RRP £20.00 Lowest New Price £5.00

Simon & Schuster Ltd Number of pages: 208 Language: English (Original Language) Language: English (Unknown)

RRP: £20.00
Not just for Christmas
Review date: 2008-12-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

I borrowed this book from a friend and I love it and I am just about to buy it for myself. With most cook books there are one or two recipes that inspire me, but in this book I loved most of the recipes, especially the vegetarian section (and I am not a vegetarian). Indeed, apart from the obvious Christmas puddings, this book is one of the best books on entertaining I know. But then I like good solid, down to earth cooking and not some drawing with coulis on a plate with some foam dribbled over. This seems to be written by real women in real kitchens, not a patronising, pretentious, pouting Nigella who wants us to believe that cooking is just a little cuddlely rabbit out of the magicians hat and entertaining 10 friends needs less food and effort than catering for a small family.

I am a great one for use of left overs and there is a section that could come straight out of Delia's cheat kitchen. Yet, interspersed there are some lovely ideas for food presents, Christmas decorations and much more that makes this book a treat to sit down and be inspired by.