A gentle genius at work. (Rachel's Food for Living - Rachel Allen)

Member Name: pay2say

Product:	Rachel's Food for Living - Rachel Allen
Date:	08/03/09 (331 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: wide variety of types of meals, for all ages.

Disadvantages: none

Just after Christmas, when everything was getting back to normal after the festivities I was mooching about in W.H.Smith in my local town when I spotted this book among the reduced display near the door. At first I thought it might be a mistake as Rachel Allen is a superb first class cook and her books arent usually reduced in the vast array of 'sale' books. I took it to the till and yes, I was not mistaken at all, I only paid £7 for this instead of the real price of £20.00.

Now I am a real fan of this gentle lady and her recipes, having watched her on television in both her own programmes and Saturday kitchen, which I never miss if I can help it. She seems to be a very popular TV chef but also, according to the book, teaches regularly at the world famous 'Ballymaloe Cookery School'. She and her husband, Isaac, live at Cork with their two young sons and family dog.

Rachel has written this particular book, called 'Rachel's Food for Living' with friends and family in mind. She has taken all her and her family's favourite recipes and tried to share them with us through this wonderful book.

The book contains over a hundred recipes. Food you would curl up on the sofa with, food you would serve your friends and food for your children. Food, in fact, that builds memories and nostalgia for the future.

Contents:-

Food for the Soul.

Childhood Favourites.

Making Memories.

Something to Celebrate.

The Lazy Sunday.

An Elegant Afternoon.

Food for Romance.

For the Love of Chocolate.

Classic Dishes.

Obviously I haven't tried more than a fraction of them yet. But those I have tried (i.e Smoked Fish Pie with Hard boiled Eggs), have been delicious.

This delightful book is full of beautiful relaxed photos of her lovely family. Just going about their daily lives, not posed. Kids rolling on the grass etc.
She is wonderful at describing a dish and as a little addition on each page she adds one of her 'Rachels handy tips' (i.e:- If you are worried about flaming the brandy, add the stock at the same time. However, if the flames do get out of control, cover with a fire blanket- never add water)

There are plenty indulgent recipes in here for the foodie, and the homely types who like to potter and cook and eat ad infinitum. But there is also a good array of calorie concious and vegetarian dishes to appeal to the whole spectrum of tastes.

The Making Memories chapter is great. Full of lovely kiddie food like Banana and Chocolate Bread and Butter pudding, which my own grandchildren loved.

I am absolutely dying to have friends for supper soon to try 'Roast Loin of Pork stuffed with Prunes and Apples with a Calvados Sauce' or maybe I could try it for a Sunday lunch. There is so much in here to tittilate your taste buds. The Baking section is amazing. Recipes include:-

Sweet Scone with homemade Blueberry jam (sounds divine)
Iced Vanilla Cup Cakes.
White chocolate buns.
Oaty shortbread (these taste delicious)
Greek Almond crescents. and much much more...........

Last week I made Rachel Allen's Leek, Potato and Blue Cheese Soup. Oh my goodness, this is to die for. I know I will make it over and over again. I served it with garlic bread slices toasted under the grill and sprinkled with just a touch of the cheese. Yum.

What is really nice about this book is that you can have something very simple or something exciting (like Arabian spiced rack of lamb) or just a few traditional British teatime treats.

Rachel's gentle personality seeps throughout the pages of this book. Her gentle Irish lilt and her warm smile seems embedded into it. I have loved what I have made up to now and I know for certain that you would too. Whatever your tastes, likes and dislikes you will find something good here.

Rachel's Food for Living is published by Collins and costs £20.00 at leading bookstores and online prices vary. Some special promotions (as with the book I purchased) will enable you to obtain this at a much reduced price although it is worth every penny of its £20.00.

I will leave you with a quote from Rachel on the back page of her book
'Food has the amazing power to stir many happy memories - it can make us feel uplifted or energetic, nostalgic or loved. Great food is the best gift. I heartily agree with that, how about you?

Summary: A culinary treat to woo your tastebuds.