Cookbook By Celebrity Masterchef Winner
This cookery book is written by an Lisa Faulkner, actress and former Celebrity Masterchef winner and is called Recipes from My Mother for My Daughter
Cooking is clearly an important part of her daily life, and connects to her Mother and Grandmothers and other family members. It reads as a personal account of cooking rather than a proforma recipe book and as such puts heart and soul into each and every recipe.
Being a Masterchef winner, you would be forgiven for thinking that some of the recipes may be over fussy and complex – and to be fair a few of them are for special occasions only – but most of the recipes are straight forward and are twists on the classic recipes
A Personal Cookery Book
As you read the book it can almost feel as though you are peeking into a private family diary. Many families over time develop their own special versions of classic recipes such as chilli con carne, lasagne or stew so the recipes become special to them, and even part of their family culture and history as they including ingredients they like – and excluding things that they don’t.
There are meals that are cooked on special occasions or as a comfort food or celebration. These are the recipes that often make going back home so enjoyable, even when you haven’t lived with your parents for decades!
A Family Heirloom
And in these days when there is less family cooking done, and less cooking from scratch, it is good to read it as a book that is intended to pass recipes on. Some of the recipes come from the writer’s Mother and Grandmother or family friends and some are developed by the author. The lucky daughter will have a wealth of experience to draw on and will no doubt have the culinary skills to develop some more of her own
Perhaps this is a book that we should all write our own version of!
I have gained huge enjoyment from doing some of the recipes from the handwritten family recipe book that was my Grandmothers, so I understand the strand of legacy that comes through a book like this. Perhaps I will write on for my children!
Simple, Family Meals
Penny’s Recipes certainly contains some of the family favourite recipes that we have shared through the years of growing up – particularly spaghetti bolognese, lasagne, chilli, shepherds pie – both meat and vegetarian versions!
Sometimes it is the simple things that are the best. And this book shows that some of the favourite recipes are not complicated to cook – but are delicious. Like Chicken Tarragon, Slow Cooked Chilli and roast chicken as well as treats such as treacle tart and banana ice cream.
The book is divided into seasons and each section contains baking, lunch and dinner recipes as well as desserts, jams and chutneys. Each recipe has a little story behind it – who created it and when it was eaten, and whose favourite it was. There are recipes for celebration and for soothing a family member when they have had a bad day! There are also one or two that were cooked on Masterchef.
Traditional Recipes With A Twist
There are many easy recipes in here, but all with a personal twist that may encourage you to do some of your own. This is a book for people who like to cook but don’t want to spend all their time in the kitchen. It is for you if you like traditional recipes but also like ringing the changes every now and then
A Great Family Meal Cook Book
It is far from being over fussy it is good, simple fmaily meals. If you are a gourmet cook looking for new and exotic ideas, this is not the book for you.
If, however you like simple and interesting, easy to cook meals that are doable after a day at work, and that all the family will enjoy, this is a great addition to your bookcase. It will also make an ideal present for someone just setting up home or starting a family.
The narrative of the book is interesting – and may trigger you to remember a few cooking tales and favourite meals too!
Other Book Reviews
Jamie Oliver’s 15 Minute Meals
The Busy Mum’s Cookbook
My Top 5 Favourite Cookery Books
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