Welcome back to the Maison Cupcake Bumper Books Christmas Gift Guide served in SIX digestible parts.
Most of these titles below came out, or where re-issued during 2011, some I own, some I’ve gazed at in bookstores, all would make an ideal gift for someone.
Today I’m featuring books for teens and twenty somethings
Below you can also win an Amazon Kindle reader with Simply Tap.
Books for teens and twenty somethings
Clockwise from top left:
For the hip young cook
Donal Skehan is rapidly becoming Ireland’s twinkly eyed answer to Jamie Oliver (who in turn is becoming the UK’s answer to Martha Stewart). In his early twenties, Kitchen Hero is already his second book. Although recipes like smoky fish pie and cheesy cauliflower bake aren’t by any means unique, there’s great attention to detail producing a very slick attractive book indeed. No wonder Rachel Allen is quoted on the cover saying how much she loves him. We don’t get Donal’s Kitchen Hero TV show in the UK but if it exudes the energy that pours out of his website and book, we’re missing a treat. Watch this space for someone destined to start an empire of restaurants and mail order businesses if he follows in the steps of the big JO. I bought this book on the back of the artwork and food styling alone but the dishes inside are realistic and tempting enough to make me want to cook all of them tomorrow.
Kitchen Hero by Donal Skehan is published by Collins in hardback RRP £20.
For the cute little biscuit freak
Move over cupcakes and macarons, iced biscuits are where it’s at now. (I would say this, since I am relatively successful at icing my biscuits). Seriously though, although the US baking blogs are awash with decorated cookies, beyond the Biscuiteers and Peggy Porschen, there’s so far little exposure to the iced biscuit in the UK and even the Fiona Cairns’ manufactured efforts sold in Waitrose disappoint. So I was delighted to discover Annie Rigg’s Decorated Gingerbread. It has a festive feel but isn’t limited to Christmas tree decorations moving throughout the seasons and occasions for inspiration. Flocks of sheep and autumnn leaves are my favourite designs.
Decorated Gingerbread by Annie Rigg is published in hardback by Ryland Peters & Small RRP £9.99.
For the little girl who likes cupcakes
I mentioned this book a few posts ago hence my virtually repeating what I’ve already said. Yep you caught me, I was trying to make a up a square of four books that kind of linked together. I feared a telephone directory may arrive but in fact 10,000 Cupcakes by Susanna Tee is a dinky spiral bound book with all pages cut into three sections so you can mix and match your sprinkles, your frosting and your sponge bases. It’s like one of those books where you alternate a person’s head with a cow’s body and some chicken’s feet. Hours of fun if you’re a teenager keen to do some baking but your mother won’t let you in the kitchen.
10,000 Cupcakes by Susanna Tee is published by Ivy Press in hardback RRP £9.99.
For the urban twenty something
Over in the UK, former Great British Bake Off champ Edd Kimber’s The Boy Who Bakes needs little introduction after bouncing into the book charts during the phenomenally successful second series of the show that brought him into the public eye. This book is bound to appeal to younger bakers keen to cut their teeth on something more their decade than “How to Be a Domestic Goddess”. Recipes are are a mix of traditional and creative with US and European influences; highlights being raspberry ripple cake and speculoos blondies. A book to get the younger generation hooked on baking. Gosh I sound like my grandmother.
The Boy Who Bakes is published by Kyle Books in hardback RRP £16.99.
With thanks to Ryland Peters & Small and Ivy Press for the review copies.
Back to Part Two: For cake and confectionery lovers… and a Morphy Richards Breadmaker givewaway
Giveaway #28: Win an Amazon Kindle from Simply Tap
Simply Tap – Shopping in an Instant Competition
SimplyTap would like to offer all of the lovely readers of Maison Cupcake the chance to win a new Amazon Kindle. It’s lighter, smaller and faster and has built in WiFi so you can download books wherever you are.
Simply Tap is the new, instant mobile checkout that allows you to buy in seconds when you see something you like in magazines, out and about, on-line and in store.
Download the app for your smartphone, register your details once, tap in the unique Simply Tap code to buy, and your delivery will be on its way. You’ll find tap codes in magazines, on posters or on the websites of Simply Tap retailers like Carphone Warehouse, Thorntons, and Pretty Green.
Essentially, you see what you want, simply enter the Tap Code into the app, and you’ve paid in an instant. You can find out more information here: http://www.facebook.com/SimplyTap
Simply Tap has some amazing offers during their launch which you can check out here http://on.fb.me/vyWxxw .
Download the app by searching in your App Store for “Simply Tap” or by clicking here on your phone: http://bit.ly/TapBlog
Keep up with Simply Tap on Twitter and Facebook or their blog.
Prize sponsored by Simply TapHOW TO ENTER
- Complete the Rafflecopter form below to confirm your entries made via blog comments, Twitter, Facebook etc.
- This giveaway is set to run until Saturday December 10th 2011.
- Do read the rules below.
- Winners are announced on the Rafflecopter form after claiming prizes.
First timers: How Rafflecopter works (video clip)
- No form showing? Hit refresh and it should appear
- Complete the form – or your entries will not go into the draw
- Mandatory entries to be completed first; i.e. leave a blog comment
- Want more chances to win? Come back daily to confirm bonus entries via Twitter
- Viewing this by email? You need to click through to enter.
Good luck!
