Books

Indian Cookery by Madhur Jaffrey … a BBC book, lavishly illustrated as they always are. Authentic uncomplicated Indian food from scratch for all occasions. You’ll never use commercial curry paste again.

Delia’s Complete Cookery Course by Delia Smith … swathes of food snobs have just written me off as dull, stuffy and middle class. I’m supposed to be pretending to like snail ice cream and Jamie Oliver if I want to have any kind of culinary credibility. Ask me if I care. The sainted Delia has been handing out sound practical advice and solid tasty recipes for 30 years, and I don’t give a rat’s ass if she doesn’t swear at everyone or ponce about on a Vespa.

Delia’s Vegetarian Collection by Delia Smith … as above. Tasty veggie fare for every eventuality from solitary snack to full on dinner party. The carrot cake is fabulous.

Je Sais Cuisiner by Ginette Mathiot … first published in the 1930s and never out of print since. Classic French home cooking, now available in English translation as I Know How To Cook, but I warn you it’s an American edition, so it uses that utterly ridiculous system of weights and measure  they have over there. Honestly, you wouldn’t think anything could be sillier than the British Imperial system would you? I fail to see why you can’t both get with the programme and go metric, but never mind.