A good collection of books, but something is missing..., 25 Sep 2008
As the title suggests, I have a few of these books & whilst they are good, there is something missing from them which I couldn't quite put my finger on until now, but more on that later.

101 One Pot Dishes seems to be a good book, I have made the prawn pilau twice now & it has been an enjoyable dish, & there is likely to be other recipes I will be using as well.

So far so good, yes? There is a problem with the Good Food collection I have found, & that is whilst it is normally filled with good recipes, the book on a whole is somewhat souless. There's no input from the people that contributed the recipe really so it's just a list of ingredients & instructions, and whilst the recipes are good, they just don't seem to have the same kind of excitement about them.

Also, I can't help but feel if I was going to do, say an Indian dinner party, I'd be turning to The Curry Secret by Kris Dhillion rather than this. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 as whilst I like the series, the books seem more like everyday teatime foods rather than anything amazing. I'll end on a quote that Jeremy Clarkson said about the Nissan GT-R "It's like a digital camera, it's technically brilliant, but it's souless."

Excellent, 28 Aug 2008
This is a super little book, containing a wealth of interesting and tasty recipes, all of which require the use of a single pot. They range from quick simple dishes such as Speedy Salmon and Leeks to more elaborate creations suitable for serving at dinner parties. We've tried lots of recipes from this book and have been pleased with the results of them all; the instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are all easily available and the results are super. Many of the recipes are quick to prepare and cook, making it an ideal collection for day-to-day cooking after work, with the added bonus of limited washing up! Particular favourites include Broccoli Lemon Chicken, Pork with Apples and the aforementioned Speedy Salmon and Leeks.

Fab!, 30 Mar 2008
I own a lot of cookbooks but I cud have saved myself the money and just got this one because it is definitly the most used! Lots of tasty recipes, good photos with an ingredients list Ive actually heard of! A must!

Easy and Tasty Food, Everytime, 25 Feb 2008
I love this little book, full of great ideas that are easy to follow, fully illustrated and very tasty. An absolute must for any family kitchen. Enjoy xx

Simple and quick - a mid-week meal treat, 08 Oct 2007
I really like this book - we originally got it for my OH has he only felt comfortable making one-pots and this book managed to get him cooking!

As a bit more of a competent cook, I use it loads too: it has a section on soups (moroccan chickpea is v good), then chicken and meat (e.g. chicken stuffed with goats cheese and baked on on cherry toms with white wine), fish (best one I've tried is speedy salmon and leeks - literally 20 mins in microwave), vegetarian, cooking for a crowd (there are some great buffet recipes in here, e.g. a fab chilli, goulash, chicken curries) and puddings, although I've yet to try any of those. It's also good for taking camping / self-catering - doesn't take up much room!

The majority of recipes are reasonably low in calories, use easy to source ingredients and don't take much time to prepare. Highly recommended.

A good collection of books, but something is missing..., 25 Sep 2008
As the title suggests, I have a few of these books & whilst they are good, there is something missing from them which I couldn't quite put my finger on until now, but more on that later.

101 One Pot Dishes seems to be a good book, I have made the prawn pilau twice now & it has been an enjoyable dish, & there is likely to be other recipes I will be using as well.

So far so good, yes? There is a problem with the Good Food collection I have found, & that is whilst it is normally filled with good recipes, the book on a whole is somewhat souless. There's no input from the people that contributed the recipe really so it's just a list of ingredients & instructions, and whilst the recipes are good, they just don't seem to have the same kind of excitement about them.

Also, I can't help but feel if I was going to do, say an Indian dinner party, I'd be turning to The Curry Secret by Kris Dhillion rather than this. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 as whilst I like the series, the books seem more like everyday teatime foods rather than anything amazing. I'll end on a quote that Jeremy Clarkson said about the Nissan GT-R "It's like a digital camera, it's technically brilliant, but it's souless."

Excellent, 28 Aug 2008
This is a super little book, containing a wealth of interesting and tasty recipes, all of which require the use of a single pot. They range from quick simple dishes such as Speedy Salmon and Leeks to more elaborate creations suitable for serving at dinner parties. We've tried lots of recipes from this book and have been pleased with the results of them all; the instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are all easily available and the results are super. Many of the recipes are quick to prepare and cook, making it an ideal collection for day-to-day cooking after work, with the added bonus of limited washing up! Particular favourites include Broccoli Lemon Chicken, Pork with Apples and the aforementioned Speedy Salmon and Leeks.

Fab!, 30 Mar 2008
I own a lot of cookbooks but I cud have saved myself the money and just got this one because it is definitly the most used! Lots of tasty recipes, good photos with an ingredients list Ive actually heard of! A must!

Easy and Tasty Food, Everytime, 25 Feb 2008
I love this little book, full of great ideas that are easy to follow, fully illustrated and very tasty. An absolute must for any family kitchen. Enjoy xx

Simple and quick - a mid-week meal treat, 08 Oct 2007
I really like this book - we originally got it for my OH has he only felt comfortable making one-pots and this book managed to get him cooking!

As a bit more of a competent cook, I use it loads too: it has a section on soups (moroccan chickpea is v good), then chicken and meat (e.g. chicken stuffed with goats cheese and baked on on cherry toms with white wine), fish (best one I've tried is speedy salmon and leeks - literally 20 mins in microwave), vegetarian, cooking for a crowd (there are some great buffet recipes in here, e.g. a fab chilli, goulash, chicken curries) and puddings, although I've yet to try any of those. It's also good for taking camping / self-catering - doesn't take up much room!

The majority of recipes are reasonably low in calories, use easy to source ingredients and don't take much time to prepare. Highly recommended.



Another Great From Rachel Allen, 10 Oct 2008
This is a great book, I now have three of Rachel's books and this is by far my favourite. In response to the previous review, this book does have some casseroles (lemon and garlic chicken), maybe not all in the traditional slow cooked meat and veg sense but there are other great baked meals such as sausage and bean bake, cottage pie, lasagne and mediterranean pasta bake. I think it was a bit unfair to give the book 1 star based on the fact that it has no casseroles, especially as quite obviously that is not what the book is solely about. For casseroles and stews I would recommend Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews

There are a wide variety of baked goodies in this book; tarts, pies, quiches, breads, cakes, biscuits and also jams. There is also a glossary and a bit at the back giving you a step by step guide (with pictures) to making different types of pastry, bread, a sponge and meringue. There are also several ideas for icing (cream cheese, butter, vanilla buttercream, american frosting & glace) and sauces (bechamel, toffee, coffee, raspberry, blueberry & apple) as well as how to make your own crystallised flowers, marzipan, chocolate curls and candied peel.

I have cooked many recipes from this book already (I've only had it a few weeks!), the carrot cake is by far the best I have ever tasted. The only fault that I can give for this book is that there are too many yummy recipes and I don't have enough time to make them all! I can't recommend this book enough!

A good collection of books, but something is missing..., 25 Sep 2008
As the title suggests, I have a few of these books & whilst they are good, there is something missing from them which I couldn't quite put my finger on until now, but more on that later.

101 One Pot Dishes seems to be a good book, I have made the prawn pilau twice now & it has been an enjoyable dish, & there is likely to be other recipes I will be using as well.

So far so good, yes? There is a problem with the Good Food collection I have found, & that is whilst it is normally filled with good recipes, the book on a whole is somewhat souless. There's no input from the people that contributed the recipe really so it's just a list of ingredients & instructions, and whilst the recipes are good, they just don't seem to have the same kind of excitement about them.

Also, I can't help but feel if I was going to do, say an Indian dinner party, I'd be turning to The Curry Secret by Kris Dhillion rather than this. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 as whilst I like the series, the books seem more like everyday teatime foods rather than anything amazing. I'll end on a quote that Jeremy Clarkson said about the Nissan GT-R "It's like a digital camera, it's technically brilliant, but it's souless."

Excellent, 28 Aug 2008
This is a super little book, containing a wealth of interesting and tasty recipes, all of which require the use of a single pot. They range from quick simple dishes such as Speedy Salmon and Leeks to more elaborate creations suitable for serving at dinner parties. We've tried lots of recipes from this book and have been pleased with the results of them all; the instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are all easily available and the results are super. Many of the recipes are quick to prepare and cook, making it an ideal collection for day-to-day cooking after work, with the added bonus of limited washing up! Particular favourites include Broccoli Lemon Chicken, Pork with Apples and the aforementioned Speedy Salmon and Leeks.

Fab!, 30 Mar 2008
I own a lot of cookbooks but I cud have saved myself the money and just got this one because it is definitly the most used! Lots of tasty recipes, good photos with an ingredients list Ive actually heard of! A must!

Easy and Tasty Food, Everytime, 25 Feb 2008
I love this little book, full of great ideas that are easy to follow, fully illustrated and very tasty. An absolute must for any family kitchen. Enjoy xx

Simple and quick - a mid-week meal treat, 08 Oct 2007
I really like this book - we originally got it for my OH has he only felt comfortable making one-pots and this book managed to get him cooking!

As a bit more of a competent cook, I use it loads too: it has a section on soups (moroccan chickpea is v good), then chicken and meat (e.g. chicken stuffed with goats cheese and baked on on cherry toms with white wine), fish (best one I've tried is speedy salmon and leeks - literally 20 mins in microwave), vegetarian, cooking for a crowd (there are some great buffet recipes in here, e.g. a fab chilli, goulash, chicken curries) and puddings, although I've yet to try any of those. It's also good for taking camping / self-catering - doesn't take up much room!