With thanks to Simply Tap
RULES:
1. Open to UK residents over the age of 18.
2. The prize is an Amazon Kindle reader
3. Instructions form part of the terms and conditions.
4. No fibs: each winner’s tweet entries and subscriptions etc are cross checked, cheats will have ALL entries disqualified.
5. This giveaway is hosted on behalf of prize sponsor Simply Tap who will deliver the prize(s) following confirmation of winners’ contact details.
6. The prize sponsor’s decision is final and binding on entrants; no further correspondence will be entered into.
7. There is no cash or alternative to the prize stated.
8. The prize is selected in good faith, however the prize sponsor may substitute with one similar value/type if original one is unavailable.
9.Winners are picked by Rafflecopter using random.org and the site owner contacts them by the email.
10. Failure to claim prizes within 7 days will result in a replacement winner being chosen.
Come back next time
Part Three of the Maison Cupcake Bumper Books Christmas Gift Guide will feature books for family cooking and a Linda McCartney giveaway.
Other Maison Cupcake giveaways to enter
Aveen says
I love the look of the gingerbread book. Totally agree we need more iced biscuits, they are so much more interesting than cupcakes and whoopie pies, I think!
Funny enough I’ve just been stalking Amazon and other websites to find out about the Kindle and had just decided to ask Santa for one, so I’d love to find one in my stocking 🙂
Kelly says
My sister bought me a kindle as a gift about 6 months ago and it is hands down my favorite thing ever. I was always a big reader but once I started working I only read about 1 book a year. I’ve ploughed through about 40 books now and I love it!
Arabella Bazley says
It’s still on a shelf in my kitchen…. The Constance Spry Cookery Book (my issue 1967 and I refuse to divulge which side of that I was born!)
Nelly says
I love the look of the gingerbread book, I already have the Boy who bakes one. I am definitely adding the others to my amazon wishlist! Thanks x
Nisha says
lol about the jamie oliver bit 🙂
i would love love the kindle..
Natasha says
I lived in Malaysia when I was younger and used to watch my grandma cooking in the wet kitchen every night. She had a book of her own handwritten recipes that I loved to read 🙂 it was all in Chinese so I learnt a lot from it!
Would love to win a Kindle, thanks for the awesome giveaway 🙂
liveotherwise says
I’d love to win a kindle, and I love your blog, but oh, the pop up subscribe thing annoys me….especially as on a netbook I had to scroll to find the x thing.
Sarah says
Wow lots of books there to add to my ever increasing Amazon Wishlist!! I really want ‘The Boy Who Bakes’ for Christmas. Thanks for the ideas x
Maggie Christie says
The first cookery book I remember owning was ‘Cooking is a Game You Can Eat’ (and I have a rather neglected food blog named after it!) That was followed by the Pooh cookbook (excellent flapjack recipe). It started an addiction which my daughters have inherited. They’d love all of these books!
TheMadHouse says
What would be your desert island cookbook?
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
My desert island cookbook is Indian Everyday by Anjum Anand… I have a mental block over spice combinations for curries whereas core baking recipes I can mostly remember!
Dom says
Oooh, I’ve always wanted a Kindle! I didn’t read cookery books when I was younger though. I’m poor and uneducated. 🙂
michelle atherton says
I would love the kindle as i get told off for having to many books
Beverley Keenan says
First cook book I remember was one at school, I used to make a lovely corned beef hash with beans and fish covered in cheese was delicious.
Ken Reid says
Interesting blog with a cool competition. I remember reading a Deli Smith cook book that Mum had as a kid, due to a lack of other books.
Vickii says
I have no idea what it was called but my Greek mother had a Greek cookery book that she always used! It is still in my parents home till this day although she uses it much less!
Rebecca says
I’d be quite happy with any of these books as a thirty-something!
Rebecca says
… and the first cook book I remember reading was one one Ken Hom’s back in the 80’s 🙂
nicola says
Great selection of books..I really like the look of the gingerbread one. I have the boy who bakes but if I won this it would make a perfect Christmas pressie…;-)
I’d also love a kindle!
Dejeniera says
I got into cookbooks quite late but I remember cracking open Delia’s How to Cook quite vividly.
Kim Allen says
My mum’s very old copy of Mrs Beeton’s book of household management. I still borrow it off of her sometimes as it has some really good recipies in 🙂
Lynne Clark (@josordoni) says
Another fab giveaway Sarah! I really do need an ebook reader so this would be amazing to win. Loving the idea of cookery books on a Kindle, I can just wipe it clean when it gets splattered!
Thanks! Lynne
Gavin says
My 1st cookbook and I stiil have it was Prue Leith’s Cookery Bible
Andrew Petrie says
It was about Italian food,but I don’t remember the name.
liz denial says
Mine was the dairy book of home cookery which was my mum’s. I used to bake from it every week for my parents from the age of 11
Toni C says
Oooh a kindle would be lovely… as would “The Boy Who Bakes”. Could be a fascinating read!
Ross W says
Jamie’s (Oliver) Kitchen. Many of his book are fantastic and that was the first book I received as a young man in an adult world, moving on to study at university in a new city. With 5 flatmates, and as the only one who could actually cook, it was up to me to attempt new meals. Jamie’s Kitchen was a good go-to book for recipes and I still use it today, whilst it reminds me of those good ‘ol times at university.
Glenn Hutton says
A book on cupcakes ;0)
Carmel Thornton says
my firstbook was by marguerite Patten many many years ago.
