Product Description

You want to have a romantic dinner for two? You need to impress your mother-in-law or your boss? It's your turn to host the family Christmas dinner? You've asked friends around for a barbecue and it's going to rain? It's midweek; you've been working all day, but you've people coming to dinner? Relax and look no further, because Rachel Allen has now provided all the answers for the busy host who wants to provide something special, using the best food, easily prepared with accessible ingredients in the minimum of time. And as her many thousands of fans know from her television series and previous book, with Rachel, it's easy, it works and it's fun! Also by Rachel Allen is the book: "Rachel's Favourite Food".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9989 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author
Rachel Allen is a professional cook and busy mother. A native of Dublin, she lives in Cork with her husband and two young children. She teaches at the Ballymaloe Cookery School and is the author of Rachel's Favourite Food which also accompanied a television series of the same name and which has been seen in Ireland, the UK, Australia, Italy, the Middle East and Africa.

Customer Reviews

Perfect!
Just the cookery book I needed. I can cook very well, but have absolutely no imagination when it comes to food (spaghetti 3 times a week).
Rachel Allen's recipes are all quite unusual but not peculiar and her style is a pleasure to read. The book is divided into various sections - Summer Lunch, Party Food, Barbecue - and this works really well.
I have tried a number of her dishes and they worked perfectly.
Highly recommended

Clear Directions, Delicious Dishes
I absolutely love this book for its simplicity and directness. All of the recipes which I have tried (so far) have turned out well, and that is quite an achievement. There can't be many chefs who write as plainly as Rachel Allen does - she gets the point across, without embellishment, and makes every dish seem both delicious and achievable for food enthusiasts of all skill levels. The Moroccan Chickpea Soup with Garlic Pitta Crisps are fabulously quick and tasty - firm favourites in my home - as are the Berry Compote, fruity Crumble, Provencale Chicken... I could go on, but I'm sure you can already appreciate how much I have enjoyed dipping in and out of this book of simple, varied and do-able dishes. There is truly something for everyone here - anyone who is familiar with Rachel's books will know that the recipes are grouped according to 'type' - from big Sunday lunches, to Romantic Dinners for Two. A good addition to any household's collection of cookbooks, although probably not for the self-professed gourmet! The recipes are unlikely to be 'advanced' enough for the semi-professional foodie. Wonderful for people who enjoy good food, cooked from scratch in the home, but who have busy lives.

Great book with lots of good recipes
This is the first book of Rachel Allen I bought and I liked it so much, I bought all the other books too. If you're looking for some great recipes to entertain, this is the book you need, you'll find something for practically every occasion: "Christmas Dinner", "Romantic Dinner for Two", "Party Food", "Summer Lunch", "Midweek Supper Party", "Formal Dinner Party", "Sunday Lunch", "Big Family Lunch", "Girl's Night In", "Chocolate", "Barbecue", "Curry Night" and "Afternoon Tea". The book doesn't contain a lot of glossy photographs, but I don't feel you really need them with this book, the recipes are clear enough. I tried the "Little Pots of Passion", which are basically just mango and passionfruit fools - but oh so delicious (I had to make them again). A book you'll use again and again!