Product Description

Ainsley Harriott is a best-selling BBC author and has sold over a million copies of his books to date. As fans of his "Meals in Minutes" titles already know, Ainsley is the chef who really understands the sort of food most of us want to make at home. Now he's back with his "Friends and Family Cookbook", the ultimate reference book to reflect the way we cook and eat today. The book covers everything from planning what to eat for the week ahead and shopping, to timing a Sunday lunch and organising a supper party. Ainsley's "Friends and Family Cookbook" also contains step-by-step sequences to make particular techniques even more straightforward, lots of alternatives for everyday recipes like pizza and pasta and plenty of low-fat dishes if you are watching what you eat. The book contains over 230 brand new delicious recipes all using readily available ingredients, and with each one illustrated to encourage you to have a go, it is an essential addition to any kitchen shelf.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6840 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

AMAZON.CO.UK
Ainsley’s Friends and Family Cookbook is the latest entry from one of television’s most popular and ebullient chefs. And if Ainsley Harrriott’s in-your-face TV persona is a little overwhelming for some, no such problems arise with his exemplary cookery writing, as this latest large format book conclusively demonstrates. In fact, the measured, perfectly judged recipes on offer here (laid out in highly accessible, crystal clear formats) demonstrate that there’s more to Harriott than the hyperactive individual we see on screen: the ‘22 Reasons to Eat In’ that the jacket promises us are totally appropriate to modern tastes in both food and cooking methods: the lucid instructions, low-fat recipes (something no chef can ignore these days – even Delia Smith has had to take less fattening food on board) and time-planned menus are well within the range of the intermediate cook; there’s an avoidance (probably wise) of more eccentric and exotic recipes, with the bulk of the menus being based on everyday favourites, usually spruced up in an adventurous or novel fashion. The ‘lunch on the go’ section is particularly useful, demonstrating that even the humble sandwich can be made more intriguing: the Roquefort, grape, radicchio and walnut example here is a sure-fire taste bud tempter, while the ‘after eight dinners’ section (including a mouth-watering recipe for monkfish on crispy potato cakes) is equally inspiring. And inspiring is what Ainsley Harriott really does best – after reading Ainsley’s Friends and Family Cookbook, most of us will want to tackle almost everything detailed in these pages. --Barry Forshaw

Customer Reviews

Another Ainsley Classic
It says on the cover "over 200 reasons to eat in" but I think they missed the word great, or fantastic out of that sentence somewhere. :)

Once again nutritional information is provided for those people that require it... I personally like to enjoy my food without knowing this or it might become a guilty pleasure.

There is tons of useful information in the first sections of this book alone. Ainsley guides you through the essential tools for your kitchen, explains what some of the more unusual ingredients are, and my favourite - a shopping checklist of "must-have" food items for your larder. Also provided is some useful information on freezing food, healthy cooking, and healthy eating.

The book is intuitively divided into relevant sections such as breakfasts and brunches, home alone, family favourites, to name but a few. Interspersed into the book are some simple event plans where Ainsley recommends what to make for what type of occasion, when to pre-prepare what, and even when to turn the oven on!

I've only had this book for a short time and I have already dipped into it often for recipes and for inspiration. Don't be afraid to experiment with the recipes if you don't have all the right ingredients. For me it is a sign of a good recipe as to how forgiving and flexible they are. One of my personal favourite so far is the "Thai-style Ginger Fish". Give it a try.

WONDERFUL!!!!!
I am a huge fan of Ainsley's and have a few of his books. He is the only chef whose books I can use with ease, and the results actually work. Believe me, I am no cook, and make good use of convenience foods, but I am always so impressed that I produce lovely meals for my family following basic, and simple instructions. I can adapt his recipes easily, even the barbecue ones, just using my oven or a frying pan. I don't care that some recipes are duplicated from previous cookbooks. I hate convoluted recipes. I hate lengthy recipes. I received this book for Christmas, and not only is it a really goodlooking book, but every weekend I make something. My kids are enamoured of the fact that I have succeeded in every meal I have tried. And I love that he has included Caribbean recipes, (having Caribbean blood myself!) This is one of those cookbooks that you can actually use....simplicity always works!!!!!

The Answer to a Working Mum's Prayers
My family love good, tasty home cooked meals and as a working mum I have turned to Ainsley again and again. We are working our way through this book at the moment and after every new dish I ask 'Would you have it again?' Nine times out of ten the answer has been 'yes please!' Ainsley's list of comprehensive store cupboard ingredients is superb as there is always something I can cook, even when the cupboard is virtually bare! The recipes are straightforward, mostly quick, and delicious. So what if it isn't haute cuisine. When you have three hungry boys who need to eat a balanced healthy meal at the end of the day, Ainsley will do for me! He's even inspired my twelve year old to take up cooking......