If there’s one thing we do lots of in this house, it’s cooking.
Or should I say, if there’s one thing the husband likes doing lots of in this house, it’s cooking.
I like cooking as well, although where he does it for fun and because he enjoys it, I do it because I have to! 
So one thing we’re definitely not short of in this house is cookbooks – we’ve got millions of the things.
Here are my top 5 Cookbooks:
Hairy Bikers Mum Knows Best
A great cookbook with lots of simple, classic recipes your Mum (and Grandma) used to make.
Netmums Feeding Kids Family Recipes
This one is definitely my favourite, and the one that I have used LOTS over the years.
Plenty of family recipes, from baby age to hungry older children ages. Lots to keep the adults happy as well, they’re really simple and easy to make.
Simple stuff even I can make, like tuna pasta bake and shepherds pie, to lunchbox fillings and menu planners.
It’s brilliant, and has been well thumbed over the past 5 years, it’s a wonder it hasn’t fallen to pieces by now.
(No Netmum’s aren’t paying me to say that, it really is a great book!) Although they’re more than welcome to if they want to.
Good Housekeeping Family Meals For a Fiver
This is an excellent book if you’re on a budget, or wanting simple, easy to make meals. Great for using store cupboard staples up.
Bake – by Rachel Allen
A great all rounder cookbook, with lots of nice baking recipes, from biscuits to pies. Yum.
As you can see, this is also another one that has been used lots. Just noticed a mark on her head. Whoops. What can I say, I’m a scruff.
Last, but not least:
Tana Ramsay’s Family Kitchen
The husband’s got all of Tana Ramsay’s famous spouse, Gordon Ramsay’s cookbooks, but I much prefer his wife Tana’s book – much more easy to follow and family orientated in my opinion!
So there you have it, my Top 5 cookbooks. If you like simple, easy to follow recipes (like I do, I can’t cope with long ingredient lists and lots of dithering about!) then these books are brilliant,
To get more cooking inspiration, head over to
http://katetakes5.blogspot.com
to see what other people’s favourite cookbooks are.
I have the hairy bikers one, in fact i have a few of the hairy bikers cookbook they are fabby x
Agreed, the Hairy Bikers one is great – we’ve got all of them except the very first one, so got a great big pile of Hairy Bikers books! They’re all brilliant.
Aargh! I can see that I really won’t know what books to buy! All of yours sounds really useful, though if all your commenters vote for the Hairy Bikers, I will check that out
Oo I have the Netmums one too and it really is good. Though I may get into trouble now for not including it…
Like the look of all of these actually. Think a book shop browse may be on the cards!
I imagine the Netmums one will come in handy once Isaac is old enough to eat something other than baby rice. Sure I won’t be waiting long- times passing too quickly.
ahhh! I included the Netmums recipe area on their site, didn’t know that they have a book – very interesting!
They do, it’s worth getting because it’s got lots of recipes that members have included, and some off the site.
So if you already like the recipe section of the site, you’ll love this book.
A potential new customer – they really should pay me commission, lol!
Snap, also got Bake. And a Good Housekeeping book. I have a later version of the one you have which is Meals for under £2.50 (unfortunately that’s per person not per meal, but it’s still a great recipe book).
I’ve wanted the Tana one for ages. Thanks for the reminder, I need to put in on the list. It got rave reviews when it was released I think.
Hairy bikers! I’ve always wanted to give that a go! And I’m quite drawn to Tana Ramsay, though I have so many cookbooks I’m reluctant to try another in case I’m addicted to that too!
That’s twice that “Bake” has come up in as many of these posts I’ve looked at. Might have to invest in a copy…
Oh I haven’t seen that Netmums cookbook before. Excellent, a new cookbook to covet
Great list!
I love Bake and Tanya Ramsey! Favorites in our house too
five more to add to my wishlist! – I don’t have any of these but they all look enticing
Tana also on my list, I have a couple of hers…both very good. I have never seen the Hairy Bikers…kinda put off by ‘hair & food’ being near each other but I really should take a look!
Ha, you really should try the Hairy Bikers! Get the Mum Knows Best book, or the Mum Still Knows Best one (which is the one that came out after) as they’ve both got some great recipes in, regardless of hairy blokes!
Oh I have been looking at Tana Ramsey’s books so I might just have to order one and try it out. I quite like the Hairy Bikers on telly but have b=never even seen one of their books. I will keep an eye out.
Ooh. Didn’t know Tana Ramsay had a book. Will definitely seek that one out.