reason I bought the book was I was moving way to uni and I used it as much as my parents. It takes you back to basics with certain recipes but also has some more complex recipes. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Must-have cookery book (2/2 people found this helpful)

I love this cookery book. It's fun, inspiring and brilliantly easy to follow. If I need to cook pancakes, macaroni cheese or spaghetti bolognese for my children, it's the book I always turn to. But it's definitely not just for children. It's packed full of delicious recipes that would please the fussiest adult - and is beautifully illustrated. My favourites so far: scrumptious soda bread, chicken curry and pear and almond pudding cake. I've bought numerous copies for birthday presents. Highly recommended.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Fizz Carr

Reader Reviews:

Most used cookbook on my shelves! (2/2 people found this helpful)

essential (2/2 people found this helpful)

The River Cottage Family Cookbook. (1/1 people found this helpful)

A really good easy cookbook to use!! (1/1 people found this helpful)

Must-have cookery book (2/2 people found this helpful)

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