Cooking Up a Storm | Our Favourite Cookbooks

As the 13^th series of Masterchef comes to a dramatic close (don’t worry – no spoilers here) we got to thinking here at World of Books, what are our go to cookery books and recipes? What are our signature dishes?

Now we’re not claiming to be gourmet guru’s here, but like any normal office, we talk about food a lot. What’s everyone is having for dinner, what restaurants we like, what we should have for lunch etc… Plus, a recent dairy intolerance diagnosis has sparked a whirlwind of alternative recipes and ideas of new dishes to try.

So, what cookery books are we all using at the moment? And what recipes do we recommend you try?

Joe Wicks – Lean in 15

Well of course we are. Most of the human world has heard of the cheeky chappy who burst on our Instagram feeds with 15 minute meals and workouts. He’s incredibly popular. Why? Because his recipes are really tasty! They’re simple and quick to make and don’t involve too much faffing around. No wonder his books have sold millions.

The recipe Becky would recommend:

Easy Peasy Paella  – This dish is just heavenly, I have always thought it would take a lengthy time to make such a hearty meal but with his meals they genuinely take 15 minutes! Now Joe’s recipe has prawns in and as a non-lover of fish, I substitute them for chorizo instead. We are always making this in our house because it is so quick and easy and with the recipe split for one/two people it can easily be adapted for more guests when entertaining.

Hemsley Hemsley – Art of Eating Well

This book is fantastic for people who want to eat healthily but still want a hearty meal and to feel like they’ve actually eaten something (not reaching for the biccie tin at 9pm as you’re still hungry). The recipes are all designed to help you maintain a healthy diet and also to help boost your energy. The ingredients can be a little tricky to get hold of and can also be a little pricey, but it’s definitely worth a look.

The recipe Sarah would recommend:

Blueberry Pancakes with Cashew Mango Cream – this dish is just delicious and perfect for a nice brunch or when you’ve had people stay over. They’re guaranteed to be impressed by your culinary skills. Just remember to soak the cashews overnight!

Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals

This book accompanied a hugely popular TV series and we can certainly understand why. A wholesome, tasty and simple meal cooked in just 30 minutes? Yes please! Admittedly, getting it all done in a 30 minute timeframe is hard and you may need a lie down afterwards but generally we consider ourselves winners if we manage to get it done under 45 minutes!

The recipe Paul would recommend:

Pasta Pesto with garlic and rosemary chicken – This dish is great as it uses fresh lasagne sheets instead of dried pasta, which makes it quicker to cook and looks great on a sharing plate. I tend to make a big batch of pesto anyway which I freeze into blocks, so I use that here. However, the recipe for this pesto is equally good. This is one of very few I can get done in 30 minutes, so always a go to for our family!

Fearne Cotton – Cook Happy, Cook Healthy

From the well-known TV/Radio presenter, this book is very similar to Hemsley Hemsley; the recipes are simple, nutritious and very tasty. Especially some of the baking recipes! It’s also really great for vegetarians as Hannah explains below…

The recipe Hannah would recommend:

Sri Lankan vegetable curry with brown rice – I love it because it’s a very fresh curry but it’s nice and light. The recipe is also really adaptable depending on your own tastes, and you can also chop and change depending on what veggies you have at the time.

It’s also good for veggies because if you are adding fish, it goes in for the last few minutes so really easy to do some with and some without.

Mary Berry Everyday

This book has 100s of exciting recipes you need to try. Whether you’re cooking at home for your family or entertaining guests at a dinner party. Everything is covered, from light lunches to sumptuous desserts, like the classic we’ve picked out for you below.

The recipe Alice would recommend:

White chocolate and raspberry cheesecake – As a cheesecake lover, this recipe never disappoints. It’s absolutely delicious! And it looks fantastic too. Thankfully, it’s not too tricky to make and there are very few ingredients and it’s all easy to get a hold of in a local supermarket. You don’t need to visit any specialist shops or order online.

Well that’s certainly got our mouths watering and our stomach’s grumbling! We want to hear from you, tell us your favourite cookbook below, the recipe you enjoy most and why and you could win a selection of 5 cookbooks from World of Books up to the value of £50! See terms and conditions below:

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully prior to participating in World of Buzz trading as World of Books Prize Draw (the “Prize Draw”). By participating in the Prize Draw each participant fully and unconditionally agrees to and accepts these Terms and Conditions.

Eligibility for Participation: The Contest is only open to individuals (referred to as “Participants”) Participants must be (i) a resident of the United Kingdom and (ii) over 18 years of age. Participants will only be entered into the contest once and are only allowed to win a prize of £50 worth of cookbooks. World of Books employees and their immediate family are not permitted to enter the Prize Draw.

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