We are peak Bake Off right now. Mary Berry and Nadiya have alighted our screens for the last few weeks and Jamie kept us cooking through lockdown. They all have new cook books out and we review the best of them to see which ones should be in your stocking for Christmas.
7 Ways by Jamie Oliver
From the TV show, thrown together at a moments notice, that kept us all cooking over lockdown comes the accompanying book. Set around the 7 ingredients we buy most often, Jamie gives us 7 new recipes for each one. As with his last few books, central to 7 Ways is nutrition awareness and fewer ingredient recipes. I’ve road tested this book for about 5 weeks now and my family have loved the hoisin pork (who knew making steamed buns was so easy), the peri-peri whole roast chicken and the prawn stuffed salmon. The instructions could perhaps be slightly clearer but it’s simply set out and doesn’t everyone appreciate a new way to cook cauliflower?
Mary Berry – Simple Comforts
Surely there aren’t any recipes that Mary hasn’t done before? Again linked to a TV show whilst there isn’t anything life changing, recipes such as ‘Granny’s Gingerbread’ and ‘coffee and praline cake’ (there are savoury recipes but I have a sweet tooth). will always catch the eye. And she is a national treasure
Nadiya Bakes – Nadiya Hussain
Book Social fans will know how much we loved Nadiya’s last book so it was with high hopes we approached her latest offering. Firmly in baking mode there are sweet and savoury recipes and the inevitable TV series. Whereas the TV series felt a little tone deaf (summer sharing platters broadcast in October lockdown) recipes such as ‘cheesy, spicy tear and share bread’ and ‘lime and chocolate croissant pudding’ make your mouth water. As with previous Nadiya books the fat content (at least two recipes use a whole wheel of cheese) can be high but the use of store cupboard staples like marmalade and cornflakes prove a winner.
Nigella – Cook, Eat, Repeat
It’s been a while but Nigella is back (just in time for Christmas) with a new offering of recipes and musings. It had me at the chapter entitled ‘A Loving Defence of Brown Food’ an ode to the family dinner, but recipes such as Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake (you might have seen this on Insta) or rice pudding cake (again – my sweet tooth) have already got my jeans straining. THIS is the one I most hope Santa delivers.
Buy Indie
That sums up the big guns but don’t forget the likes of Ottolenghi, The Downton Abbey Christmas Cookbook oh and Joe Wicks 30 Day Kick Start plan to get you January ready. Whichever you choose in this second lockdown period please try to buy indie. Lots of independent book shops have websites that you can order from and who will post them to your door. Fingers crossed they will also be open again in early December. Remember use them or lose them. #IndieRocks