Gill says
My first cookbook was the ladybird cook book, it included some chocolate cookies which are still hard to beat! I would love a kindle x
Debbie Gillespie says
My first cookbook was “The Vegetarian Kitchen” by Sarah Brown – I still use it today 🙂
claire says
i don’t remember, but i was always looking at my mum’s books for biscuit recipes.
Soosie says
My mum bought me the original edition of the Dairy Cook book when I was about 16. It has been well used and I recently passed it on to my son to use when he left home.
Sheila Sloan says
The first cookery book that I remember using was one by Margarite Patten.
Liz says
My mother’s handwritten recipe book, with her mother’s family recipes. I’ve taken copies of the recipes and passed it on to my sister and her daughters.
Janice (Farmersgirl Kitchen) says
The first cookbook I remember reading was my mum’s Bero cookbook, I used to sit and read all the cake recipes – hmmm, nothing changed there then!
k dunn says
Ok so the first recipe book i read was delia one about eggs! on the basis i could not even boil an egg my mum made me read it!!lol seriously this book was super!and essential!
would love the kindle! pretty please pick me
Zoe G says
The first cookery book I read was my mums handwritten one, every Sunday I would sit watching her cook and bake while looking through her book, she’s still got the book and it brings back loads of memories when I look through it
John Gunn says
My first cooking book is still in my kitchen: How to use chocolate in cooking!
Dominic says
Sooo many cookbooks not enough time!
anthony harrington says
my first cookery book was a cooking for Vegetarians, I cannot remember the title, but it set me on the right path!
follower through GFC and Facebook
Alasdair MacInnes says
The only one I’ve ever really used is Delia
Jay says
My mum still has a Good Housekeeping one which I remember reading and using when I was young. It opened automatically to the fruit crumble page which was the first thing I made on my own, and was consequently encrusted with ingredients!
Tina Corder says
The first cook book I bought was fast cakes by Mary Berry and now my teenage daughters use the same book, its good to see some things don`t change.
DickJames says
The first cookbook I bought was a Jamie Oliver one. Was great and I still own/use it!
Yasmin Limbert says
I had the McDougalls Better Baking Book when I was 7 from saving flour packets. I still have it and still use it.
Yasmin Limbert says
I had the McDougalls Better Baking book when I was 7. I still have it and still use it.
Farhana Haque says
My first book was a cake recipe book which I still have and use.
Helen says
Delia Smith when I was about 18
Sally Reeve Edwards says
My mother had a Mrs Beeton book – almost antique! And she loved that – and a Campbells Cook Book using soup as a basic ingredient – I took that one to University with me! And a Delia of course….
William Gould says
I remember the Be-ro cookbook from making cakes with my Nan!
FionaLynne Edwards says
I remember getting “My Learn To Cook Book” for my 8th birthday. It had a lion on the cover and we made cupcakes from it.
Lorraine R says
Great Prize!
Tracy Nixon says
My mum always had a little Be-Ro Baking Book – always covered in flour lol but I loved it and made loads from it inc scones, fairy cakes, millionaires short bread, lemon curd tarts etc!
kayleigh Dawn says
Absolutely fantastic giveaway.
katherine grieve says
a vegetarian cookbook that my mum bought me as i turned vegetarian when i was in secondary school.
Laura Williams says
My mum had a paper back be-ro book, it had kids recipes in the back, and she used to let me make them.. She still has the book now and it’s covered in blobs of cake mixture stains as I was such a messy cook!!! Lol x
Katie Myers says
I can remember having a huge baking book at my grandmas house:)
natalie white says
To be honest I can’t remember looking in a cooking book when I was younger as my mum used to like cooking things her own way from scratch from the top of her head.
Maggie says
The Be-ro Books.
Duncan says
My college ‘Practical Cookery Book’ 🙂
Natalie Holland says
My mother became a vegetarian when I was quite young – about 7 or 8. So, the first cook book I remember picking up was the vegetarian bible…I recall looking at something like a lentil tart, not very appealing to a 7 year old really! Many years later I taught myself how to cook and have a very large ever-expanding collection of cookbooks, it would certainly save my bookcase to have a kindle!
Lorraine Bishop says
Mary Berry cakes. All the lovely looking cakes had me hooked for life
Stacie says
Good luck everyone.
Margaret says
I don’t know what it was called but it was a very basic cooking book from the library of my secondary school. I don’t recall my mum having any recipe books. I on the other hand have about 50 books, mainly baking ones. I used to love baking when i was little and had to find inspiration myself because my mum had no interest in baking at all.
Adele Leek says
It’s got to be the Be-Ro Home Recipes: Scones, Cakes, Pastry, Puddings.
Which my mom still has, it’s a little tatty but I still love to look through it.
I am now teaching my daughter from the same book.
History does repeat itself!
Vanessa Cox says
The first cooking book – or should I say – cooking notes were my grandad’s! I still have them 🙂
Melanie Edjourian says
I remember using my mums M&S cookery book when i was younger, i made a range of the recipies and have been cooking every since. Now im teaching my kids to cook.
Jamie-Lee Norris says
It would have to be Delilah as my mum always used her cooking books and she still does. I was always helping to cook with my nan and my mum
Ashleigh says
my mums really old cook book – it had just a plain blue cover – not sure what its name was!