The majority of recipes are reasonably low in calories, use easy to source ingredients and don't take much time to prepare. Highly recommended.



Another Great From Rachel Allen, 10 Oct 2008
This is a great book, I now have three of Rachel's books and this is by far my favourite. In response to the previous review, this book does have some casseroles (lemon and garlic chicken), maybe not all in the traditional slow cooked meat and veg sense but there are other great baked meals such as sausage and bean bake, cottage pie, lasagne and mediterranean pasta bake. I think it was a bit unfair to give the book 1 star based on the fact that it has no casseroles, especially as quite obviously that is not what the book is solely about. For casseroles and stews I would recommend Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews

There are a wide variety of baked goodies in this book; tarts, pies, quiches, breads, cakes, biscuits and also jams. There is also a glossary and a bit at the back giving you a step by step guide (with pictures) to making different types of pastry, bread, a sponge and meringue. There are also several ideas for icing (cream cheese, butter, vanilla buttercream, american frosting & glace) and sauces (bechamel, toffee, coffee, raspberry, blueberry & apple) as well as how to make your own crystallised flowers, marzipan, chocolate curls and candied peel.

I have cooked many recipes from this book already (I've only had it a few weeks!), the carrot cake is by far the best I have ever tasted. The only fault that I can give for this book is that there are too many yummy recipes and I don't have enough time to make them all! I can't recommend this book enough!

spilling the beans, 19 Sep 2008
I have read many autobiographies but this one i had to skip several pages it was so boring - too much DAD and too much Clarissa and drink. I was not a fan before and certainly am not now. what came across was that her view was the 'right one' and everyone else was wrong she obviously cannot listen or debate a point if it conflicts with her own view point and what a parasite, if she does not have someone to lean on then she cannot function. in a word the book was BORING.

An Alcoholic, Eccentric - how truly English , 16 May 2008
I have the audio book read by Clarissa and thoroughly enjoyed this candid report of the ups and downs of her life. Born into a privileged family but with the downside of an alcoholic and abusive father, Clarissa details how she initially used her intellect to survive by taking to the bar then abused herself by taking to the bottle. A committed Countrywoman, skilled cook and clever raconteur, she details how her cooking skills helped her survive both the loss of her mother, her career, and the death of a dearly loved friend. I am glad you got off the bottle Clarissa - so you will live that much longer to remind us that we must not let those who are anti everything ruin our enjoyment of simple pleasures like real Country Life - oh and cooking with cream!

An excellent autobiography by a fabulous lady, 02 Apr 2008
This book is wonderfully written, very readable. She gives a very honest account of her alcoholism without descending into self-pity or born-again anti-alcohol evangelism, which is refreshing. You don't need to be a member of the Countryside Alliance or a foodie to find this life story funny, fascinating and poignant. Wonderful book, fabulous lady.

Fantastic, funny, sad, moving and story of survival!, 24 Mar 2008
I loved it! Clarissa is so funny and very clever! Sadly, she had been affected by alcoholism brought on by the loss of her mother, that said, her father was an alcoholic so the addictive gene is there!

She has had an eventful life to say the least and although was struck by alcoholism and the truama of what happened to her in her earlier years she is a born survivor and an example to all! You can recover and pick yourself up and even better with the support of friends - she has lots of them.

This book was laugh out loud at points - you could actually hear her speaking as you read. There were of course very poignant times too which affected her deeply.

She was never afraid of hard work and proved that even although she was a barrister, when she hit an all time low she took a job in a country manor as a cook! She had no qualms about doing so either. A lesson to us all!

A fine read and well worth the money - I loved it and recommend it to anyone!

This book 'ain't a mucher,' I'm sorry to say!, 16 Mar 2008
'Spilling The Beans' is an amusing title and the dust cover portrays the author ('hideous' in Roy Hattersley's reported comment, though I don't commend him, either), but the work itself ain't a mucher (as some of us country folk say). One wants to be generous to an author who has suffered a lot and, by her lights, has come through to have a 'splendidly enjoyable life,' but her account is clearly not consistent with the facts in some places, and is not well-written or edited. Clarissa Dickson Wright's fans will still love it, I suppose, but I was pleased to put it down at its end and then to get on with some decent reading.

The 101 recipes in this volume are all short and simple with easy-to-follow steps, using readily available ingredients and are accompanied by a full-colour photograph of the finished dish. Whether you choose chicken with coriander tomato sauce, nutty stuf

A good collection of books, but something is missing..., 25 Sep 2008
As the title suggests, I have a few of these books & whilst they are good, there is something missing from them which I couldn't quite put my finger on until now, but more on that later.

101 One Pot Dishes seems to be a good book, I have made the prawn pilau twice now & it has been an enjoyable dish, & there is likely to be other recipes I will be using as well.

So far so good, yes? There is a problem with the Good Food collection I have found, & that is whilst it is normally filled with good recipes, the book on a whole is somewhat souless. There's no input from the people that contributed the recipe really so it's just a list of ingredients & instructions, and whilst the recipes are good, they just don't seem to have the same kind of excitement about them.

Also, I can't help but feel if I was going to do, say an Indian dinner party, I'd be turning to The Curry Secret by Kris Dhillion rather than this. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 as whilst I like the series, the books seem more like everyday teatime foods rather than anything amazing. I'll end on a quote that Jeremy Clarkson said about the Nissan GT-R "It's like a digital camera, it's technically brilliant, but it's souless."

Excellent, 28 Aug 2008
This is a super little book, containing a wealth of interesting and tasty recipes, all of which require the use of a single pot. They range from quick simple dishes such as Speedy Salmon and Leeks to more elaborate creations suitable for serving at dinner parties. We've tried lots of recipes from this book and have been pleased with the results of them all; the instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are all easily available and the results are super. Many of the recipes are quick to prepare and cook, making it an ideal collection for day-to-day cooking after work, with the added bonus of limited washing up! Particular favourites include Broccoli Lemon Chicken, Pork with Apples and the aforementioned Speedy Salmon and Leeks.

Fab!, 30 Mar 2008
I own a lot of cookbooks but I cud have saved myself the money and just got this one because it is definitly the most used! Lots of tasty recipes, good photos with an ingredients list Ive actually heard of! A must!

Easy and Tasty Food, Everytime, 25 Feb 2008
I love this little book, full of great ideas that are easy to follow, fully illustrated and very tasty. An absolute must for any family kitchen. Enjoy xx

Simple and quick - a mid-week meal treat, 08 Oct 2007
I really like this book - we originally got it for my OH has he only felt comfortable making one-pots and this book managed to get him cooking!

As a bit more of a competent cook, I use it loads too: it has a section on soups (moroccan chickpea is v good), then chicken and meat (e.g. chicken stuffed with goats cheese and baked on on cherry toms with white wine), fish (best one I've tried is speedy salmon and leeks - literally 20 mins in microwave), vegetarian, cooking for a crowd (there are some great buffet recipes in here, e.g. a fab chilli, goulash, chicken curries) and puddings, although I've yet to try any of those. It's also good for taking camping / self-catering - doesn't take up much room!

The majority of recipes are reasonably low in calories, use easy to source ingredients and don't take much time to prepare. Highly recommended.



Another Great From Rachel Allen, 10 Oct 2008
This is a great book, I now have three of Rachel's books and this is by far my favourite. In response to the previous review, this book does have some casseroles (lemon and garlic chicken), maybe not all in the traditional slow cooked meat and veg sense but there are other great baked meals such as sausage and bean bake, cottage pie, lasagne and mediterranean pasta bake. I think it was a bit unfair to give the book 1 star based on the fact that it has no casseroles, especially as quite obviously that is not what the book is solely about. For casseroles and stews I would recommend Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews

There are a wide variety of baked goodies in this book; tarts, pies, quiches, breads, cakes, biscuits and also jams. There is also a glossary and a bit at the back giving you a step by step guide (with pictures) to making different types of pastry, bread, a sponge and meringue. There are also several ideas for icing (cream cheese, butter, vanilla buttercream, american frosting & glace) and sauces (bechamel, toffee, coffee, raspberry, blueberry & apple) as well as how to make your own crystallised flowers, marzipan, chocolate curls and candied peel.

I have cooked many recipes from this book already (I've only had it a few weeks!), the carrot cake is by far the best I have ever tasted. The only fault that I can give for this book is that there are too many yummy recipes and I don't have enough time to make them all! I can't recommend this book enough!

spilling the beans, 19 Sep 2008
I have read many autobiographies but this one i had to skip several pages it was so boring - too much DAD and too much Clarissa and drink. I was not a fan before and certainly am not now. what came across was that her view was the 'right one' and everyone else was wrong she obviously cannot listen or debate a point if it conflicts with her own view point and what a parasite, if she does not have someone to lean on then she cannot function. in a word the book was BORING.

