Cookbook of the week - Delia's Complete Cookery Course

    Down off the shelves this week has come Delia's Complete Cookery Course, a book that must feature in millions of kitchens across the land and be referred to constantly for both basic instructions and more elaborate recipes. I've had my copy since I was a teenager - I think it was the first cookery book I bought for myself - and it is still used often, as this week shows.

    No pictures of our first dish from it as stews are hard to capture looking attractive, but the Shin of Beef with Mushroom Dumplings tasted very good indeed and even got compliments from our resident stew-hater.

    We're on firmer ground with the cake pictured above: Date, Apple and Walnut Loaf, another no-nonsense piece of baking that works and pleases everyone.

     Anyone else have (and still use) that book, Delia's classic?

Comments

[Moira]

Yep, I've got the original in three volumes, acquired early 70s around the time we got married. Still use it as reference for roasting times and other basics and used it only this week for the "Surprise Lemon Pudding" recipte.

[carole]

The marmalade cake is lovely...

[adele geras]

I love this book. It's as you say, a classic. And Delia's recipes always seem to work exactly as they're supposed to. Love that particular cake.

[Barbara]

That's such a good recipe!

[Claire]

Oh yes, it's my fall back cooking reference. Will try the cake as I have a packet of walnuts looking at me hopefully in the larder!

[MelD]

Absolutely, my granny's copy. And rather a lot of other well-loved and used Delia cookbooks from the late 80s - they encouraged my daughters to enjoy cooking and baking, too, as we had the accompanying videos at the time, which they would sit and watch as if it were a children's story series!

[Juxtabook]

My mother-in-law bought me a copy nearly twenty years ago and together with Rose Elliot's Complete Vegetarian (which she also bought me - my m-in-l is lovely!) these are the books I refer to at least once a week. Couldn't cope in the kitchen without either of them.

[deborah vass]

Yes, still have my copy with young Delia holding an egg. It is much loved and is completely reliable,reassuring and foolproof - it is always the first book I turn to when looking for a recipe.

[Jackie]

I used my (falling to bits) copy yesterday when I made Hot Cross Buns for the first time in years. I use it all the time - more than any of my other cookbooks.

[Sue]

I have 2 of her books and find myself returning to them for the classics - today I baked a Victoria sponge from her book - they just don't date! I do like the "hairy bikers" book too though.
Sue x