Can't Cook Won't Cook?? Try this! (Jamie's Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours - Jamie Oliver)

Member Name: cstag

Product:	Jamie's Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours - Jamie Oliver
Date:	22/02/09 (110 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy recipes, easy ingredients,

Disadvantages: People expect you to cook more often!

It is a common place joke amongst my friends that I am typically, 'can't cook, won't cook' (Though I am very good at ordering in take away!)

I received this for a birthday present and although my initial thoughts were which dish shall I mess up first, I have to admit that a couple of months down the line, I absolutely love this book!!

Jamie Oliver's basic idea is quite simple - anyone can do it! Normally, I find that recipes books have such complicated procedures and require such random ingredients that I just give up.

This book is very different though, a lot of the ingredients are ones that you would have in your kitchen or on your average spice rack anyway. The recipe instructions are written in such a way, that you know exactly what should be doing at that time. For example, as you are prepping and cooking at the same time in some of the recipes, Jamie's instructions suggest that while your pan is heating - you should be chopping up this or that at this point. It makes a really good use of your cooking time. It also includes different pictures of the preparation stages which show that you are on the right lines.

The recipes in this book cover a variety of different tastes and include pasta dishes, curries, salads, soups, mince, stews, roasts and fish. There is also a basic recipes section for cooking breakfasts, omelettes, Yorkshire puddings and different types of vegetables. Jamie also suggests alternative ingredients to try in dishes to change it so it's slightly more towards your own tastes.

There are also handy lists of what utensils a kitchen should have for cooking good meals and what essential ingredients and frozen stuff all budding chefs require.

This book would be really a good buy for someone who has no confidence in their own cooking ability. Previously I would have been reluctant to cook for other people, yet now I have honed a few dishes to perfection and will happily cook them for friends and family. I would particularly recommend the Salmon and Pesto Parcels, the Beef Wellington and any of the stews.

It would also be a good present for parents to send children away to University with. Recipes are often healthy and simple, so you can make sure they are actually eating properly!

Overall, this book has changed my opinion of cooking - I now enjoy cooking, feel confident that others are going to enjoy what I have made and am now trying at least a new dish every couple of weeks.

Summary: Anyone Can Do it - Pass it on!