An Alcoholic, Eccentric - how truly English , 16 May 2008
I have the audio book read by Clarissa and thoroughly enjoyed this candid report of the ups and downs of her life. Born into a privileged family but with the downside of an alcoholic and abusive father, Clarissa details how she initially used her intellect to survive by taking to the bar then abused herself by taking to the bottle. A committed Countrywoman, skilled cook and clever raconteur, she details how her cooking skills helped her survive both the loss of her mother, her career, and the death of a dearly loved friend. I am glad you got off the bottle Clarissa - so you will live that much longer to remind us that we must not let those who are anti everything ruin our enjoyment of simple pleasures like real Country Life - oh and cooking with cream!

An excellent autobiography by a fabulous lady, 02 Apr 2008
This book is wonderfully written, very readable. She gives a very honest account of her alcoholism without descending into self-pity or born-again anti-alcohol evangelism, which is refreshing. You don't need to be a member of the Countryside Alliance or a foodie to find this life story funny, fascinating and poignant. Wonderful book, fabulous lady.

Fantastic, funny, sad, moving and story of survival!, 24 Mar 2008
I loved it! Clarissa is so funny and very clever! Sadly, she had been affected by alcoholism brought on by the loss of her mother, that said, her father was an alcoholic so the addictive gene is there!

She has had an eventful life to say the least and although was struck by alcoholism and the truama of what happened to her in her earlier years she is a born survivor and an example to all! You can recover and pick yourself up and even better with the support of friends - she has lots of them.

This book was laugh out loud at points - you could actually hear her speaking as you read. There were of course very poignant times too which affected her deeply.

She was never afraid of hard work and proved that even although she was a barrister, when she hit an all time low she took a job in a country manor as a cook! She had no qualms about doing so either. A lesson to us all!

A fine read and well worth the money - I loved it and recommend it to anyone!

This book 'ain't a mucher,' I'm sorry to say!, 16 Mar 2008
'Spilling The Beans' is an amusing title and the dust cover portrays the author ('hideous' in Roy Hattersley's reported comment, though I don't commend him, either), but the work itself ain't a mucher (as some of us country folk say). One wants to be generous to an author who has suffered a lot and, by her lights, has come through to have a 'splendidly enjoyable life,' but her account is clearly not consistent with the facts in some places, and is not well-written or edited. Clarissa Dickson Wright's fans will still love it, I suppose, but I was pleased to put it down at its end and then to get on with some decent reading.

Good Nutritional Information but..., 26 Jun 2008
be aware that some of recipes have a lot of added sugar. Not good if you're on any kind of diet!

handy helper, 28 Mar 2008
This book is a handy helper with lots of great ideas. The recepies are simple to follw and not too footery. I wish they would advise which dishes could be frozen and there are no top tips to alter the meals - as they do in the magazing - but this is still a gem of a book and a perfect size to have in the kitchen.

My Favourite Recipe Book, 16 Mar 2008
Great, easy to follow recipe's that are guaranteed to be both filling and tasty. I highly recommend the Pumpkin and Bean Spaghetti (pp 66-67)!

The only down side is that this book - like many recipe books - expects you to be feeding a family. I would have liked to have seen more recipe's aimed at serving 2 or fewer people.

Sterling Stuff, 21 Nov 2007
This little book was great. Had plenty of choice, book was well set out and the recipies were very easy to follow and the majority were relatively quick to make (vital for when you get home from work starving and could eat your body weight in food before turning on the kettle nevermind the oven). Having tried two of the recipies on the weekend (and not having killed anyone as a result) I declare this book a success!!



A great lil' cook book, 28 Feb 2007
There's a whole series of these '101...' recipe books from Good Food Magazine, and they're all bang on the money. The lay-out is concise (there's a recipe on one page, and a nice, clear photo of what the dish should look like on the adjacent page) and the recipes are simple and easy to follow; no single recipe is broken down into more than 4 steps. Of course, I haven't tried them all, but those I have were all successful ('Baked Buttery Squash' is my most recent favourite). What's more, you hardly notice the fact that they're all low fat.

I wouldn't say this is the only cook book you'll ever need, but it's definitely a worthy addition to anyone's collection regardless of whether you're looking to lose weight or not.

Matt Pucci

Explains the ins and outs of collecting, including relevant UK laws, conservation notes, practical tips and identification techniques. This book includes 72 species we are most likely to come across during forays in Britain's forests and clearings. It als

A good collection of books, but something is missing..., 25 Sep 2008
As the title suggests, I have a few of these books & whilst they are good, there is something missing from them which I couldn't quite put my finger on until now, but more on that later.

101 One Pot Dishes seems to be a good book, I have made the prawn pilau twice now & it has been an enjoyable dish, & there is likely to be other recipes I will be using as well.

So far so good, yes? There is a problem with the Good Food collection I have found, & that is whilst it is normally filled with good recipes, the book on a whole is somewhat souless. There's no input from the people that contributed the recipe really so it's just a list of ingredients & instructions, and whilst the recipes are good, they just don't seem to have the same kind of excitement about them.

Also, I can't help but feel if I was going to do, say an Indian dinner party, I'd be turning to The Curry Secret by Kris Dhillion rather than this. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 as whilst I like the series, the books seem more like everyday teatime foods rather than anything amazing. I'll end on a quote that Jeremy Clarkson said about the Nissan GT-R "It's like a digital camera, it's technically brilliant, but it's souless."

Excellent, 28 Aug 2008
This is a super little book, containing a wealth of interesting and tasty recipes, all of which require the use of a single pot. They range from quick simple dishes such as Speedy Salmon and Leeks to more elaborate creations suitable for serving at dinner parties. We've tried lots of recipes from this book and have been pleased with the results of them all; the instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are all easily available and the results are super. Many of the recipes are quick to prepare and cook, making it an ideal collection for day-to-day cooking after work, with the added bonus of limited washing up! Particular favourites include Broccoli Lemon Chicken, Pork with Apples and the aforementioned Speedy Salmon and Leeks.

Fab!, 30 Mar 2008
I own a lot of cookbooks but I cud have saved myself the money and just got this one because it is definitly the most used! Lots of tasty recipes, good photos with an ingredients list Ive actually heard of! A must!

Easy and Tasty Food, Everytime, 25 Feb 2008
I love this little book, full of great ideas that are easy to follow, fully illustrated and very tasty. An absolute must for any family kitchen. Enjoy xx

Simple and quick - a mid-week meal treat, 08 Oct 2007
I really like this book - we originally got it for my OH has he only felt comfortable making one-pots and this book managed to get him cooking!

As a bit more of a competent cook, I use it loads too: it has a section on soups (moroccan chickpea is v good), then chicken and meat (e.g. chicken stuffed with goats cheese and baked on on cherry toms with white wine), fish (best one I've tried is speedy salmon and leeks - literally 20 mins in microwave), vegetarian, cooking for a crowd (there are some great buffet recipes in here, e.g. a fab chilli, goulash, chicken curries) and puddings, although I've yet to try any of those. It's also good for taking camping / self-catering - doesn't take up much room!

The majority of recipes are reasonably low in calories, use easy to source ingredients and don't take much time to prepare. Highly recommended.



Another Great From Rachel Allen, 10 Oct 2008
This is a great book, I now have three of Rachel's books and this is by far my favourite. In response to the previous review, this book does have some casseroles (lemon and garlic chicken), maybe not all in the traditional slow cooked meat and veg sense but there are other great baked meals such as sausage and bean bake, cottage pie, lasagne and mediterranean pasta bake. I think it was a bit unfair to give the book 1 star based on the fact that it has no casseroles, especially as quite obviously that is not what the book is solely about. For casseroles and stews I would recommend Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews

There are a wide variety of baked goodies in this book; tarts, pies, quiches, breads, cakes, biscuits and also jams. There is also a glossary and a bit at the back giving you a step by step guide (with pictures) to making different types of pastry, bread, a sponge and meringue. There are also several ideas for icing (cream cheese, butter, vanilla buttercream, american frosting & glace) and sauces (bechamel, toffee, coffee, raspberry, blueberry & apple) as well as how to make your own crystallised flowers, marzipan, chocolate curls and candied peel.

I have cooked many recipes from this book already (I've only had it a few weeks!), the carrot cake is by far the best I have ever tasted. The only fault that I can give for this book is that there are too many yummy recipes and I don't have enough time to make them all! I can't recommend this book enough!

spilling the beans, 19 Sep 2008
I have read many autobiographies but this one i had to skip several pages it was so boring - too much DAD and too much Clarissa and drink. I was not a fan before and certainly am not now. what came across was that her view was the 'right one' and everyone else was wrong she obviously cannot listen or debate a point if it conflicts with her own view point and what a parasite, if she does not have someone to lean on then she cannot function. in a word the book was BORING.

An Alcoholic, Eccentric - how truly English , 16 May 2008
I have the audio book read by Clarissa and thoroughly enjoyed this candid report of the ups and downs of her life. Born into a privileged family but with the downside of an alcoholic and abusive father, Clarissa details how she initially used her intellect to survive by taking to the bar then abused herself by taking to the bottle. A committed Countrywoman, skilled cook and clever raconteur, she details how her cooking skills helped her survive both the loss of her mother, her career, and the death of a dearly loved friend. I am glad you got off the bottle Clarissa - so you will live that much longer to remind us that we must not let those who are anti everything ruin our enjoyment of simple pleasures like real Country Life - oh and cooking with cream!

