Cookbooks to help feed every kind of household
While recipes are readily available online these days, there's nothing quite as nostalgic or homely as pulling out an old cookbook and putting it to good use. We saw our parents do it as kids, and now – whether we're feeding our own family or hosting our friends – there's often continuity in the food we like to cook.
We asked our team to tell us about the cookbooks that have fed their families over the years – from simple ones that explain the basics, through to Eva Longoria's favourite recipes, here's what they had to say.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
The Cook's Companion: The Complete Book of Ingredients and Recipes
"My family's holy grail is Stephanie Alexander's The Cook's Companion! Our copy is well-thumbed and we pull it out for all of those classic family dinners – roasts, stews, desserts, etc. It's great because she writes so well and really guides you through the recipes, and there's so many notes about how to cook and techniques. It's the only cook book I've ever seen my dad (who is not a big cook) browse." - Kate.
Basics to Brilliance
"Donna Hay's Basics to Brilliance is so good because it shows you how to do the basic version of something, and then how to amp it up or change it into the 'special version'. It's got the easiest (and most foolproof) way to cook pork belly – my dad has even perfected this recipe to the point that people ask him what the secret is. He thinks it's my recipe, too, so tells people I taught him how to do it!" - Amy.
RecipeTin Eats: Dinner
"Nagi Maehashi has produced one of the most popular cookbooks in the country off the back of her very successful food and recipe blog, and now you can make the recipes yourself with the help of the book. Each recipe also has a QR code, which will take you to a video of the meal being cooked, if you prefer to watch and learn rather than apply the instructions from the page. My favourite recipe is her creamy chicken and mushroom fettucine, just for how simple it is. I don't have a family to feed just yet, but the book is definitely helping me grow as a cook." - Erin.
One: Simple One-Pan Wonders
"When I get home at the end of a long day all I want is a delicious meal, but just as much as I do, I don't want to create a big mess doing so. That's why I find Jamie Oliver's Simple One Pan Wonders such a dream to cook from. All I need is one pan, that's it (!), and I can make dishes that would usually take me three pans, two pots and every single utensil in the drawer. My favourite recipe is by far every recipe that lets me cook pasta in a pan." – Carina
Ottolenghi SIMPLE
"I am such a cliché but I love Simple by Ottolenghi. All his books are great but that was the first one I bought so it has a special place. My favourite recipe is the chili fish with tahini – it's become my go-to dish for dinner parties." - Kahla.
Eva's Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends
"No joke, it's excellent. Eva's such a good cook and everything is so simple to follow, even the dishes I wouldn't normally cook. It's very hearty and family friendly." - Jo.
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