Dawn says
This first cooking book I remember was my mum’s good housing keeping one
Sheila Wilkinson says
Bizarrely I won a school prize for something- goodness knows what- being at school probably. i was asked to choose a book and chose Mrs Beeton rather than Virgil or Einstein. Loved the book, still have it , still refer to it sometimes even though it is so old-fashioned. She and Delia taught me to cook!
Averil Weir says
The first cookbook I remember reading was my mum’s ancient copy of Good Housekeeping – I now have a more modern edition!
Bryan Roberts says
I don’t remember the name, but my nanna had an old 60s book where EVERYTHING seems to be offal encased in aspic! It fascinated me”
bakingaddict says
I really can’t remember. Probably one of my mum’s but honestly can’t remember! Probably a women’s weekly or bake easy book.
ali mckenzie says
I dont remember readng cookbooks…hence my cooking is non-existent…when i do try baking things go horribly wrong…however i am brilliant at eating
and critiqueing
Teresa says
When I’d go to my nans house when I was little there was always a white & blue cookbook sitting around in the kitchen, it was called something like ‘this cookery’ or ‘its cookery’ can’t remember exactly it was quite a long time ago – but thats the earliest one I can recall.
kellyjo walters says
my nan had a book where she wrote down recipies etc it was only like a note book but she also stuck in recipies she pulled from mags etc.. that was passed to my mum who never used it so now i have it.. most awesome stuff, suet puddings etc ..
Georgina Ball says
I had a little kids Easter book, never cooked anything from it!
Leeanne says
I have loads of books, I like to look at the recipes – i need to cook from them more
pamela hamby says
my first memory of looking in a cookery book was actually a notebook with recipes that my nana had cooked and bakes through out her life 🙂
Robyn Clarke says
Lynn Bedford Halls Best of Cooking in South Africa. Both my grandmothers and mother had a copy of this book. In South Africa we couldn’t get our hands on many of the “exotic” ingredients required in overseas recipe books, so this became a staple in many homes. My Grandmother recently gave me her copy and even living in England, I still turn back to her book.
jessica edwards says
joy of cooking
Eleanor Barley says
I had a childrens baking book, I used to love making the cakes
Phil Darling says
I had a ladybird book of cooking, and tried all the recipes – my mum hated these sessions as I wasn’t the tidiest of children – took her ages to get the kitchen sorted after I’d been in it. Still true today – but I have to cleanmy own mess up!
cheryl lovell says
I remember reading and using Be-Ro at my Grandma’s house…in fact I still use this now although the pages are tatty and covered in previous ingredients! lol
ali thorpe says
The first cookery book I remember reading was given to me by a friend of the family when I was little. It was an old spiral-bound one of her’s and I used it for years for its fantastic oatmeal cookie recipe. Annoyingly, a flatmate of mine took it with her when she moved out. Even more annoyingly, I have never been able to recall the title! I’ve never found an oatmeal cookie recipe to match it since either!
Sandy Hill says
How to boil an egg! It was entirely appropriate at the time. Some would stay it still is 🙂
Nickie says
The first cookery book I remember is one of Delias – mum had a much used & dog eared edition – probably a 1970’s version.
Ileana F says
I remember reading this old book on bread and how many different varieties there is! My mum brought it with her from India so it has lots of variety in it as well!
Helly W says
I remember reading (well drooling over the photographs of the cakes tbh) my grandma’s Bero book.
Jo Young says
I had, well I still have, a lovely little book called sweets for children. I still make the toffee recipe 🙂
Jackie Turner says
It was a cookery book that my big sister bought me and was called something like “Cookery For Kids” – it was all done by kids, for kids and one of the “recipes” was for chocolate rice cakes – basically standard recipe what you do with choc and rice krispies lol. Nothings changed – still can’t cook but do a mean rice cake 🙂
emma cella says
My first cookbook was “The Vegetarian Kitchen” by Sarah Brown
anne says
One of the first books I cooked from was actually my Disney diary! I made muffin pizzas, and still do a good twenty years on!
Helen Johnson says
All those books sound fab. One of my favourite recipes that I still use to this day came from a Mr Men annual!
Svetlana says
Use my mums made recipe book
Flo Foxes says
My first ever cookery book was a Hungarian Stew Cookery book ..making delicious paprika lamb with sauerkraut ..ohh yum 🙂
Jen says
It was a ken hom chinese cookbook. 🙂
Crystal Mse says
The first one I recall is one by Gary Rhodes . Before that … Sam’s Sandwich ! HeHe !
x
Lorraine Cooper (Squeakymom) says
I had an Usborne (I think) My First cookbook, featuring such wonders as banana bread (which I loved), and Baked Potato Birds Nests.
Andy D says
Great Prize!
..
Lauren says
I always read Marguerite Pattons Everyday Cooking Book (and still do today!)
Claire Louise says
Awesome comp I want to win it for the daddy of the house get him of my case for being on the mac lol. @clairelouise82
Jane Willis says
My mother’s “Good Housekeeping Cookery Book” from the 1950s. A great book – I still read it every time I go to see her.
Rachael Lines says
I had topsy and tims chcolate cookbook, I bought it in a book fayre when I was about 6 or 7. I threw it out when I moved in 1999, and regret doing it.
I have since looked to buy it for my children to find it being sold for quite alot of money! 🙁
rosie says
The French Chef Cookbook BY Julia Childs
My parents were in the diplomatic corps overseas in the late 60s. My mother was expected to supervise grand meals for important people. So she had this recipe book with wonderfully sophisticated recipes like French Potato Salad- but you try getting ingredients such as wine vinegar in the market place in Kandahar! And deliveries from granny in England would take up to 6 months to arrive! I remember a lot of experimenting- some disasters and some successes.
