I don't mind hanging about in the kitchen if the football is on the radio. (Radio 5 Live football commentary is one of the things that makes this country great.) However, I'm not too fussed about creating dinner party masterpieces and, although I can do Yorkshires from scratch if the mood takes me, it very rarely does.
This book appeals for lots of reasons
1. Economy. The title is self explanatory. Each meal costs one of your English squids. (I have to be honest - for me it's usually a bit more than that.) The food is often from your "discount supermarkets" but that's where I shop anyway. There are lots of ways to use leftovers etc. Lots of cheaper ingredients like veg etc
2. Ease. There are very few fancy-dan methods here. This is good because I have only the most basic of skills. At no point are you asked to light a blow-torch, spin sugar or puff some pastry. You can if you want to. I don't want to.
3. Health. Everything has vegetables in it of one sort or another. This is a good thing. Portion sizes are reasonable, if a bit loosey-goosey on the measuring. (Suits me - see non-affinity for kitchen scales above - although we do have some now.)
4. Flexibility. Because all recipes serve one - you can mix things up. It helps to use single pots to cook in. Someone doesn't like mushrooms - leave them out in one pot. Someone else is going through an incomprehensible vegetarian journey - replace meat in one pot with Quorn. If someone is due in late. Put one dish in fridge etc etc. Also - all dishes scale up for bigger meals with more people. Win-win.
5. Variety. We are quite boring eaters. Our friends call us "The Blands" but there are curries and other more exotic things here, as well as your Chicken and Mushroom Pie.
If you are mildly interested One Pound Meals is on Instagram for free. So you can have a look first. I understand I am not the first person you would think of when you thought of a recommendation for a cookbook so feel free to research. Here endeth a blog I didn't really expect to be writing.
this one passed me by completely. It looks like a good selection of meals, well thought out, and extremely manageable for families. I'm not into heavily spiced stuff, so might tone down the curries - and I do like a few more veg alongside my meat and potatoes. But thats a personal choice, so I am not criticising his menus at all. it is akways good to read people book reviews, whatever the topic, and especially if its not their usual sort of book
ReplyDeleteYes, we have been adding veg as well. I made the bacon, leek and potato gratin for two this week by vaguely doubling proportions and ur worked very well.
DeleteThat looks really interesting. It's hard to find recipes for one - dividing a recipe for four isn't easy!
ReplyDeleteIt's true and not too much faffing either
DeleteOoh that looks interesting. I'll check it out. I *can* cook, and I like food, but sometimes my imagination about cooking flatlines, and I stand in the supermarket trying to remember what people eat. For such times, such a book. Good idea.
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm finding it really flexible and am encouraging others in the house to look in it and find stuff they like for themselves
DeleteFound a copy in the charity shop!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a score. It hasn't been out long.
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