An excellent autobiography by a fabulous lady, 02 Apr 2008
This book is wonderfully written, very readable. She gives a very honest account of her alcoholism without descending into self-pity or born-again anti-alcohol evangelism, which is refreshing. You don't need to be a member of the Countryside Alliance or a foodie to find this life story funny, fascinating and poignant. Wonderful book, fabulous lady.

Fantastic, funny, sad, moving and story of survival!, 24 Mar 2008
I loved it! Clarissa is so funny and very clever! Sadly, she had been affected by alcoholism brought on by the loss of her mother, that said, her father was an alcoholic so the addictive gene is there!

She has had an eventful life to say the least and although was struck by alcoholism and the truama of what happened to her in her earlier years she is a born survivor and an example to all! You can recover and pick yourself up and even better with the support of friends - she has lots of them.

This book was laugh out loud at points - you could actually hear her speaking as you read. There were of course very poignant times too which affected her deeply.

She was never afraid of hard work and proved that even although she was a barrister, when she hit an all time low she took a job in a country manor as a cook! She had no qualms about doing so either. A lesson to us all!

A fine read and well worth the money - I loved it and recommend it to anyone!

This book 'ain't a mucher,' I'm sorry to say!, 16 Mar 2008
'Spilling The Beans' is an amusing title and the dust cover portrays the author ('hideous' in Roy Hattersley's reported comment, though I don't commend him, either), but the work itself ain't a mucher (as some of us country folk say). One wants to be generous to an author who has suffered a lot and, by her lights, has come through to have a 'splendidly enjoyable life,' but her account is clearly not consistent with the facts in some places, and is not well-written or edited. Clarissa Dickson Wright's fans will still love it, I suppose, but I was pleased to put it down at its end and then to get on with some decent reading.

Good Nutritional Information but..., 26 Jun 2008
be aware that some of recipes have a lot of added sugar. Not good if you're on any kind of diet!

handy helper, 28 Mar 2008
This book is a handy helper with lots of great ideas. The recepies are simple to follw and not too footery. I wish they would advise which dishes could be frozen and there are no top tips to alter the meals - as they do in the magazing - but this is still a gem of a book and a perfect size to have in the kitchen.

My Favourite Recipe Book, 16 Mar 2008
Great, easy to follow recipe's that are guaranteed to be both filling and tasty. I highly recommend the Pumpkin and Bean Spaghetti (pp 66-67)!

The only down side is that this book - like many recipe books - expects you to be feeding a family. I would have liked to have seen more recipe's aimed at serving 2 or fewer people.

Sterling Stuff, 21 Nov 2007
This little book was great. Had plenty of choice, book was well set out and the recipies were very easy to follow and the majority were relatively quick to make (vital for when you get home from work starving and could eat your body weight in food before turning on the kettle nevermind the oven). Having tried two of the recipies on the weekend (and not having killed anyone as a result) I declare this book a success!!



A great lil' cook book, 28 Feb 2007
There's a whole series of these '101...' recipe books from Good Food Magazine, and they're all bang on the money. The lay-out is concise (there's a recipe on one page, and a nice, clear photo of what the dish should look like on the adjacent page) and the recipes are simple and easy to follow; no single recipe is broken down into more than 4 steps. Of course, I haven't tried them all, but those I have were all successful ('Baked Buttery Squash' is my most recent favourite). What's more, you hardly notice the fact that they're all low fat.

I wouldn't say this is the only cook book you'll ever need, but it's definitely a worthy addition to anyone's collection regardless of whether you're looking to lose weight or not.

Matt Pucci

Yes it covers Magic Mushrooms, 30 Jun 2008
This is a great book, it's small enough to carry with you but contains a dizzying amount of information. If you're a beginner I don't think you could find a more witty, informative and genuinely interesting book to get you started. Even though it's not really a cover-to-cover book I did read it all in one sitting anyway.

Sadly, I haven't put the book into practice yet, spore testing is crucial but my colour perception is rubbish so I need to persuade someone to help me. The point this book hammers home very, very clearly is if in doubt, don't eat it or it could cost your life.

Mushrooms Can Save Earth!, 08 Feb 2008
Absolutely Love This Book, And I Love Growing Mushrooms, And According Mushrooms Are Very Good For The Environment;

"Microscopic cells called "mycelium"--the fruit of which are mushrooms --recycle carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements as they break down plant and animal debris in the creation of rich new soil. What fungi expert Paul Stamets has discovered is that mycelium also breaks down hydrocarbons --the base structure in many pollutants."

Woop!

Keep Recycling! :]]

The only mushroom book!, 07 Jan 2008
I have long been interested in edible fungi, and have always wanted to eat what I have foraged. One thing stood in my way, would I die?
I bought a book on mushrooms, hurried home to read it, only to find out that it was far from reassuring. I have repeated this several times, each book raising more questions than it answered. There always seemed to be room for error, and after all, you don't want to make an error!
I finally bought John Wright's book, it is far and away the best and most thorough book I have read, and he does it in a pleasant and funny manner.
I have since picked and eaten some mushrooms, and am yet not dead! Hooray!

super little book, 08 Nov 2007
This is the perfect book for those interested in identifying all those mushrooms...whether they be in your back garden or out in the forest.
Very cleverly written, easy to read, concise, and excellent discriptions and pictures. The size of the book is also perfect for bringing out in your coat pocket, when you are rambling around doing your detective work.

The author is also very witty and makes the book a really enjoybale read!

A sheer delight - though necessarily brief , 02 Nov 2007
This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms' by John Wright, is a genuinely funny and hugely informative guide to mushroom and toadstools with some useful cooking tips and recipes too. (Some are even simple enough to try!)

Although this is a River Cottage book it's not by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall; he does write a short introduction which viewers of the series will recognise as an account from one of the River Cottage shows. Fortunately, John Wright is a worthy (and appropriate) River Cottage author.

The book is divided into five sections:

Starting Out (p8-39)
Edible Species (p40-135)
Poisonous Species (p136-179)
Recipes (p180-245)
The End - comprising: index, useful addresses, etc. (p246-256)

`Starting Out' briefly addresses such things as mushroom collection, conservation, identification methods, glossary, etc. and includes the obligatory `key'. While Wright's key is about 10 pages, he notes `... it is not as daunting as many others - I have one that is nearly 500 pages long', it is still nearly impossible to use for extreme fungi novices like my wife and I. Still, it seems to be a necessary evil as fungi identification is supremely difficult.

As noted in other reviews, Wright's approach has been to identify just the edible and poisonous species so if the specimen you have is not one of the hundred or so here, don't eat it! This, of course, means that when you go out looking you will see lots that you can't identify. (Indeed (as extreme novices), we could only indentify about 10% of what we saw from this book.)

So this book is small enough to take out on a forage but can't cover most fungi species. However, it is easily good enough and entertaining enough to read cover-to-cover, unlike most others. While it'll make you laugh every now and then, it'll also teach you masses about mushrooms and toadstools. We love it.

A good collection of books, but something is missing..., 25 Sep 2008
As the title suggests, I have a few of these books & whilst they are good, there is something missing from them which I couldn't quite put my finger on until now, but more on that later.

101 One Pot Dishes seems to be a good book, I have made the prawn pilau twice now & it has been an enjoyable dish, & there is likely to be other recipes I will be using as well.

So far so good, yes? There is a problem with the Good Food collection I have found, & that is whilst it is normally filled with good recipes, the book on a whole is somewhat souless. There's no input from the people that contributed the recipe really so it's just a list of ingredients & instructions, and whilst the recipes are good, they just don't seem to have the same kind of excitement about them.

Also, I can't help but feel if I was going to do, say an Indian dinner party, I'd be turning to The Curry Secret by Kris Dhillion rather than this. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 as whilst I like the series, the books seem more like everyday teatime foods rather than anything amazing. I'll end on a quote that Jeremy Clarkson said about the Nissan GT-R "It's like a digital camera, it's technically brilliant, but it's souless."

Excellent, 28 Aug 2008
This is a super little book, containing a wealth of interesting and tasty recipes, all of which require the use of a single pot. They range from quick simple dishes such as Speedy Salmon and Leeks to more elaborate creations suitable for serving at dinner parties. We've tried lots of recipes from this book and have been pleased with the results of them all; the instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are all easily available and the results are super. Many of the recipes are quick to prepare and cook, making it an ideal collection for day-to-day cooking after work, with the added bonus of limited washing up! Particular favourites include Broccoli Lemon Chicken, Pork with Apples and the aforementioned Speedy Salmon and Leeks.

Fab!, 30 Mar 2008
I own a lot of cookbooks but I cud have saved myself the money and just got this one because it is definitly the most used! Lots of tasty recipes, good photos with an ingredients list Ive actually heard of! A must!

Easy and Tasty Food, Everytime, 25 Feb 2008
I love this little book, full of great ideas that are easy to follow, fully illustrated and very tasty. An absolute must for any family kitchen. Enjoy xx

Simple and quick - a mid-week meal treat, 08 Oct 2007
I really like this book - we originally got it for my OH has he only felt comfortable making one-pots and this book managed to get him cooking!

