Product Description

The major publishing event for the millennium is the publication of Delias How to Cook a simple-to-follow cookery course for people of all ages and abilities. In this comprehensive two-part book series, Delia returns to the very roots of cooking to look at the techniques and the staple ingredients which underline the best traditions of British cookery. Delia sees it as an answer to an urgent need. There are more recipes than ever on television and yet it seems that many of us have forgotten how to put together a wholesome, nutritious meal that doesnt come from the chill cabinet or ready-made in a packet. Delia is convinced from the questions she receives in her postbag that people are no longer handed down the basics. In a world where people have less time than ever, they feel intimidated by the thought of cooking. How to Cook: Book One covers the staple ingredients which form the basis of the worlds foods rice, flour, potatoes, pasta and eggs. With her unique powers of communication Delia removes the fear and mystique from cooking both the simplest and quickest and the more advanced dishes with these essential tools of the trade. Perfect sponge cakes, fail-safe pastry and Delias guide to the Great British Breakfast rub shoulders with an everlasting souffle and tempura prawns. For the health conscious there are chips that you dont have to fry and Delias amazing no-fat white sauce. And, if you cant even boil an egg, Delia will show you how to do that as well. Delias How to Cook will be a complete guide to cookery for the 21st century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5103 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Delia's How to Cook Book One is aimed at beginners: people whose staple diet comprises heat-and- serve or take-away meals. Television cook and bestselling author Delia Smith's aim is to equip her readers with the basic techniques of cooking which, after some practice, will help them discover the pleasures of home-made food. With the aid of very detailed instructions that accompany her recipes, readers are taught how to work with the staples: eggs, flour, rice, bread and pasta. But the book goes beyond boiled eggs and baked potatoes. There are recipes and photographs which will inspire: moussaka with roasted aubergines and ricotta, wild mushroom tartlets with poached quails' egg and apricot galettes with amaretto. Many of the recipes have several extra photographs which show the dish at various stages of preparation--these are useful if the recipe includes a gravy which needs to be "thickened" or if potatoes need to be cut into "chunks". Healthy options, like fat-free white sauces and chips you don't have to fry, are also included.

About the Author
Delia Smith is Britain's bestselling cookery writer, whose books have sold over 21 million copies worldwide. Delia's first job as a cookery writer was for the Daily Mirror in 1969 - numerous phenomenal best sellers and television series followed including Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course in 1978 and Delia's Christmas, Summer & Winter Collections in the 1990s. Towards the end of the decade Delia commenced work on a new major project - Delia's How to Cook, publishing three separate volumes and the accompanying tv series. The Vegetarian Collection and The Delia Collection followed. After a five year break concentrating on Norwich City Football Club (where she is a director) and Canary Catering, Delia returned triumphant in 2008 with a new BBC TV series and the fastest selling cookery book of all time 'Delia's How to Cheat at Cooking' - which has sold over 800,000 copies to date. Delia is married to the writer and editor, Michael Wynn Jones. They live in Suffolk.

Customer Reviews

The foundations of cookery
This really is a wonderful book. It goes right back to the foundations of cookery, upon which everything else is built. I have listened to people scoff at the basics being taught here, but when pressed - they knew as little as I did.

Like so many younger people, I have fallen into the (bad) habit of relying on frozen meals, or carry outs. This book is ideal for (re)introducing the skills of good cooking. To analogise, once you have learned the arithmetic you should be able to cope with the calculus to come.

It isn't just a training guide, it easily stands on its own as an excellent cook book with some really good recipes. I'm looking forward to Book Two.

Teaches you How to Cook
This book is fantastic. It explains everything clearly in minute detail. Was able to make the leek and goats cheese tart that looked exactly like the picture and tasted wonderful. My mother ate some and gave me the highest praise. I love Delia, because her recipes are foolproof, clear and relaible and are guaranteed to give you yummy results.

Excellent!!!
Being a 34- year old mother of two who loves cooking,I always classified myself as "knowing how to cook". Having read Delia's "How to cook" made me realise that I did not have proper knowledge of even the basics. She is absolutely great and I really enjoyed for the first time eating home-made bread,omellettes and some other simple, easy to prepare dishes. It was the best value for money for any of the cookery books I bought so far.