Boo Roo and Tigger Too says
My mums WI recipe book and she still uses it now
@littleboo_21
sandra henderson says
My first cookery book was Delia Smith’s Christmas -i remember id just moved into my flat and stupidly invited loads of friends and family for Christmas Day-resulting in mad panic and purchase of this cook book!I still use it today 15 years later!x
Paula Fazekas says
I had one of those “children’s cook books” with the basic biscuits, bread etc – i dont think it was a celeb one 🙁
Emma Davies says
Borrowing my Mums Delia Smith to learn how to bake cakes 🙂
Sharon Clarke says
It was a Mrs Beeton edition that belonged to my Grandmother
Kim Willing says
Has to be Janet and John!
maddalena dalton says
the first cookery book i ever read was at school be-ro
Susan Martin says
Bero ( I think that is how it was, not seen one for years) one that you send away and got free with tokens from the flour
Cristina says
My first cookery book was Ursula Sedgwick’s Learn to Cook Book – I still use it today!
Kate Cunningham says
My first cookbook was Marguerite Pattons
Diane Carey says
The first cookery book I read as a child was an encyclopedia type book but don’t remember the name. It was in a set that my parents had
Katie Skeoch says
My mum had a readers digest cookbook when we were younger, I used to hate the liver recipe!
C Hui says
Not sure of the name of the book, but it was about desserts
Yvonne Poole says
Delia Smith, the one with the picture of her face on a black background I think.
Red Rose Mummy says
I had a cookbook when I was in Brownies. I think it was called the Brownie Guide’s Cookbook but I could be mistaken. I loved the biscuit recipe in it.
Susan Martin says
Not sure which flour but you collected tokens and sent them away and got a free book, which had everything in it, I am going back to the 70’s. I remember making scones, rock cakes and tea loaf. It was only a small paper book about 4 inches wide and 8 inches long.
Whizz Bang Cakes says
I was taught to bake and cook by my Nain and mother. How to be a domestic goddess by Nigella is a great book but then my shelves are bursting with many, many others. Recently I’ve found the Planet cake books and love those too.
Emma says
My mother’s copy of the Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook. I don’t think she ever made a thing out of it but I drooled over every colour photograph and fantasised about the day I’d be able to cook from it! I have a copy now and still haven’t gotten round to any of the recipes…
Caroline Scott says
The first cokery book I ever read was one of my nana’s from the 1950’s. We always used to bake birthday an christmas cakes from it when I was a child.
Now, I rely more on Peggy Porschen and Mich Turner for my cake recipes but I inherited nana’s book and will treasure it forever.
Lindsey Jones says
It was 1001 best baking recipes had some lovely things in that i baked with my mum x
Vic says
My first cookery book was the usbourne first cookery book, which i still use, it has a recipie for profiteroles! Yum!
Sarah Williams says
I think my 1st was a Good Houskeeping book of my mothers.
Linda Pollock says
lovley competition
Linda Pollock says
the same as blob
Lora says
My mum has a little handwritten recipe notebook and that’s the first one I remember reading because it contained the fairy cake and chocolate toffee bar recipes!
Solange says
Delia Smith
Louise says
I have put a Kindle on my Christmas wishlist as I did last year as well. I doubt I’ll get one, so I’m hoping I can win one instead!
michelle moloney says
one my mum bought form my nursery school, i cant remember its exact name but i used it a lot.
Peak Lee says
Delia Complete Cookery Course
Rebecca Denyer says
I had a Mrs Beeton Cookery book that my Mum had when she was little, it was brilliant and i still have it now
Shane Andrews says
My fist cookery book was the old BERO book my mam used to use
Simon says
First cookbook – Reader’s Digest The Cookery Year – still a classic
Victoria Boland says
I can’t remember. I don’t think my mam actually had cook books, she just used to make things from memory.
Chrissy Schneider says
My first cook book was Gordon Ramasy’s fast food!
christina field says
Dairy home cook book from the milkman. which I still have.
Susie says
I was another Marguerite Patton Everyday Cookbook reader. The colours were so lurid and some of the recipes so, well, horrible really, I’m amazed it didn’t put me off cooking for life
Sam Bates says
Great prize My gran used to cook with me and we used the Bero book x
TLAF says
Ruth Sirkis – the Israeli Martha Stuart
Jenny Bell says
Flour Cooking Naturally, was my mum’s book and now I have it 🙂 It’s looking a bit worse for wear (well used).
Choclette says
My Learn to Cook Book by Ursula Sedgewick – when I was very young. Still have it.
Rhoda says
I can’t remember the name of the book but I remember I was given it by our next door neighbours. It was a kids book of recipes from around the world and I LOVED it!
wendy stanger (@kikicomp) says
My first cook book was one produced by my Mums Preschool and I still use it today:)
Nina Crozier says
I remember my mum’s copy of Mrs Beeton. Used to love getting that out!
Karen Barrett says
The Stork Cookery Book which I had to get for Domestic Science at Secondary School when I was eleven. I still use it, in fact I made a chicken and mushroom pie from it yesterday.
