Customer Reviews:
 Excellent for novice cooks November 7, 2003
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
This is my favourite recipe book, I have found some family favourites which I do again and again so it's been really good value, Christmas pudding, beef in beer, coq au vin, pastry, white sauce, cheescake. I really like the fact that at least some of the recipes use very ordinary ingredients which you have in your cupboard or local shop! There are also some really special recipes but I hate fiddly cooking - I cook like a mad woman and freeze everything so I like things simple enough so I can cook three meals at once, not many recipe books let you do that! It's also a really good reference book, how to do things and what ingredients you can swap about.
GET IT!!!!! October 27, 2002
32 out of 32 found this review helpful
Having read the reviews on this page, I agree with most of the comments. I too have had problems with a few recipies in regards to timing and oven temp etc etc etc, but as you cook more and more, you kind of get a feeling for things such as temp and time and these problems lessen!I consider this book to be the pride of my collection!!! It was bought for my wife many moons ago when it was first released. Since then, my interest in cooking has increased, and I have to say that I use recipies from this book all the time. Despite a few wobbly moments (see previous comments), on the whole the recipies are clear and easy to follow, and there are some real good tips on preperation, on buying produce and on equipment. I enjoy Delia's style of writing and her opinions regarding food and others recipies! She is a traditional cook and seems to encourage the use of Lard in just about everything (heart blockage on the way!), but the results are fantastic!!! While I use many cookery books, this is by far my favorite as it has proved useful as a beginer and now as a slightly more experienced cook!!! I can only recommend that you people out there purchase this book!!!
 great book if you want to learn the basics December 14, 2001
24 out of 28 found this review helpful
I was given this book as a present when I became interested in learning how to cook.If you are a novice I can highly recommend it, it explains how to deal with all sorts of ingredients you may not of encountered before, I always refer to it when I'm cooking somthing new. Its also great for simple techniques such as white sauces and pastry. My only complaint is that some of the recipes just don't work ! whether its the quantites or the wrong oven setting , however if you have some experience you can realise this before it goes horribly wrong. Having said all that I couldn't do without my copy , thanks Delia !
I found it to be very clear and easy to understand October 23, 2000
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
I was very impressed with the book apart from one tiny fault. I was given the book as a birthday present from my mum. I held a dinner party and for desert i cooked profiteroles, these did not go according to plan as they came out burnt! I told my Mum about this. In this book it states to increase the temperature of the oven. In another Delia Smith (evening standard) book my Mother owns it says to decrease the heat, I couldn't understand this contradiction.
 Not all its cracked up to be! September 14, 2000
10 out of 21 found this review helpful
I have heard great things about this book and when I read it I thought the receipes were good, however, when you put them into practice things don't come out as you expect! You may think that I am doing something wrong, but no, too many friends and family have the same problem! Not all of the receipes are bad, but some! WARNING Don't go near the corgette dishes!
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