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The Secret of Cooking: Recipes for an Easier Life in the Kitchen
£20.10£26.60 (-24%)
‘A genuinely game-changing cook book’ Nigella Lawson
‘Notes from a lifetime of reading, thinking, cooking and eating’ Diana Henry
The Secret of Cooking is packed with solutions for how to make life in the kitchen work better for you, whether you are cooking for yourself or for a crowd.
Bee shows you how to get a meal on the table when you’re tired and stretched for time, how to season properly, cook onions (or not) and what equipment really helps.
The 140 recipes are doable and delicious, filled with ideas for cooking ahead or cooking alone and the kind of unfussy food that makes everyday life taste better.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Fourth Estate (31 Aug. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 432 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0008446458 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0008446451 |
| Dimensions | 18.4 x 4 x 26 cm |
by Andie de R
I read this book from cover to cover, so beautifully and intelligently written. I love it. Fresh interesting ideas and the recipes are delicious. These dishes and ideas really have made my life easier in the kitchen. Thank you Bee x
by J. Vincent
I knew I would love this book from Bee Wilson who is a wonderful writer, but it really is special. Bee writes with such generosity, warmth, kindness and humour. The recipes are spot on. Easy to follow, with so many useful tips and clear and interesting explanations. The result is delicious meals made in a sensible amount of time with minimal tidying/washing up. I particularly like the extra index ‘what to eat when’ which helps you plan what to cook by reference to your mood and time available. We have enjoyed the chicken stew, butterbean stew and Leo’s lentils twice – once as in the recipe and another time with added chilli and spices. The soda bread and the focaccia recipes have been so fun and easy to make and turn out beautifully every time.
The best thing is how Bee’s kindness reaches out to the reader. I used to berate myself for turning out the same thing, or a version of it, again and again. Or, I might make something that tasted good, but didn’t quite match the recipe, and feel a little disappointed. Bee gently encourages us not to do ourselves down. She has inspired me to take pleasure in repetition, and to be curious about the effect of a variation – a different ingredient, pot, or pan, or having more or less time available. Through the process of repetition and of noticing, I am already less self-critical, and proud of what I learn each time. Bee generously shares her knowledge, so that we can all become experts in cooking things just exactly the way we like them.
by Emily M.
I have enjoyed Bee Wilson’s other books and find her extremely knowledgable so was greatly anticipating her first cookbook and it did not disappoint! I have already tried a number of recipes all of which have turned out brilliantly and enjoyed by my children! High praise indeed!
by Deborah Ludlow
A really useful book, full of good information
by Leapingminnow
I have only had this book for a few days but I am really enjoying just dipping into it for Bee’s general advice. I haven’t cooked anything from it yet and it seems to me that it all depends on your personal starting point as to whether cooking is ‘easy’. My benchmark is quite low, the more ingredients to be used and the separate processes to be followed the less likely I am to try it! I’ll have a go at some of the recipes and update this review but I still find the book a fascinating read.
Edit!
The longer I have this book the more I get out of it. I have had a waffle maker for around ten years, used a couple of times then put away. Thanks to this book I hauled it out from the back of my spare room and made the most delicious waffles! I even found my husband with his head in the book agreeing that it was an interesting read!
by clwvdw
I’ve never read a cook book cover to cover but I did this one – cooking as we all really cook, with tips spread throughout the text, with some really fabulous recipes to boot.
by Online Shopper
I’ve been looking forward to this one for ages. It’s very good as well, sometimes well anticipated cookbooks can be a let down; not this one though. If you love a book that you can read on the sofa or in bed, that then lead you into the kitchen to potter about and make something delicious – this is for you. It’s not a Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner kind of chapter book, it’s a lot more organic than that. It’s expensive atm, but it’s also 400+ pages, with plenty of photographs, which are both lovely and doable. I’ve been a cook for a lot of years now, and it makes me happy, but I’m also thinking I’ll buy it for my daughter who is just beginning her food journey, as I really think it’ll inspire her too. Excellent.
by Gillie
This book is so informative but it’s quite a bit muddled. Not easy when wanting to find specific recipes. But is a really fantastic read as there is loads to read and browse especially in the winter.