ADELE HILL says
The first cookbook I Remember was a family cookbook made by my great grandmother when she was a cook to the Baron Rothschild. It had the some really unusally entries and some of the recipes was for banquets and coulg feed 50. It was fascinating and I still love to read it.
laura seaton says
I remember reading a usbourne childrens cookery book but I cant for the life of me remember what it was for. I now own lots of them but hardly ever cook out of them
@tiredmummyoftwo
Tracy says
The first book I remember reading was one by Fanny Craddock that my Nan had. Oh, the memories!
@mummiafelice
Emily Hutchinson says
I had a Mr Men Cookery book. I remember making pineapple upside down cake from it 🙂
Marzena says
I can’t remember the name of the book but it was one of my mum’s cookery books
Nickie Chapman says
Betty Crocker one with a red and white checked cover – the classic!
Kate O'Neill says
The first cookbook I ever used reading was one by Mary Berry when I was about 8. My mum still has it and I do borrow it occasionally
carole says
would love the kindle
Lucy Pasifull says
My mother has a compulsion to collect cookery books (a habit that I have inherited) and so I spent many an hour reading some wonderful books! The one I remember the most was the good housekeeping cookery bible.
Rob Falconer says
I remember collecting recipe leaflets from a local Good Food Show, but my first book would have been my mother’s Mrs. Beeton. Boring, isn’t it?
John Taggart says
Betty Crocker cookbook
helen says
I cant remember:(
Lesley Bambridge says
The Woman’s Weekly book of baking : )
Kasia says
My first cookbook was Winnie The Pooh cookbook. I got it for Christmas one year.
Kathryn says
The first cookery book i’ve read was a free baking book from a box of quaker oats. One of my aunts sent it to me from America.
CJ Wilson says
The Dorling Kindersley Children’s baking book. I used to make cheese scones with my mum who has an annoyingly savoury tooth.
Donna Gilligan says
The Be Ro book was the only one my mum ever used, she can’t understand why I have so many
Chris Andrews says
My first cookbook? A very thick and now dogeared Good Housekeeping.
Holly says
Not Just a Load of Old Lentils, one of my mum’s favourite cookery books when I was little.
Lux says
Cooking in a Bedsitter- my mum told me to read it because it was hilarious, but I actually got the confidence to cook by following some of the recipes.
Eleanor Lindsey Wigmore says
I can’t remember it but it was big and colourful with really easy directions whoch were in speech bubbles. It had a great recipe for chocolate cake which was better than the cakes in my Mum’s books.
Samantha Deakin says
Sadly not a teenager anymore… more of an urban twenty something
Kat says
I remember having to scan a barcode sheet to set our video player. I wonder if this is the same ?
claire woods says
I remember reading a Microwave cookbook, which my mum still has.
sarah eastham says
Best cookbook we have is the ‘big cook little cook’ one, its fab!
Gabrielle Svensson says
I can’t remember what it was called, but it was a baking cookbook.
liz denial says
the dairy book of home cookery
Rebecca John says
Mary Berry
Daphne Mueller says
I have the same Stork Cookbook from domestic science, but also an old housekeeping book of my mums’ from 1950’s which includes advice on canning
Emma L Clarke says
I remember making cupcakes as a child from a Mary Berry cookbook that had seen better days
@emma1111111
David Rowlinson says
I can’t remember; I claim amnesia, I’m old enough.
Anita says
One of my mums cookbooks
Fran Light says
I never really used cookbooks when I was younger – my Mum had a folder of recipes, and we always followed recipes from that!
When I went to university, a friend gave me a ‘vegetarian cookery for one’ book and I used to make lots of soups and stews out of a book called “Cooking with beans & lentils” … or something along those lines, but a folder stuffed with photocopies of my Mum’s recipes was my REAL kitchen bible!
Cheryl M says
The first cookery book I remember reading was a copy of Mrs Beeton which my grandmother got as a wedding present. Published in the 1929s, it had plans of tables for posh dinner parties, recipes involving dozens of eggs and pints of cream, and I don’t think my grandmother had ever used it!
Martina Pichova says
I was never interested in cooking when I was younger and I only learned to cook in my twenties. I used Jamie Oliver’s books then.
Christine Johnson says
Bero pamplet was the first one l used, l think it came free with the flour
Sophie Williams says
Delia Smith’s Cookery Course vol. 1, still have it too!
Carolin says
I got a Barbie cook book for Christmas when I was 8 – I loved it.
@caro_mad
Rachael towersey says
My mom’s Delia Smith christmas cookbook… i was really young. maybe 4 or 5 🙂
helena haddock says
A cookbook for children, can;t remember the name
Dee Dmonte says
Delia Smith Christmas Cookbook 🙂
Joanne Cross says
Like lots of people, I can remember my mum’s ‘home made’ cookbook, with all the recipes she’d cut out from newspapers and magazines, and the recipes handed down from her mum.
kim mayhead says
Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook
Greig spencer says
dont know the name but was a lasy bird book, cooking with children or something lol
DENISE CROSS says
The Be-Ro cook book
Julie Booth says
Hamlyn all colour cook book
Allan Buck says
The Pauper’s Cookbook by Jocasta Innes. A classic.
Paul Ellams says
Mary Berry cook book
Isabelle Smith says
ive always wanted a kindle!
Jane Barrett says
My mum had a copy of Mrs Beetons ccok book and that was the first cook book I ever read.
Naomi says
an old bero cookbook- it was great!
