Cook Book to recommend?

lozadee · October 2012

Hi

Can anyone recommend and good cook books which are tasty, imaginative and health?

Mst of them them these days are all oil and fats, I have my eye on Lorraine Pascalls books but just wondered what else people find helpful.

Thanks

SRH7 · October 2012

Just got the Lorraine Pascale book but have not tried anything in it yet. Some amazing recipes in there including salmon wrapped in proscuitto, which could be relatively healthy if you pan fry it using one-cal oil spray and measure and log the quantities. Would be amazing with ratatouille or a big salad.

For quick fixes then Nigel Slater is hard to beat - Real Fast Food has recipes that are all under 20 minutes to prepare and cook. Not all healthy, mind, but has loads of ideas, particularly ones using lots of fresh vegetables and how to use up leftovers (I always make sure I have chicken left over from roast dinners to make his devilled chicken to go on a salad or baguette the next day - makes a great Sunday lunch).

My all time favourite cook book though is an oldie but a goodie - Good Housekeeping's New Step-by-Step. I got it years back as a bible for all the basics (from white sauce to jams to bread to how to cook different cuts of meat etc - it's all in here). It's like Delia Smith +10!

My mum and sister use it too and there are so many healthy (and not so healthy!) recipes in there - favourites being chicken in a spicy coriander and cumin tomato sauce (super healthy and great with everything from mash to rice or pasta) and the many, many vegetable-based soups. It's a book I never tire of and every recipe always turn out exactly right.

I got mine second hand on Amazon - there are a few different versions but this is the one we have: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Housekeeping-Step---step-Cookery/dp/0091777798/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1349878214&sr=8-7

Happy cooking!

melsinct · October 2012

I love any and all of the Eating Well cookbooks.

yourmomdude · October 2012

I love Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything" and "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian"

miranda_mom · October 2012

I like the Eat This, Not That cookbooks - there is "Cook This, Not That", "Cook This, Not That 350 calorie meals" and "Grill This, Not That". The food is very flavorful but concentrates on healthy ingredients.

lozadee · October 2012

Fab - thanks, I'l be giving some of them a look - I agree with the Lorraine Pascal book - lots of nice ideas - and not too damaging with little tweaks

AnitraSoto · October 2012

I know it's not a book, but have you ever checked out skinnytaste.com? So many amazing, and healthy recipes there!

darleyschroeder · October 2012

The Most Decadent Diet

That girl makes some really good food!

FightingGenetics · October 2012

"The Eat Clean Diet" By Tosca Reno

donnat871 · October 2012

I love the new Looneyspoons cookbook - lots of variety and "normal" foood with a healthy twist.

JanaCanada · October 2012

I know it's not a book, but have you ever checked out skinnytaste.com? So many amazing, and healthy recipes there!

^^THIS!!!! I would not survive a diet without that site!

lyttlewon · October 2012

Whether you follow the "plan" or not South Beach Diet has some really fantastic cook books.

Gidzmo · October 2012

There are some great websites you might check out....

www.foodnetwork.com (Food Network)
www.cookingchanneltv.com (Cooking Channel)

(you'll have to look through the site, as I don't know what foods you like).

http://www.grahamkerr.com/category/blog/recipes/

Graham Kerr USED to use tons of fats and oils in his cooking, as well as wine. His wife had a stroke, then a heart attack. He's since radically changed his cooking style. Now he works more to cut down the fat and cholesterol.