As a bit more of a competent cook, I use it loads too: it has a section on soups (moroccan chickpea is v good), then chicken and meat (e.g. chicken stuffed with goats cheese and baked on on cherry toms with white wine), fish (best one I've tried is speedy salmon and leeks - literally 20 mins in microwave), vegetarian, cooking for a crowd (there are some great buffet recipes in here, e.g. a fab chilli, goulash, chicken curries) and puddings, although I've yet to try any of those. It's also good for taking camping / self-catering - doesn't take up much room!

The majority of recipes are reasonably low in calories, use easy to source ingredients and don't take much time to prepare. Highly recommended.



Another Great From Rachel Allen, 10 Oct 2008
This is a great book, I now have three of Rachel's books and this is by far my favourite. In response to the previous review, this book does have some casseroles (lemon and garlic chicken), maybe not all in the traditional slow cooked meat and veg sense but there are other great baked meals such as sausage and bean bake, cottage pie, lasagne and mediterranean pasta bake. I think it was a bit unfair to give the book 1 star based on the fact that it has no casseroles, especially as quite obviously that is not what the book is solely about. For casseroles and stews I would recommend Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews

There are a wide variety of baked goodies in this book; tarts, pies, quiches, breads, cakes, biscuits and also jams. There is also a glossary and a bit at the back giving you a step by step guide (with pictures) to making different types of pastry, bread, a sponge and meringue. There are also several ideas for icing (cream cheese, butter, vanilla buttercream, american frosting & glace) and sauces (bechamel, toffee, coffee, raspberry, blueberry & apple) as well as how to make your own crystallised flowers, marzipan, chocolate curls and candied peel.

I have cooked many recipes from this book already (I've only had it a few weeks!), the carrot cake is by far the best I have ever tasted. The only fault that I can give for this book is that there are too many yummy recipes and I don't have enough time to make them all! I can't recommend this book enough!

spilling the beans, 19 Sep 2008
I have read many autobiographies but this one i had to skip several pages it was so boring - too much DAD and too much Clarissa and drink. I was not a fan before and certainly am not now. what came across was that her view was the 'right one' and everyone else was wrong she obviously cannot listen or debate a point if it conflicts with her own view point and what a parasite, if she does not have someone to lean on then she cannot function. in a word the book was BORING.

An Alcoholic, Eccentric - how truly English , 16 May 2008
I have the audio book read by Clarissa and thoroughly enjoyed this candid report of the ups and downs of her life. Born into a privileged family but with the downside of an alcoholic and abusive father, Clarissa details how she initially used her intellect to survive by taking to the bar then abused herself by taking to the bottle. A committed Countrywoman, skilled cook and clever raconteur, she details how her cooking skills helped her survive both the loss of her mother, her career, and the death of a dearly loved friend. I am glad you got off the bottle Clarissa - so you will live that much longer to remind us that we must not let those who are anti everything ruin our enjoyment of simple pleasures like real Country Life - oh and cooking with cream!

An excellent autobiography by a fabulous lady, 02 Apr 2008
This book is wonderfully written, very readable. She gives a very honest account of her alcoholism without descending into self-pity or born-again anti-alcohol evangelism, which is refreshing. You don't need to be a member of the Countryside Alliance or a foodie to find this life story funny, fascinating and poignant. Wonderful book, fabulous lady.

Fantastic, funny, sad, moving and story of survival!, 24 Mar 2008
I loved it! Clarissa is so funny and very clever! Sadly, she had been affected by alcoholism brought on by the loss of her mother, that said, her father was an alcoholic so the addictive gene is there!

She has had an eventful life to say the least and although was struck by alcoholism and the truama of what happened to her in her earlier years she is a born survivor and an example to all! You can recover and pick yourself up and even better with the support of friends - she has lots of them.

This book was laugh out loud at points - you could actually hear her speaking as you read. There were of course very poignant times too which affected her deeply.

She was never afraid of hard work and proved that even although she was a barrister, when she hit an all time low she took a job in a country manor as a cook! She had no qualms about doing so either. A lesson to us all!

A fine read and well worth the money - I loved it and recommend it to anyone!

This book 'ain't a mucher,' I'm sorry to say!, 16 Mar 2008
'Spilling The Beans' is an amusing title and the dust cover portrays the author ('hideous' in Roy Hattersley's reported comment, though I don't commend him, either), but the work itself ain't a mucher (as some of us country folk say). One wants to be generous to an author who has suffered a lot and, by her lights, has come through to have a 'splendidly enjoyable life,' but her account is clearly not consistent with the facts in some places, and is not well-written or edited. Clarissa Dickson Wright's fans will still love it, I suppose, but I was pleased to put it down at its end and then to get on with some decent reading.

Good Nutritional Information but..., 26 Jun 2008
be aware that some of recipes have a lot of added sugar. Not good if you're on any kind of diet!

handy helper, 28 Mar 2008
This book is a handy helper with lots of great ideas. The recepies are simple to follw and not too footery. I wish they would advise which dishes could be frozen and there are no top tips to alter the meals - as they do in the magazing - but this is still a gem of a book and a perfect size to have in the kitchen.

My Favourite Recipe Book, 16 Mar 2008
Great, easy to follow recipe's that are guaranteed to be both filling and tasty. I highly recommend the Pumpkin and Bean Spaghetti (pp 66-67)!

The only down side is that this book - like many recipe books - expects you to be feeding a family. I would have liked to have seen more recipe's aimed at serving 2 or fewer people.

Sterling Stuff, 21 Nov 2007
This little book was great. Had plenty of choice, book was well set out and the recipies were very easy to follow and the majority were relatively quick to make (vital for when you get home from work starving and could eat your body weight in food before turning on the kettle nevermind the oven). Having tried two of the recipies on the weekend (and not having killed anyone as a result) I declare this book a success!!



A great lil' cook book, 28 Feb 2007
There's a whole series of these '101...' recipe books from Good Food Magazine, and they're all bang on the money. The lay-out is concise (there's a recipe on one page, and a nice, clear photo of what the dish should look like on the adjacent page) and the recipes are simple and easy to follow; no single recipe is broken down into more than 4 steps. Of course, I haven't tried them all, but those I have were all successful ('Baked Buttery Squash' is my most recent favourite). What's more, you hardly notice the fact that they're all low fat.

I wouldn't say this is the only cook book you'll ever need, but it's definitely a worthy addition to anyone's collection regardless of whether you're looking to lose weight or not.

Matt Pucci

Yes it covers Magic Mushrooms, 30 Jun 2008
This is a great book, it's small enough to carry with you but contains a dizzying amount of information. If you're a beginner I don't think you could find a more witty, informative and genuinely interesting book to get you started. Even though it's not really a cover-to-cover book I did read it all in one sitting anyway.

Sadly, I haven't put the book into practice yet, spore testing is crucial but my colour perception is rubbish so I need to persuade someone to help me. The point this book hammers home very, very clearly is if in doubt, don't eat it or it could cost your life.

Mushrooms Can Save Earth!, 08 Feb 2008
Absolutely Love This Book, And I Love Growing Mushrooms, And According Mushrooms Are Very Good For The Environment;

"Microscopic cells called "mycelium"--the fruit of which are mushrooms --recycle carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements as they break down plant and animal debris in the creation of rich new soil. What fungi expert Paul Stamets has discovered is that mycelium also breaks down hydrocarbons --the base structure in many pollutants."

Woop!

Keep Recycling! :]]

The only mushroom book!, 07 Jan 2008
I have long been interested in edible fungi, and have always wanted to eat what I have foraged. One thing stood in my way, would I die?
I bought a book on mushrooms, hurried home to read it, only to find out that it was far from reassuring. I have repeated this several times, each book raising more questions than it answered. There always seemed to be room for error, and after all, you don't want to make an error!
I finally bought John Wright's book, it is far and away the best and most thorough book I have read, and he does it in a pleasant and funny manner.
I have since picked and eaten some mushrooms, and am yet not dead! Hooray!

super little book, 08 Nov 2007
This is the perfect book for those interested in identifying all those mushrooms...whether they be in your back garden or out in the forest.
Very cleverly written, easy to read, concise, and excellent discriptions and pictures. The size of the book is also perfect for bringing out in your coat pocket, when you are rambling around doing your detective work.

The author is also very witty and makes the book a really enjoybale read!

A sheer delight - though necessarily brief , 02 Nov 2007
This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms' by John Wright, is a genuinely funny and hugely informative guide to mushroom and toadstools with some useful cooking tips and recipes too. (Some are even simple enough to try!)

Although this is a River Cottage book it's not by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall; he does write a short introduction which viewers of the series will recognise as an account from one of the River Cottage shows. Fortunately, John Wright is a worthy (and appropriate) River Cottage author.

The book is divided into five sections:

Starting Out (p8-39)
Edible Species (p40-135)
Poisonous Species (p136-179)
Recipes (p180-245)
The End - comprising: index, useful addresses, etc. (p246-256)

`Starting Out' briefly addresses such things as mushroom collection, conservation, identification methods, glossary, etc. and includes the obligatory `key'. While Wright's key is about 10 pages, he notes `... it is not as daunting as many others - I have one that is nearly 500 pages long', it is still nearly impossible to use for extreme fungi novices like my wife and I. Still, it seems to be a necessary evil as fungi identification is supremely difficult.