Su-yin says
I wish that I had the funds (and bookshelf space) to buy all the cookbooks I want.. the list keeps on growing!
vicky haddock says
Can’t remember the name,but it was a childrens cook book
Nicki Cawood says
Mum’s Bero book, which I think she still has and uses occasionally!
Ellen Arnison says
I have serious Kindle Reader lust.
Hazel rush says
Mums old ATD cook book.. I think that’s what it was called anyway it was great!
Laura Pritchard says
I don’t remember the title but it was a chunky A5 ‘Cooking for Kids’-style book when I was 5 or so.
Emma Greaves says
It was a cake making cookery book – it featured lots of coconut and feathered icing!
Laura says
Bero Baking Book
Laura Carroll says
It was a book called ‘Afternoon Tea’ and I used to sit for hours looking at the pictures of the different cakes and asking my mum to bake them 🙂
deborah davies says
the first cookery book i remember reading was one that i got from brownies. every sunday i used to cook something for my family from it. the favourite was fairy cakes :o)
Steven Hunter says
I remember reading a book full of muffin recipes!
Rudy Roversi says
Would love a kindle for xmas..
Helen maddock says
the first cookbook I remember is the Dairy cookbook I have a copy still in my kitchne its a bit dated but great for basics
Maya Russell says
The first cookery book I remember was a very simple, pictograph one for children. I remember making some coconut sweets and ginger snaps.
Ami Pilbrow says
My mum used to have this book about how to make childrens party cakes and party food. It was very retro and 70’s but I remember looking over the pictures and wishing that I too could have a hedgehog cake.
Andrew Halliwell says
The first I remember reading was “farmhouse Kitchen” from the 1960s/70s tv series of the same name.
Cheryll H says
Don’t remember looking at cook books – have always checked the internet for recipes so it would have to be the BBC Good Food site 🙂 @pipersky1
Catherine Miller says
I was given the Good Food Cookery book when I went to Uni and I still have it!
Sarah says
I remember my mum had a copy of the Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook & when I left home she bought me an updated version – which I still have!
s gough says
My Mum had a “book” of her own recipes I remember reading and using this
Molly says
Oh gosh, I can’t remember the name, but it was a children’s cookbook that my elder sister bought – we must have made every single recipe in it, we were always using it. Then my mum had one cookbook, that was like her bible, I can’t remember the name of that either except it must have been an Irish one as I remember recipes for Colcannon and Barm Brack 🙂
Kathleen Connolly says
Good Housekeeping Cookbook
Joanna Kiely says
I think it was a Heinz cookery book of my mums!! I think I was really just looking at the pictures and pointing to things I wanted my mum to make for me!!! Hehe!!
Jane Morrice says
The first cookbook I remember was a Bero one in black and white!
Alison says
Winnie the poohs honey cookbook
Steve Mackinder says
Wow, a Kindle…. I’d absolutely love to win one!
phyllis ellett says
Again it was the Good Housekeeping cookbook
deedee says
the bero book
Lisa Wilkinson says
It was a cookery book of my mums and it was called Farmhouse Baking. I used to pretend to bake from it on my a la carte kitchen.
Michelle Williams says
Mary Berry cake book my mum had
katherine grieve says
Delias how to cook
Angela Sandhu says
I remember the Delia Smith Collection
amanda egglestone says
My first cooking book i can remember reading was a book put together by my great grandma, she had some fantastic recipies in it, still use them all today.
Maria Knight says
I remember my mum having a thick cookbook when i was a little girl, i cant remember the name of it but im sure she got it from the Milkman many years ago (from the same company that does the dairy diarys)
It had every recipe you can think of in it and even told you how to fillet a fish and what veggies were in season when. But the section of the book i remember most is the biscuit recipes…..me and my brother ALWAYS wanted to bake biscuits. The pages were always sticky and floury where we’d made a right mess.
Sarah Fox says
My First Cook Book- A life-size guide to making fun things to eat by Angela Wilkes
I used to always want to make the cake with the edible flours on it.
Gillian Holmes says
Japanese cooking by Emi Kazuko
Anthea Holloway says
The first cookery book I can remember was the McDougalls Flour cookery book and its recipe for fritter batter is one I still use today!
melanie crumpton says
Old Delia book
Kathy Tindale says
Finding this website has kindled my desire to find out my first recipe book entitled McDougalls Better Baking which was in constant use when my children were young..
Kerrie Vella says
Delia smit how to cook
Sarah Ballantyne says
An old Delia book – it was a battered old copy with no cover but my mum loved it and used it at least once a week.
Karen Railton says
it was my mothers do not know the name but was a french cookbook
helen rosbotham says
Thansk for the amazing giveaway would be perfect on my way to work!
Bonnie King says
A Sainsburys cookbook. I thought I was a chef when I successfully baked a victoria sponge cake 🙂 haha
Suzanne sendell says
Cant remember as I just followed my nans receipes
Marsha says
Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Boys & Girls. And I still love looking through it.
deborah nicholas says
An old Bero cookbook – one of those really thin ones with everything you would ever need to bake in it, my mum swore by it!! lol
Emma Howard says
My mum’s Microwave Knowhow series. I think she collected it every week and then filed it in special ringbinders!
Nancy Bradford says
I read my Grandma’s recipe book and recipe cards from as young as I can remember.
Daisybeebee says
I think it was a Woman’s weekly Jam making book that was my grans. We used to make jam and chutney every month.
