Great recipes and not so great recipes from cookbooks

[courton]

We have discussed the quality of TMX cookbooks but I am currently having an extremely frustrating time with a Donna hay cookbook recipe. Mini cheesecakes with raspberry coulis sounded too tempting to pass up BUT the quantity suggested was too much for the number of cheesecakes specified and the cooking time is so far wrong it is not funny. I wonder if her recipes are triple tested? This is the first time I am using a Donna hay cookbook recipe and I am sitting here waiting, waiting waiting for the cheesecake to cook. I guess after the high quality of recipes from the forum and bill granger recipes ( which always work), Donna hay's recipe- based on a sample of one - is disappointing.

[goldfish]

Courton, I've got to say I'm not a fan of these cookbooks.  They look very pretty - and let's face it, Ms. Hay is an exceptional food stylist . . . but the recipes are mediocre at best IMHO.  To be fair, what you're experiencing could be the fault of editing, typographical errors, who knows?  but the majority of things I've tried I wouldn't repeat  I wouldn't buy any more of these books- and I've given most of the ones I had away.

[courton]

Interestingly I did not buy this book but was given it as a free gift by an energy provider! Maybe she didnt care about the quality of recipes for a freebie!!!

[mcmich]

Courton, may I ask which recipe book you are referring to?
I haven't made the mini cheese cakes although have made lots of her recipes and haven't had a problem.

[Halex]

I do t know which recipe book this is.

I have made a lot of Donna Hay recipes and along with Jamie Oliver everything I make works well.

H

[achookwoman]

courton,  did you convert this to TMX,  or just make it as specified ? 

[meganjane]

I have also found some of DH's recipes to be unworkable. Either didn't cook in time or too much liquid etc.

[CreamPuff63]

Try Johnro's Mini Cherry Ripe Cheesecakes. Can vouch for the fact that they have been tested more than once, and are outstanding.

[obbie]

  I have 2 Donna Hay's books gathering dust.
i should give them away.

Robyn

[EmeraldSue]

Some of her recipes are terrific, but I've had a few failures. I remember making some tarts that had a coconut crust that wouldn't come out of the muffin tin, and was just a really sticky mess that need up in the bin. I have been also disappointed with some of her cakes - they were really dry.
I can always rely on my trusty Margaret Fulton's Encyclopedia of Food & Cookery or Lady Flo's  Country Collection, or any of Nigella Lawson's books.

[courton]

It is a small red hardback book called Fruit. I did use the TMX since the base and the filling had to be mixed in a kitchen whizz. The problem was more than double the quantity provided for the filling than for the base so you either had to throw out half the filling mixed or make another lot of biscuit base to use up the filling. It also said cook for 30 min on 140c. It took nearly an hour and even then only after I increased the temp to 180 in the last 15 mins.

[Halex]

Sorry dont know that one

I have

Classics1
Fast fresh & simple
Instant entertaining,
(think that is what it is called)

H

[CreamPuff63]

or Lady Flo's  Country Collection

...got this, love it -  and will also not part with:

"The Margaret Fulton Cookbook"
"Bring a Plate", Arcadia Valley Cooks (one of those books that a Qld school brought out and its just MINT : to order a copy email: the.principal@arcavallss.qld.edu.au

Plus I have a 1982 hardcover copy of the first Womans Weekly cooking book  "Steps to Better Cooking". Fave recipe from this is the sausage rolls, and Cream puffs which I have converted and put on this forum with adjustments here and there.

Its going to hurt me, but I think I need to peel down and get rid of more cookbooks. I will not part with the above, but I just don't look at many cook books nowadays that is not TM related and I need to chuck some out. There are so many recipes on the internet that am feeling a little cluttered having too many books.

I have the Stephanie Alexander cookbook, but although it is very informative I don't have a recipe that I would call on if required. Not going to get rid of it tho.

I have a Kindle now, and will now not walk into a bookshop to look at cookbooks. The owner of the local bookshop is heat sealing his books so people like us do not feel tempted to flick through them and buy. If you really like the cover you have to line up in a queue and ask to have a look at the book and they will rip open all the plastic wrap and then they watch you like hawks. What a godsend! ha ha reverse effect for the bookseller tho cos I don't believe in wasting all the plastic if they can't put at least one book out for customers to look at :-) meanie - deserves it!

Shall I list my other "precious" books that i have in my kitchen? I just want to have only a select few, we have a vergeside collection in the next week and if no one is interested I may just pick up a bundle and be rid of them forever....ta rah. we have lots of cars going around looking for goodies, and I know they will be gone by morning anyway and someone else will love them I'm just wanting to get rid of clutter...

[judydawn]

Yes, just do it CP - your kids will thank you down the track .  I did it a few years ago, 40 books went off to Mum's village fete and I daresay I could quite easily do it again but because DH relinquished his space on the bookshelf for my cookbooks, it is not over cluttered yet.

[achookwoman]

Yes, just do it CP - your kids will thank you down the track .  I did it a few years ago, 40 books went off to Mum's village fete and I daresay I could quite easily do it again but because DH relinquished his space on the bookshelf for my cookbooks, it is not over cluttered yet.

Judy and CP,  how could you do it.  It would be like cutting off my left arm. (I am left handed). I have hundreds of cooking books ,  and love all of them,even In the Mix where nothing seems to work for me.  But I do love the photos. Bought 4 new ones last week.  Will let you know what they are like.  I started on the Bread one yesterday.  'Bread Revolution".  2 young British bakers.  I like their philosophy but more  recipes still need testing.  If I see a book that has 3+ recipes that i can convert to TMX,  that are a bit different,  then I buy the book. Most are bought with Book Vouchers that i am given for Xmas and birthdays.
Judy,  the kids will have more to worry about than what to do with my cooking books.