As noted in other reviews, Wright's approach has been to identify just the edible and poisonous species so if the specimen you have is not one of the hundred or so here, don't eat it! This, of course, means that when you go out looking you will see lots that you can't identify. (Indeed (as extreme novices), we could only indentify about 10% of what we saw from this book.)

So this book is small enough to take out on a forage but can't cover most fungi species. However, it is easily good enough and entertaining enough to read cover-to-cover, unlike most others. While it'll make you laugh every now and then, it'll also teach you masses about mushrooms and toadstools. We love it.

Interesting book but not the simpliest, 10 Aug 2008
Having just renewed my interest in slow cookers I bought this book based on amazon reviews. Some of the receipes are interesting but you will spend time having to research what some of the ingredients are. This is fine but I thought the whole point of owning a slow cooker was to save time! This book was written for the amercian market and probably makes a lot more sense there.

Eye opening, 27 May 2008
I bought the slow cooker for lamb and beef principally but this book totally opened my eyes to other options - chicken, vegetables, and even various puddings and deserts.

And all I have tried so far absolutely delicious.

Plus with some helpful tips in terms of what can be done the night before and what has to be done on the day.

A great book for anyone wnating to use a slow cooker, 16 Mar 2008
I've used this book for two years and every recipe has come out very well. I've not found any problems with it being American and it's delight to come across new ideas from over the pond. All the quantities in my copy are in USA (cups/lbs/ozs/spoons) and metric (ltrs/ mltrs and grams). Not come across any ingredients I couldn't find in the shops so far. You can make complete meals with this book - appitisers, starters, main courses, side dishes of vegetables, and deserts. (You could become slow cooker obsessed and surround yourself with them, a gurgle-fest in your kitchen.) It did make me think about all sorts of dishes I could prepare beforehand and slow cook them without that last moment panic. I'm going to get another slow cooker and make it a bigger one this time (3+ ltr) so I can cook, eat 1/2 and freeze 1/2, in one process. I can then use my current small slow cooker for deserts or side dishes. (Well I said you could get obsessed!)

If you like the idea of slow cooking - get this book - every meal's a winner.

Excellent results, 13 Nov 2007
I recently purchased Judith's book and a slow cooker (I must admit, being from Holland, I had not been aware of slow cookers...)and the few recipes which I already prepared, have been delicious and highly appreciated by the members of my household. The Mexican enchilladas have become one of our favourites. I can strongly recommend her book as her recipes are easy to follow. I prepare my dinners in the morning before going to work and when I get home, I don't need to worry anymore of preparing a nice meal.

Fantastic cook book - every recipe has been delicious, 14 Apr 2007
I recently bought this book when I rediscovered my slow cooker in a box in the loft. We have tried over a dozen of the recipes so far and they have all been absolutely delicious. Each recipe is packed full of scrummie flavours. The recipes require a certain amount of preparation before you can put them in the slow cooker - so you either need to plan some extra time in the morning or each recipe tells you how to prepare the dish the previous evening - then you just chill it overnight and switch it on in the morning. The house smells delicious when you get home! I would thoroughly recommend this book.

A good collection of books, but something is missing..., 25 Sep 2008
As the title suggests, I have a few of these books & whilst they are good, there is something missing from them which I couldn't quite put my finger on until now, but more on that later.

101 One Pot Dishes seems to be a good book, I have made the prawn pilau twice now & it has been an enjoyable dish, & there is likely to be other recipes I will be using as well.

So far so good, yes? There is a problem with the Good Food collection I have found, & that is whilst it is normally filled with good recipes, the book on a whole is somewhat souless. There's no input from the people that contributed the recipe really so it's just a list of ingredients & instructions, and whilst the recipes are good, they just don't seem to have the same kind of excitement about them.

Also, I can't help but feel if I was going to do, say an Indian dinner party, I'd be turning to The Curry Secret by Kris Dhillion rather than this. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 as whilst I like the series, the books seem more like everyday teatime foods rather than anything amazing. I'll end on a quote that Jeremy Clarkson said about the Nissan GT-R "It's like a digital camera, it's technically brilliant, but it's souless."

Excellent, 28 Aug 2008
This is a super little book, containing a wealth of interesting and tasty recipes, all of which require the use of a single pot. They range from quick simple dishes such as Speedy Salmon and Leeks to more elaborate creations suitable for serving at dinner parties. We've tried lots of recipes from this book and have been pleased with the results of them all; the instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are all easily available and the results are super. Many of the recipes are quick to prepare and cook, making it an ideal collection for day-to-day cooking after work, with the added bonus of limited washing up! Particular favourites include Broccoli Lemon Chicken, Pork with Apples and the aforementioned Speedy Salmon and Leeks.

Fab!, 30 Mar 2008
I own a lot of cookbooks but I cud have saved myself the money and just got this one because it is definitly the most used! Lots of tasty recipes, good photos with an ingredients list Ive actually heard of! A must!

Easy and Tasty Food, Everytime, 25 Feb 2008
I love this little book, full of great ideas that are easy to follow, fully illustrated and very tasty. An absolute must for any family kitchen. Enjoy xx

Simple and quick - a mid-week meal treat, 08 Oct 2007
I really like this book - we originally got it for my OH has he only felt comfortable making one-pots and this book managed to get him cooking!

As a bit more of a competent cook, I use it loads too: it has a section on soups (moroccan chickpea is v good), then chicken and meat (e.g. chicken stuffed with goats cheese and baked on on cherry toms with white wine), fish (best one I've tried is speedy salmon and leeks - literally 20 mins in microwave), vegetarian, cooking for a crowd (there are some great buffet recipes in here, e.g. a fab chilli, goulash, chicken curries) and puddings, although I've yet to try any of those. It's also good for taking camping / self-catering - doesn't take up much room!

The majority of recipes are reasonably low in calories, use easy to source ingredients and don't take much time to prepare. Highly recommended.



Another Great From Rachel Allen, 10 Oct 2008
This is a great book, I now have three of Rachel's books and this is by far my favourite. In response to the previous review, this book does have some casseroles (lemon and garlic chicken), maybe not all in the traditional slow cooked meat and veg sense but there are other great baked meals such as sausage and bean bake, cottage pie, lasagne and mediterranean pasta bake. I think it was a bit unfair to give the book 1 star based on the fact that it has no casseroles, especially as quite obviously that is not what the book is solely about. For casseroles and stews I would recommend Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews

There are a wide variety of baked goodies in this book; tarts, pies, quiches, breads, cakes, biscuits and also jams. There is also a glossary and a bit at the back giving you a step by step guide (with pictures) to making different types of pastry, bread, a sponge and meringue. There are also several ideas for icing (cream cheese, butter, vanilla buttercream, american frosting & glace) and sauces (bechamel, toffee, coffee, raspberry, blueberry & apple) as well as how to make your own crystallised flowers, marzipan, chocolate curls and candied peel.

I have cooked many recipes from this book already (I've only had it a few weeks!), the carrot cake is by far the best I have ever tasted. The only fault that I can give for this book is that there are too many yummy recipes and I don't have enough time to make them all! I can't recommend this book enough!

spilling the beans, 19 Sep 2008
I have read many autobiographies but this one i had to skip several pages it was so boring - too much DAD and too much Clarissa and drink. I was not a fan before and certainly am not now. what came across was that her view was the 'right one' and everyone else was wrong she obviously cannot listen or debate a point if it conflicts with her own view point and what a parasite, if she does not have someone to lean on then she cannot function. in a word the book was BORING.

An Alcoholic, Eccentric - how truly English , 16 May 2008
I have the audio book read by Clarissa and thoroughly enjoyed this candid report of the ups and downs of her life. Born into a privileged family but with the downside of an alcoholic and abusive father, Clarissa details how she initially used her intellect to survive by taking to the bar then abused herself by taking to the bottle. A committed Countrywoman, skilled cook and clever raconteur, she details how her cooking skills helped her survive both the loss of her mother, her career, and the death of a dearly loved friend. I am glad you got off the bottle Clarissa - so you will live that much longer to remind us that we must not let those who are anti everything ruin our enjoyment of simple pleasures like real Country Life - oh and cooking with cream!

An excellent autobiography by a fabulous lady, 02 Apr 2008
This book is wonderfully written, very readable. She gives a very honest account of her alcoholism without descending into self-pity or born-again anti-alcohol evangelism, which is refreshing. You don't need to be a member of the Countryside Alliance or a foodie to find this life story funny, fascinating and poignant. Wonderful book, fabulous lady.

Fantastic, funny, sad, moving and story of survival!, 24 Mar 2008
I loved it! Clarissa is so funny and very clever! Sadly, she had been affected by alcoholism brought on by the loss of her mother, that said, her father was an alcoholic so the addictive gene is there!

She has had an eventful life to say the least and although was struck by alcoholism and the truama of what happened to her in her earlier years she is a born survivor and an example to all! You can recover and pick yourself up and even better with the support of friends - she has lots of them.

This book was laugh out loud at points - you could actually hear her speaking as you read. There were of course very poignant times too which affected her deeply.

She was never afraid of hard work and proved that even although she was a barrister, when she hit an all time low she took a job in a country manor as a cook! She had no qualms about doing so either. A lesson to us all!

A fine read and well worth the money - I loved it and recommend it to anyone!