Janine Atkin says
i didnt start cooking until i was in secondary school and took food tech. i used the school cookbooks and discovered some great recipes that i still use today.
cathy james says
i remember a big thick book of my mothers, lots of great receipes in it
Lyn Bosomworth says
Good Housekeeping Cookbook
Deborah Bird says
I don’t remember the name of it but i used to love looking at my mums book which she had had since she was little!
Charlotte says
I had a childrens cookery book that I always used to use (can’t remember the name), my favourite recipe was for a tuna & sweetcorn pasta salad!
Angie Hoggett says
good old Bero book!!
Dave Glenister says
Dairy Cookbook – published by the milk marketing board and bought from the milkman!!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
I love that book! I bought an old one off Amazon!
Laura says
Oddly was talking about the Boy Who Bakes book with my housemate earlier. The pair of us like to bake (I swear something must’ve been put in the milk at school, seems all twenty-somethings are into it) and we were debating new baked good she could take in to work!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
That’s good to hear! If you’re investing in your first baking reference tome I’d recommend either Rachel Allen’s “Bake” or Mary Berry’s “Baking Bible”. More hardcore is Dan Leparad’s new Short & Sweet which has fewer pictures but packed with tons of essential knowledge.
SUSAN HALL says
I cant remember what it was called but it was a childs cookery book with simple pictures i loved it and baked the cheese scones and cheese straws all the time
Anand Peter says
The first cookery book i remember reading was an old Indian recipe book, cant remember the name now!
Jo Kelly says
Mine was one that my Nan had made for me 🙂 I still have it now & use all the recipes frequently. I plan to pass it on to my daughter or Granddaughter in time 🙂
Emma Lowe says
readers digest, even took it when i got married and left home
Karen says
I remember reading Mrs Beeton’s cookbook when I was younger
maggy,red ted art says
We used to have a book of Christmas baking… sadly it is now lost 🙁
maggy,red ted art says
(Have also tweeted 🙂
Jackie ONeill says
The first cook book I remember using was my mum’s which was a BBC Cookbook by Fanny and Johnnie Craddock which my sister has now.
Karen Lowe says
For baking you cant beat Mary Berry!!! For sexy food it got to be the Domestic Goddess herself!!!
Magz Parmenter says
My mom and grandmother never used cookbooks, so I just got recipes by watching and doing it with them. I didn’t start reading cookbooks until I got married. Now I have an unhealthy obsession with them! LOL…
Claire Nelson says
My Mum had an old and battered woman’s weekly cookbook.
jenny Miller says
I had a copy of the GOOD HOUSEKEEPING Cookery Book. It was given to me by a friend, and it had been well used.
Carolina J. says
I used magazines with recipes instead of books.
Sarah Armstrong says
When I was 5 in infant school we made cakes and then made our own cookery books with pictures… its one of my earliest and happiest memories.
Leonie Sanford says
I think it was called Good Housekeeping
Sue Smyth says
the first cookbook I remember is Mrs Beetons’ which belonged to my Nan: I was given a copy when I got married and still use it now.
Hannah Jeffery says
My Nan has just passed her favourite mixing bowl down to me because she has arthritis in her hands and can’t mix. I’m planning to make her a lovely traditional fruit christmas cake as a thank you 🙂
tinkerbell says
I don’t recall the name of it but it was a cake recipe book at my grandma’s house. As a child, I enjoyed flicking through it and looking at pictures of all the yummy cakes.
Leanne Bucknall says
I can remember using one my mum had but can’t for the life of me remember what it was called, it was a really thick book with colour picture plates & it had a blue cover…..strange the things you do remember! There were recipes in there for all sorts of things
Paul Witney says
My aunt bought me a baking book full of cakes and biscuits.
Kirsty Davidson says
Hi there
The first cookbook I brought was a Pasta and Sauce book. It has the most amazing receipe for my all time favourite Spaghetti and Meat Balls. Mmmmmmm
Zelda Turner says
Good Housekeeping Childrens Cookery Book 1974 – I now collect all these Vintage Cook Books – the recipes inside are priceless 🙂
Ann Calland says
I rememember my mum having a beeroo recipe book all covered in flour!
Sally Willcock says
Mum had lots of books – I remember she had a Zena Skinner book, a Bero book, a Trex book and loads more. I bought her a Hamlyn cookbook for Christmas one year as well – so I actually remember loads of cookbooks that I first read
Stuart Osborne says
Readers digest cookery year
Boo Roo and Tigger Too says
My mum’s WI cookery book
@littleboo_21
sue willshee says
I did an exam in domestic science at school and one of the first things I had to do was to bake a victoria sandwich. My grandma loaned me her set of Marshall Cavendish ‘What’s Cooking’ magazines that built up into a cooking encylopedia and I spent ages looking at the cake recipes. Grandma gave me the set of magazines when I passed my exam and I still have them 🙂 @piperanddaisy
Natalie Holland says
Fab giveaway thanks! The first cookery book I remember picking up was one by delia smith, belonging to my mum! I have a great love of cooking now & cookery books in particular, it would be amazing to get a kindle and FILL it full of cookery books!
Kim Willing says
Good Housekeeping. Although I learnt some recipes from mum.
Sarah Cooper says
My mum’s BBC Low Cholesterol book – she cooked some lovely recipes from there in an attempt to lower my dad’s cholesterol. I would love to track it down on Ebay but haven’t had any luck.