So maybe I’m not the right person to review cookbooks. I love cookbooks. Almost all of them. Even the ones I’ve never cooked from. I just adore the promise of a more fulfilling life through a larger repertoire of recipes. So being all hard on a cookbook and critical, well, I don’t think I can do it to be honest. I will try though. Here goes.
Mostly I read the new favourite recipe book in my bed, through half closed eyes, and then retire it to my cookery book shelf, to be dipped into as bedtime reading fodder once the first outing has been forgotten. It’s quite unusual for me to cook from a new recipe book straight off. I have to live with them for a bit… kind of get comfortable with them before I let them loose in the kitchen.
Well, Aggie’s Family Cookbook has set a new record. I received it about a week ago from the lovely people at Anova Books (ta muchly) and there’s currently a banana loaf in the oven, making my house smell like an estate agent’s dream. What else can I tell you about this book? Well if you’re not into the Scottish accent then don’t buy it, as I swear Aggie herself read this to me in bed; so strong is her voice throughout this collection of family recipes. I liked her tone very much; working Mum feeds her family with a good dose of Good Housekeeping Institute common sense thrown in.
Would I buy it? Yes. Would I buy it as a gift? Yes. For Mums and also for folks on the brink of leaving home. Does it make me feel all sexy and Nigella-esque? No. But it does make my house smell mighty fine.
If you would like to win £20 worth of recipes and good sense then you can!
How to enter:
- Complete the Rafflecopter form below to confirm your entries made via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook etc.
- This giveaway will close on Saturday 10th December.
- Please read the rules below.
- Winners are announced on the Rafflecopter form after the prize has been claimed by the winner.
- First timers: Please watch how Rafflecopter works (video)! It is 46 seconds long. It explains everything.
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- Complete the form – or your beloved entries will not go into the draw. And that would be such a waste of time.
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Rules and things:
- Only open to UK participants over the age of 18. Sorry to anyone from further afield or younger readers.
- There’s only one prize and that’s Aggie’s Family Cookbook you can see in the picture. There’s no cash alternative to the prize and the prize is not transferable. No part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
- Instructions form part of the terms and conditions. Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will obviously be disqualified. The winner will be picked at random using software and then contacted by email. If you win and then don’t respond to this email within 7 days then another winner will be picked so check your emails and your spam! The goodies will be delivered to the winner as soon as possible after you have sent me your delivery address.
- I am running this giveaway on behalf of Anova who will be responsible for sending the prize to you if you win, which is very kind of them as it saves me queuing up at the Post Office. Their decision is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into. So there.
- This is where I get all stern – please don’t say you have liked the post and followed me on Twitter and Tweeted away like a Tweety thing if you haven’t as guess what? If you win I will check you did do the things you said you did. It’s only fair after all. And I do like fairness.
Good luck everyone!
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Holly Bell 
Oh yes yes please! This would be a fabulous present for someone!
hmmm Nigella, Ina Gaarten and Lorraine Pascale!
I’ve got a wish list on Amazon which I try and buy one book from every month or so. The list always seems to stay 30 books long though!
I can’t quite pick a favourite, Rick Stein is one of my favourites though.
i most admit i collect recipe books too, old new and worldwide i love to cook up something new for friends and family and see how much they enjoy it, but baking is my fav, cakes, buns and bread
I love cookbooks too, although I think I might need to get some reinforced bookshelves!!
Alison Holst, an iconic kiwi chef. Leaving home without one of her books would have been a big mistake
For years been a great fan of Gary Rhodes, and before him the late great Keith Floyd
Jamie Oliver as it was the first cook book I ever bought
Mary Berry
Rachel Allen, Rachel’s Favourite Food is mine too :)
Mary Berry
I like the way Jamie Oliver writes. He always sounds like he is telling you how to cook it, rather than writing down instructions.
Ina Garten!
Definitely Nigel Slater.
I can’t choose between Nigel Slater (partly for the way he writes about food and his common sense approach) and Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall (for writing a number of really informative books)
My favourite has to be Nigella, I love reading her books, it’s like cookery porn [blush]. I am looking forward to making Holly and Jo my favourite cookery writers shortly though!! x
Love Gordon Ramsey, love Hugh Fearnley-Whittenstall.
I adore Nigel Slater, makes me so hungry when I see him cook
Nigel Slater – his writing makes me salivate!
My favourite cook/baker is Ruth from the Pink Whisk but also good old Delia Smith, she’s just so easy to watch.
Nigella! Everything sounds SO good!
I quite like Rachel Allen’s no nonsense explanations
It’s gotta be Delia, she’s so easy to understand.
Like you, I adore cookery books and have far, far too many – the ones I return to time and again for reliable receipes are those written by Nigella, although I enjoy reading Nigel Slater more! And the Riverford Farm Cookbook written by Jane Baxter is also fab!
I love Nigella – cream, butter, salt and all! Her recipes are simple and always delicious. For basics though I always return to my trusty 1980’s Good Housekeeping recipe book. It never fails!
Hmm, Nigel Slater I think. He’s always so enthusiastic and really sounds like he enjoys the process of eating as well as cooking!
I love Felicity Cloake in the Guardian’s ‘Perfect’ series – it is the highlight of my Thursday. I’ve dropped a load of hints and am hoping for her book for Christmas…
Love reading Elizabeth David, but then again haven’t found a cookery book that I didn’t want to read!
Rachel Allen :)
Ooh, very tough one! I have a Mary Berry book that saw me through uni and I still use it a lot now. I am enjoying Simon Rimmer and some different ideas for veggie meal at the moment though.
Split between Nigella and Mary Berry – can’t decide between the 2 as i long to be them both!
Rick Stein!!! <3
Jamie Oliver!
Delia Smith! Thank you Becky xx
Elizabeth David is a real favourite – but there are so many! Nick
I really like Rachel Allen. Thank you Holly. Happy Baking x