This book 'ain't a mucher,' I'm sorry to say!, 16 Mar 2008
'Spilling The Beans' is an amusing title and the dust cover portrays the author ('hideous' in Roy Hattersley's reported comment, though I don't commend him, either), but the work itself ain't a mucher (as some of us country folk say). One wants to be generous to an author who has suffered a lot and, by her lights, has come through to have a 'splendidly enjoyable life,' but her account is clearly not consistent with the facts in some places, and is not well-written or edited. Clarissa Dickson Wright's fans will still love it, I suppose, but I was pleased to put it down at its end and then to get on with some decent reading.

Good Nutritional Information but..., 26 Jun 2008
be aware that some of recipes have a lot of added sugar. Not good if you're on any kind of diet!

handy helper, 28 Mar 2008
This book is a handy helper with lots of great ideas. The recepies are simple to follw and not too footery. I wish they would advise which dishes could be frozen and there are no top tips to alter the meals - as they do in the magazing - but this is still a gem of a book and a perfect size to have in the kitchen.

My Favourite Recipe Book, 16 Mar 2008
Great, easy to follow recipe's that are guaranteed to be both filling and tasty. I highly recommend the Pumpkin and Bean Spaghetti (pp 66-67)!

The only down side is that this book - like many recipe books - expects you to be feeding a family. I would have liked to have seen more recipe's aimed at serving 2 or fewer people.

Sterling Stuff, 21 Nov 2007
This little book was great. Had plenty of choice, book was well set out and the recipies were very easy to follow and the majority were relatively quick to make (vital for when you get home from work starving and could eat your body weight in food before turning on the kettle nevermind the oven). Having tried two of the recipies on the weekend (and not having killed anyone as a result) I declare this book a success!!



A great lil' cook book, 28 Feb 2007
There's a whole series of these '101...' recipe books from Good Food Magazine, and they're all bang on the money. The lay-out is concise (there's a recipe on one page, and a nice, clear photo of what the dish should look like on the adjacent page) and the recipes are simple and easy to follow; no single recipe is broken down into more than 4 steps. Of course, I haven't tried them all, but those I have were all successful ('Baked Buttery Squash' is my most recent favourite). What's more, you hardly notice the fact that they're all low fat.

I wouldn't say this is the only cook book you'll ever need, but it's definitely a worthy addition to anyone's collection regardless of whether you're looking to lose weight or not.

Matt Pucci

Yes it covers Magic Mushrooms, 30 Jun 2008
This is a great book, it's small enough to carry with you but contains a dizzying amount of information. If you're a beginner I don't think you could find a more witty, informative and genuinely interesting book to get you started. Even though it's not really a cover-to-cover book I did read it all in one sitting anyway.

Sadly, I haven't put the book into practice yet, spore testing is crucial but my colour perception is rubbish so I need to persuade someone to help me. The point this book hammers home very, very clearly is if in doubt, don't eat it or it could cost your life.

Mushrooms Can Save Earth!, 08 Feb 2008
Absolutely Love This Book, And I Love Growing Mushrooms, And According Mushrooms Are Very Good For The Environment;

"Microscopic cells called "mycelium"--the fruit of which are mushrooms --recycle carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements as they break down plant and animal debris in the creation of rich new soil. What fungi expert Paul Stamets has discovered is that mycelium also breaks down hydrocarbons --the base structure in many pollutants."

Woop!

Keep Recycling! :]]

The only mushroom book!, 07 Jan 2008
I have long been interested in edible fungi, and have always wanted to eat what I have foraged. One thing stood in my way, would I die?
I bought a book on mushrooms, hurried home to read it, only to find out that it was far from reassuring. I have repeated this several times, each book raising more questions than it answered. There always seemed to be room for error, and after all, you don't want to make an error!
I finally bought John Wright's book, it is far and away the best and most thorough book I have read, and he does it in a pleasant and funny manner.
I have since picked and eaten some mushrooms, and am yet not dead! Hooray!

super little book, 08 Nov 2007
This is the perfect book for those interested in identifying all those mushrooms...whether they be in your back garden or out in the forest.
Very cleverly written, easy to read, concise, and excellent discriptions and pictures. The size of the book is also perfect for bringing out in your coat pocket, when you are rambling around doing your detective work.

The author is also very witty and makes the book a really enjoybale read!

A sheer delight - though necessarily brief , 02 Nov 2007
This River Cottage Handbook, `Mushrooms' by John Wright, is a genuinely funny and hugely informative guide to mushroom and toadstools with some useful cooking tips and recipes too. (Some are even simple enough to try!)

Although this is a River Cottage book it's not by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall; he does write a short introduction which viewers of the series will recognise as an account from one of the River Cottage shows. Fortunately, John Wright is a worthy (and appropriate) River Cottage author.

The book is divided into five sections:

Starting Out (p8-39)
Edible Species (p40-135)
Poisonous Species (p136-179)
Recipes (p180-245)
The End - comprising: index, useful addresses, etc. (p246-256)

`Starting Out' briefly addresses such things as mushroom collection, conservation, identification methods, glossary, etc. and includes the obligatory `key'. While Wright's key is about 10 pages, he notes `... it is not as daunting as many others - I have one that is nearly 500 pages long', it is still nearly impossible to use for extreme fungi novices like my wife and I. Still, it seems to be a necessary evil as fungi identification is supremely difficult.

As noted in other reviews, Wright's approach has been to identify just the edible and poisonous species so if the specimen you have is not one of the hundred or so here, don't eat it! This, of course, means that when you go out looking you will see lots that you can't identify. (Indeed (as extreme novices), we could only indentify about 10% of what we saw from this book.)

So this book is small enough to take out on a forage but can't cover most fungi species. However, it is easily good enough and entertaining enough to read cover-to-cover, unlike most others. While it'll make you laugh every now and then, it'll also teach you masses about mushrooms and toadstools. We love it.

Interesting book but not the simpliest, 10 Aug 2008
Having just renewed my interest in slow cookers I bought this book based on amazon reviews. Some of the receipes are interesting but you will spend time having to research what some of the ingredients are. This is fine but I thought the whole point of owning a slow cooker was to save time! This book was written for the amercian market and probably makes a lot more sense there.

Eye opening, 27 May 2008
I bought the slow cooker for lamb and beef principally but this book totally opened my eyes to other options - chicken, vegetables, and even various puddings and deserts.

And all I have tried so far absolutely delicious.

Plus with some helpful tips in terms of what can be done the night before and what has to be done on the day.

A great book for anyone wnating to use a slow cooker, 16 Mar 2008
I've used this book for two years and every recipe has come out very well. I've not found any problems with it being American and it's delight to come across new ideas from over the pond. All the quantities in my copy are in USA (cups/lbs/ozs/spoons) and metric (ltrs/ mltrs and grams). Not come across any ingredients I couldn't find in the shops so far. You can make complete meals with this book - appitisers, starters, main courses, side dishes of vegetables, and deserts. (You could become slow cooker obsessed and surround yourself with them, a gurgle-fest in your kitchen.) It did make me think about all sorts of dishes I could prepare beforehand and slow cook them without that last moment panic. I'm going to get another slow cooker and make it a bigger one this time (3+ ltr) so I can cook, eat 1/2 and freeze 1/2, in one process. I can then use my current small slow cooker for deserts or side dishes. (Well I said you could get obsessed!)

If you like the idea of slow cooking - get this book - every meal's a winner.

Excellent results, 13 Nov 2007
I recently purchased Judith's book and a slow cooker (I must admit, being from Holland, I had not been aware of slow cookers...)and the few recipes which I already prepared, have been delicious and highly appreciated by the members of my household. The Mexican enchilladas have become one of our favourites. I can strongly recommend her book as her recipes are easy to follow. I prepare my dinners in the morning before going to work and when I get home, I don't need to worry anymore of preparing a nice meal.

Fantastic cook book - every recipe has been delicious, 14 Apr 2007
I recently bought this book when I rediscovered my slow cooker in a box in the loft. We have tried over a dozen of the recipes so far and they have all been absolutely delicious. Each recipe is packed full of scrummie flavours. The recipes require a certain amount of preparation before you can put them in the slow cooker - so you either need to plan some extra time in the morning or each recipe tells you how to prepare the dish the previous evening - then you just chill it overnight and switch it on in the morning. The house smells delicious when you get home! I would thoroughly recommend this book.

Great first book, 15 Jan 2008
I wish I'd bought this book first because it's exactly what I was looking for. There are some "normal" recipes in there that you are likely to actually eat and not have to spend 5 hours first preparing everything which kinda defeats the whole point of having a slow cooker!

Obviously there is some preparation involved (which you have to do with the meat first anyway!) and some more pics would have been nice but I find sometimes no pics are better so I'm not comparing the mess I've just made to the pristine example in the book...

OK - but some repetition, 14 Nov 2007
some nice recipes in this book but be warned some of them have been recycled from author's previous book entitled "Real Food from your Slo-Cooker"

A whole new world!, 10 Nov 2005
After much badgering by my friend, I recently gave in and purchased my first slow cooker. I started using it for the usual beef stew, chicken casserole etc but wanted more variety.

I trawled bookshops for a recipe book and stumbled on this one. Being a novice, the first section ‘General Hints & Tips’ was very useful. What further convinced me to buy it was that most of the ingredients are either what you would already have in the cupboard or are readily available in the supermarket. Also, the measurements are given in metric, imperial as well as American (cups etc) so no need to convert. The instructions are clear and simple – very easy to follow.

