Favourite cookbooks

Over the years I have read and owned more cookbooks than it was reasonable to keep given the limited total length of my booshelves. However there are a few that have become long-term keeps. They all contain recipes that I use regularly (whether as written or adapted) and get read regulary for pleasure as well as for reference.

"Prashad", Kaushy Patel (2012)

Absolutely the best Indian vegetarian recipe book. As well as great set of recipes it also has some good general tips on cooking.

"Fish Cookery", Jane Grigson (1973)

Recipes for every type of fish and shellfish that you're likely to come across in Britain. Lots information about the fish, preparing them for cooking and recipes for many common sauces.

"Jane Grigson's Vegetable Book", Jane Grigson (1978)

General information and recipes for over sixty vegetables.

"Real Cooking", Nigel Slater (1997)

A wide ranging selection of recipes explained well and enthusiastically described.

"The Food of Italy", Claudia Roden (1989)

Recipes from all regions of Italy with a good introduction to each region's style and history.

"The River Cafe Cook Book", Rose Gray & Ruth Rogers (1995)

Delicious Italian-inspired recipes, explained well.

"French Provicial Cooking", Elizabeth David (1960)

A comprehensive study of the subject with lots of great recipes and wonderful explanations and background information.

"Spices, Salt and Aromatics in the English Kitchen", Elizabeth David (1970)

A different take on traditional English cooking.

"The Dairy Book of Family Cookery", (1983)

A production of the Milk Marketing Board. Has a good selection of (dairy based) traditional English recipes along with a few that were considered a bit adventurous for the time.

"Be-Ro Home Baked Recipes"

Despite being a commercial promotion product this cook book has good basic recipes for cakes and pastries. It's a good starting point for experimentation. New editions come out regularly, I'm currently using the 41st from 2011.

"Bitter Almonds", Mary Taylor Simeti & Maria Grammatico (1994)

The memoir of a girl who spent her adolescence in a nun-run orphange in Sicily. The nuns cooked sweets and biscuits to raise money and Maria helped out with cooking. The second part of the book is a collection of the recipes she acquired; a definitve list of almond-based goodies!