Listmania!
Cookery books that make life easier
Ainsley Harriott's Meals in MinutesAinsley Harriott's Meals in Minutes by Ainsley Harriott
Buy new: £7.94 / Used from: £0.01
What can I say, This man is fantastic. I don't go for the Percy pepper and Susie salt malarkey, but when it comes to fast, tasty, cheap and convenient meals, this book is a must. Essential.
Ainsley Harriott's Friends and Family Cookbook: Over 200 Reasons to Eat InAinsley Harriott's Friends and Family Cookbook: Over 200 Reasons to Eat In by Ainsley Harriott
Buy new: £12.97 / Used from: £7.17
As above, but with more flair, variety and daring. Lovely reading with great tips and tricks.
Ken Hom's Quick Wok: The Fastest Food in the EastKen Hom's Quick Wok: The Fastest Food in the East by Ken Hom
Buy new: £10.47 / Used from: £0.01
Ken Hom is inspirational and yet modest offering recipes that take lees time to cook than collecting a takeaway. Fastest meal; 8 minutes!
Happy Days with the Naked ChefHappy Days with the Naked Chef by Jamie Oliver
Buy used from: £5.90
The original 'diamond geezer' makes more impact with his third book simply by not trying so hard to be said geezer. Instead he focusses on really sound recipes for some exciting dishes.
Real FoodReal Food by Nigel Slater
Buy new: £12.49 / Used from: £10.57
If it's a coronary you're after, this chap is for you. More cream, butter and fat than you can shake a stick at, but gorgeous food without the stress.
101 Simple Suppers ("Good Food")101 Simple Suppers ("Good Food") by Good Homes Magazine
Buy new: £3.00 / Used from: £0.01
Small, cheap, accesible, easy and the recipes are great. Need I say more?
Great Fast FoodGreat Fast Food by Gary Rhodes
Buy used from: £0.01
Before he cut his hair and got all serious, the Tate and Lyle man looks at fast food from the cheffy angle. surprisingly easy ingredients too, as opposed to his other books
Delia's Complete Cookery Course - Classic Edition: Vol 1-3 in 1vDelia's Complete Cookery Course - Classic Edition: Vol 1-3 in 1v by Delia Smith
Buy new: £8.36 / Used from: £3.43
"We need a 12th man". Yes, ahem, Delia sticks to what she does best here with the book that every cook should have. Unfussy, unpatronising and under seven quid. Bargain!
James Martin's Great British DinnersJames Martin's Great British Dinners by James Martin
Buy new: £11.01 / Used from: £0.94
I had to put this one in just because Mr. Martin believes Indian, Italian Hungarian and greek food is British. You've got to love him.
Ainsley Harriott's Barbecue BibleAinsley Harriott's Barbecue Bible by Ainsley Harriott
Buy used from: £0.01
He's back, but this time he's outside! Astounding food and if you buy a griddle pan, you can enjoy summer food even in England! Try the marinades, they are truly incredible..
The Food Doctor Everyday DietThe Food Doctor Everyday Diet by Ian Marber
Buy new: £7.91 / Used from: £0.01
This book now dominates my life and I've lost over a stone and a half in eight weeks. All this and not a bloody mung bean in sight! An excellent buy.
Delia's Winter CollectionDelia's Winter Collection by Delia Smith
Buy new: £8.41 / Used from: £6.99
Get Christmas out of the way without Cremating the turkey of murdering your family. I personally like the recipes but not so much the banter. As wooden as her TV presenting.
Ken Hom's Top 100 Stir-fry Recipes (BBC Books' Quick & Easy Cookery)Ken Hom's Top 100 Stir-fry Recipes (BBC Books' Quick & Easy Cookery) by Ken Hom
Buy new: £7.92 / Used from: £5.31
This makes life easier because it means you don't have to buy all the other books! That could save you hundreds of pounds that you need to spend on all the base ingredients.
The 30-minute Cook: The Best of the World's Quick Cooking (Penguin cookery books)The 30-minute Cook: The Best of the World's Quick Cooking (Penguin cookery books) by Nigel Slater
Buy used from: £2.18
Still masses of fat, but quicker. I'll get my coat.
Ainsley Harriott's Gourmet ExpressAinsley Harriott's Gourmet Express by Ainsley Harriott
Buy used from: £0.01
He's back for one last outing and this one's a doozy. The section on sauces alone make this book worthwhile. Forget the chippy, I've got Ainsley!