There are some great traditional recipes such as French Onion Soup, Somerset Bacon Hotpot, Beef in Brown Ale, Cock au Vin etc, and some really tasty new ideas (for me anyway) - Chicken & Tarragon (delicious), Mexican Chicken, Malay Spiced Pork….

Also, it has been a real eye opener as to what you can use your slow cooker for – it would never have occurred to me to use it for: whole joints, fish, paella, curry, pate, crème caramel, sponges (can’t wait to try the Rhubarb and Almond Sponge and the Pineapple Upside-down Sponge).

My friend (the slow cooker expert) has also fallen in love with this book, so it’s not just for us beginners. I have many cook books which I only use for two or three recipes but I this one has so many that I want to try, it’s not going to sit on the shelf and gather dust.

If you want to try/like using a slow cooker - buy this!, 13 Oct 2005
First let me say that I have lots of cookbooks and this is the only review I have been tempted to write. After owning a small slow cooker when I was single I recently decided to use one again and buy a larger one to use for me and hubby!

This book has rekindled my love of them. It provides lots of inspiration. It has sections on Soups eg Butter Bean and Tomato, Starters eg Farmhouse Pate, Sauces eg Sweet and Sour, Vegetables eg Cheese Stuffed Onions and Pulses eg Persian Rice or Spiced Vegetables and Barley, Fish, Meat, Puddings and Desserts eg Gingerbread, Chocolate Sponge and last but not least Rice Pudding (delicious). It also has a few misc such as recipes for stock, chutney, jam, lemon curd and mulled wine.

I have made countless things from this book and have found the recipes to be spot on and easy to increase/decrease. I could go on and on. But suffice to say for £7 its definately worth the money.

The English Crockpot - great book!, 10 Feb 2003
This book is for anyone who's fed up with only cooking stews in their slo-cookers, or has trolled the net looking for crockpot recipes with English ingredients they can understand and find.

It covers a whole variety of different recipes, from roasting legs of lamb, steaming puddings and cooking whole chickens, to making lemon curd, soups, curry, half a dozen different chicken casseroles and a batch of different sauces. There's even instructions on how to use your slo-cooker/crockpot to make mulled wine. :)

Annette Yates also gives serving suggestions for things that go well with her dishes. Easy-to-follow recipes, with some lovely colour photographs (but not too many - she doesn't try to fill empty space with pictures which is a novelty!) make this an excellent cookbook, one that will actually be used, instead of just read and left on the shelf like so many others.

A good collection of books, but something is missing..., 25 Sep 2008
As the title suggests, I have a few of these books & whilst they are good, there is something missing from them which I couldn't quite put my finger on until now, but more on that later.

101 One Pot Dishes seems to be a good book, I have made the prawn pilau twice now & it has been an enjoyable dish, & there is likely to be other recipes I will be using as well.

So far so good, yes? There is a problem with the Good Food collection I have found, & that is whilst it is normally filled with good recipes, the book on a whole is somewhat souless. There's no input from the people that contributed the recipe really so it's just a list of ingredients & instructions, and whilst the recipes are good, they just don't seem to have the same kind of excitement about them.

Also, I can't help but feel if I was going to do, say an Indian dinner party, I'd be turning to The Curry Secret by Kris Dhillion rather than this. I'd give this an 8 out of 10 as whilst I like the series, the books seem more like everyday teatime foods rather than anything amazing. I'll end on a quote that Jeremy Clarkson said about the Nissan GT-R "It's like a digital camera, it's technically brilliant, but it's souless."

Excellent, 28 Aug 2008
This is a super little book, containing a wealth of interesting and tasty recipes, all of which require the use of a single pot. They range from quick simple dishes such as Speedy Salmon and Leeks to more elaborate creations suitable for serving at dinner parties. We've tried lots of recipes from this book and have been pleased with the results of them all; the instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are all easily available and the results are super. Many of the recipes are quick to prepare and cook, making it an ideal collection for day-to-day cooking after work, with the added bonus of limited washing up! Particular favourites include Broccoli Lemon Chicken, Pork with Apples and the aforementioned Speedy Salmon and Leeks.

Fab!, 30 Mar 2008
I own a lot of cookbooks but I cud have saved myself the money and just got this one because it is definitly the most used! Lots of tasty recipes, good photos with an ingredients list Ive actually heard of! A must!

Easy and Tasty Food, Everytime, 25 Feb 2008
I love this little book, full of great ideas that are easy to follow, fully illustrated and very tasty. An absolute must for any family kitchen. Enjoy xx

Simple and quick - a mid-week meal treat, 08 Oct 2007
I really like this book - we originally got it for my OH has he only felt comfortable making one-pots and this book managed to get him cooking!

As a bit more of a competent cook, I use it loads too: it has a section on soups (moroccan chickpea is v good), then chicken and meat (e.g. chicken stuffed with goats cheese and baked on on cherry toms with white wine), fish (best one I've tried is speedy salmon and leeks - literally 20 mins in microwave), vegetarian, cooking for a crowd (there are some great buffet recipes in here, e.g. a fab chilli, goulash, chicken curries) and puddings, although I've yet to try any of those. It's also good for taking camping / self-catering - doesn't take up much room!

The majority of recipes are reasonably low in calories, use easy to source ingredients and don't take much time to prepare. Highly recommended.



Another Great From Rachel Allen, 10 Oct 2008
This is a great book, I now have three of Rachel's books and this is by far my favourite. In response to the previous review, this book does have some casseroles (lemon and garlic chicken), maybe not all in the traditional slow cooked meat and veg sense but there are other great baked meals such as sausage and bean bake, cottage pie, lasagne and mediterranean pasta bake. I think it was a bit unfair to give the book 1 star based on the fact that it has no casseroles, especially as quite obviously that is not what the book is solely about. For casseroles and stews I would recommend Sophie Conran's Soups and Stews

There are a wide variety of baked goodies in this book; tarts, pies, quiches, breads, cakes, biscuits and also jams. There is also a glossary and a bit at the back giving you a step by step guide (with pictures) to making different types of pastry, bread, a sponge and meringue. There are also several ideas for icing (cream cheese, butter, vanilla buttercream, american frosting & glace) and sauces (bechamel, toffee, coffee, raspberry, blueberry & apple) as well as how to make your own crystallised flowers, marzipan, chocolate curls and candied peel.

I have cooked many recipes from this book already (I've only had it a few weeks!), the carrot cake is by far the best I have ever tasted. The only fault that I can give for this book is that there are too many yummy recipes and I don't have enough time to make them all! I can't recommend this book enough!

spilling the beans, 19 Sep 2008
I have read many autobiographies but this one i had to skip several pages it was so boring - too much DAD and too much Clarissa and drink. I was not a fan before and certainly am not now. what came across was that her view was the 'right one' and everyone else was wrong she obviously cannot listen or debate a point if it conflicts with her own view point and what a parasite, if she does not have someone to lean on then she cannot function. in a word the book was BORING.

An Alcoholic, Eccentric - how truly English , 16 May 2008
I have the audio book read by Clarissa and thoroughly enjoyed this candid report of the ups and downs of her life. Born into a privileged family but with the downside of an alcoholic and abusive father, Clarissa details how she initially used her intellect to survive by taking to the bar then abused herself by taking to the bottle. A committed Countrywoman, skilled cook and clever raconteur, she details how her cooking skills helped her survive both the loss of her mother, her career, and the death of a dearly loved friend. I am glad you got off the bottle Clarissa - so you will live that much longer to remind us that we must not let those who are anti everything ruin our enjoyment of simple pleasures like real Country Life - oh and cooking with cream!

An excellent autobiography by a fabulous lady, 02 Apr 2008
This book is wonderfully written, very readable. She gives a very honest account of her alcoholism without descending into self-pity or born-again anti-alcohol evangelism, which is refreshing. You don't need to be a member of the Countryside Alliance or a foodie to find this life story funny, fascinating and poignant. Wonderful book, fabulous lady.

Fantastic, funny, sad, moving and story of survival!, 24 Mar 2008
I loved it! Clarissa is so funny and very clever! Sadly, she had been affected by alcoholism brought on by the loss of her mother, that said, her father was an alcoholic so the addictive gene is there!

She has had an eventful life to say the least and although was struck by alcoholism and the truama of what happened to her in her earlier years she is a born survivor and an example to all! You can recover and pick yourself up and even better with the support of friends - she has lots of them.

This book was laugh out loud at points - you could actually hear her speaking as you read. There were of course very poignant times too which affected her deeply.

She was never afraid of hard work and proved that even although she was a barrister, when she hit an all time low she took a job in a country manor as a cook! She had no qualms about doing so either. A lesson to us all!

A fine read and well worth the money - I loved it and recommend it to anyone!

This book 'ain't a mucher,' I'm sorry to say!, 16 Mar 2008
'Spilling The Beans' is an amusing title and the dust cover portrays the author ('hideous' in Roy Hattersley's reported comment, though I don't commend him, either), but the work itself ain't a mucher (as some of us country folk say). One wants to be generous to an author who has suffered a lot and, by her lights, has come through to have a 'splendidly enjoyabl