Customer Reviews: Read 20 more reviews...
 So much outrage! March 9, 2008
Mr. M. G. Wilkinson (London, England)
203 out of 247 found this review helpful
Deary me. Delia's latest really has upset a lot of people, hasn't it? The howls about tinned mince, the wails about frozen mashed potato, the gnashing of teeth at the thought that Delia might have 'sold out'. But the thing that no-one is mentioning is what the food is like. Check the ingredients on the items that Delia recommends and they're not full of hydrogenated fats or preservatives; they're good quality well-made versions of stuff you could make yourself *if you had time*. And the clue's in the title--this isn't a book about cooking, it's a book about /cheating/ at cooking. Would everyone have been happier if it has been titled "cooking by standing on the shoulders of giants"? She's quite clear that cooking conventionally is best, but let's be practical, people: we don't always have the time or the inclination to cook, and in those circumstances we all rely on pre-prepared food. How many of those who wrote negative reviews would think nothing of using dried pasta? Don't they know they should be making it from scratch?! And that's what all the noise is about really--much to a lot of people's annoyance, Delia has pointed out that these days there are pre-prepared ingredients out there that are at least as good as you could make yourself, and that if you cook with them you'll get perfectly acceptable results without having to slave in the kitchen for hours. That's her crime, not the food. Prove it to yourself: get the book, make the shepherd's pie with it's M&S tinned lamb mince and Aunt Bessie's frozen mash, then tell me that she's wrong.
Finding good ingredients amongst the rubbish on offer ! March 24, 2008
P. Yates (Bedfordshire, UK)
34 out of 42 found this review helpful
I love home cooking and I am from an age when we were taught it at school too (1980's). Also, as they didnt work, my mother and grandmother taught me so much about cooking from scratch, baking, casseroles and roast dinners. Good, nutritious, wholesome un tampered with food. So I have knowledge. Do I always have the time to root through the enormous amount of RUBBISH on the supermarket shelves? I have a three year old and a severely disabled 7 year old who demands a lot of time and attention AND who eats a specially prepared diet. I am exhausted. Thanks Delia for SIGNPOSTING THE WAY TO THE DECENT INGREDIENTS and keeping us motivated to feed ourselves healthy and good tasting short - cut meals for those nights when the 'get up and go' has got up and gone :) No everyone has the luxury of hours to prepare dinner with the hungry hoards crying out.
Thank you Delia! April 1, 2008
C. Owen (Midlands)
27 out of 34 found this review helpful
Never before having written a review I just feel compelled to comment on this book. It is absolutely fantastic and a real hit in our house. My son particularly likes the 'bonfire steak'! I have done more cooking in the last 10 days than in the last 10 years! The recipes are easy to follow and the results are excellent. To be honest, I can't understand all the fuss about the 'cheating' element. 'Cheating' (if you can call it that), is really only a small part of each recipe and for us, with extremely busy lifestyles and little inclination to cook, it has been a revelation. Many thanks to Delia for encouraging me to cook once again and showing me that with little spare time I can still achieve a home-cooked and healthy meal!
What Snobbery!! March 25, 2008
Gordon Ramsey (Malvern uk)
59 out of 76 found this review helpful
Why are all the food snobs so up in arms?
There are thousands of people out there who not only can not cook, but do not have the time.
These people all moan about children and the fat content they consume, i for one would rather they eat Delia's cheat food than MacDonalds Burgers.
These people should really move into the 21st century, and stop being food snobs!!
Cooking with Delia March 13, 2008
B. Ellis (Bedfordshire, England)
48 out of 62 found this review helpful
I have been cooking for more years than I care to remember, & I have a library of cookery books, but I still think Delia is the best! I bought her complete cookery course many years ago & refer to it often. Her food is nourishing, easy & very eatable! I made some Lazy Summer Soup yesterday, & it was lovely & very quick, in fact my husband helped which is a first. It's not a book I would use every day, because now I am retired I have more time, but it is excellent for quick meals if you are in a hurry.
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