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MasterChef UK
MasterChef Cookery Course by
Excellent Book
- GenresCookbooksNonfiction
Hardcover
First published March 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 25, 2022
Suppose you have never cooked a day in your life. You fear the kitchen. You think you can't cook! Then, this is the book for you.
It's more instructional than I like my cookbooks (However, I bought this a long time ago, so the taste changes). However, for a complete beginner, this is the perfect place to get started.
I dont love the statement 'learn to love cooking. This implies cooking is something we must grow to enjoy. When it comes to cooking, you either love it or hate it. You may be unconfident in the kitchen, which leads to hating the experience, but I dont feel anyone who truly hates cooking could ever learn to live it.
However, the recipes are simple, easy to produce and laid out in detailed steps. The information surrounding tools and ingredients is fun and helpful if you're not used to this environment. The notes section on the back is a whimsical touch for people to add their renditions of the recipes included.
It is a personal recommendation for those looking to get a foot in the door of learning to cook. You may not learn to love it, but you will learn to accept it.
It's more instructional than I like my cookbooks (However, I bought this a long time ago, so the taste changes). However, for a complete beginner, this is the perfect place to get started.
I dont love the statement 'learn to love cooking. This implies cooking is something we must grow to enjoy. When it comes to cooking, you either love it or hate it. You may be unconfident in the kitchen, which leads to hating the experience, but I dont feel anyone who truly hates cooking could ever learn to live it.
However, the recipes are simple, easy to produce and laid out in detailed steps. The information surrounding tools and ingredients is fun and helpful if you're not used to this environment. The notes section on the back is a whimsical touch for people to add their renditions of the recipes included.
It is a personal recommendation for those looking to get a foot in the door of learning to cook. You may not learn to love it, but you will learn to accept it.
April 17, 2013
This cookery course was a pleasant surprise. There are many cookery courses aimed at the beginner or inexperienced cook. So many miss the mark. This one hit things straight on the bullseye.
Split into fairly logical units of Getting Started, Building Blocks, The Recipes, Make It Your Own and Taking Notes, there are many sub-chapters beneath each section. Nothing is taken as assumed, the reader is given without being patronised, a full and basic grounding from what might be found in a perfect store cupboard and how to select meat, fruit and vegetables. The text was sympathetically written without talking down to the reader, yet those who feel themselves more experienced in the kitchen could still skim through the "basics" and possibly learn something.
It is unfortunate that many potential readers who probably benefit from this book won't ever see it, as they will just see "cookery course" and assume since that they know everything why would they want it. That is a great shame. Many of those things that we are assumed to know, such as what exactly is stewing and braising and how is that different to poaching, are covered in plain, simple terms. Techniques are explained with the help of many great photographs and reinforced with actual recipes so you can see step-by-step what is going on and how and why things are done in a certain way.
Despite this book being designed in a modular fashion so that you can pick and choose what you look at, you really should consider a sequential read and attempt to try, over time, all of the recipes. Sure, you might wonder why you need to make a certain sauce, for example, but you will see certain techniques being used that can applied to other forms of cooking. You may scoff, perhaps, at being told how to make a salad, yet once you read the tips and the "perfect technique" can you honestly say that you knew all of that stuff? There are so many things in life we think we know and understand, yet our understanding can often be rather superficial.
Once you get past the educative part of the book then it is recipe after recipe after recipe, each with a great photograph that draws you in and will probably make you want to try things you would never have considered if you had just read the text alone. Of course, the education doesn't stop here as there are various hints and tips dotted around each recipe for good measure. The recipes are perfectly laid out, easy to follow and contain everything you would want to know. There is even an estimation of the typical preparation and cooking time, a small thing so often overlooked, that can make a difference when you are short on time and inspiration.
The end of the book also features some typical menu suggestions for key events and holidays that you can make yourself. There is even some space to write your own notes down for things that you have learned, although it seemed a bit counterintuitive to put them at the end, way past the relevant sections. This reviewer couldn't imagine using this but it was an inoffensive element that might be of use to many. A great double page of essential information with key timings and conversion charts follows for those who wish to convert back from metric units. And a great index rounds things off, allowing you to dig into this book through so many ways.
The book has enlisted the help of two MasterChef hosts to produce this book, yet it is so "ego free" that this author didn't draw the connection so tight at first glance. This is the way to go. A great book that should not be restricted just for the beginner. Even wise old dogs can learn new tricks.
MasterChef Cookery Course, published by Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 9781409382218, 440 pages. Typical price: GBP26. YYYYY.
// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. //
Split into fairly logical units of Getting Started, Building Blocks, The Recipes, Make It Your Own and Taking Notes, there are many sub-chapters beneath each section. Nothing is taken as assumed, the reader is given without being patronised, a full and basic grounding from what might be found in a perfect store cupboard and how to select meat, fruit and vegetables. The text was sympathetically written without talking down to the reader, yet those who feel themselves more experienced in the kitchen could still skim through the "basics" and possibly learn something.
It is unfortunate that many potential readers who probably benefit from this book won't ever see it, as they will just see "cookery course" and assume since that they know everything why would they want it. That is a great shame. Many of those things that we are assumed to know, such as what exactly is stewing and braising and how is that different to poaching, are covered in plain, simple terms. Techniques are explained with the help of many great photographs and reinforced with actual recipes so you can see step-by-step what is going on and how and why things are done in a certain way.
Despite this book being designed in a modular fashion so that you can pick and choose what you look at, you really should consider a sequential read and attempt to try, over time, all of the recipes. Sure, you might wonder why you need to make a certain sauce, for example, but you will see certain techniques being used that can applied to other forms of cooking. You may scoff, perhaps, at being told how to make a salad, yet once you read the tips and the "perfect technique" can you honestly say that you knew all of that stuff? There are so many things in life we think we know and understand, yet our understanding can often be rather superficial.
Once you get past the educative part of the book then it is recipe after recipe after recipe, each with a great photograph that draws you in and will probably make you want to try things you would never have considered if you had just read the text alone. Of course, the education doesn't stop here as there are various hints and tips dotted around each recipe for good measure. The recipes are perfectly laid out, easy to follow and contain everything you would want to know. There is even an estimation of the typical preparation and cooking time, a small thing so often overlooked, that can make a difference when you are short on time and inspiration.
The end of the book also features some typical menu suggestions for key events and holidays that you can make yourself. There is even some space to write your own notes down for things that you have learned, although it seemed a bit counterintuitive to put them at the end, way past the relevant sections. This reviewer couldn't imagine using this but it was an inoffensive element that might be of use to many. A great double page of essential information with key timings and conversion charts follows for those who wish to convert back from metric units. And a great index rounds things off, allowing you to dig into this book through so many ways.
The book has enlisted the help of two MasterChef hosts to produce this book, yet it is so "ego free" that this author didn't draw the connection so tight at first glance. This is the way to go. A great book that should not be restricted just for the beginner. Even wise old dogs can learn new tricks.
MasterChef Cookery Course, published by Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 9781409382218, 440 pages. Typical price: GBP26. YYYYY.
// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. //
September 17, 2019
This is a comprehensive book that teaches some cooking fundamentals and provides a good range of recipes. It would work both for true beginners and those who already have some experience but want to increase their knowledge.
It starts with a few pages on essential ingredients and equipment, as well as the principles of cooking. There is then a section on the “building blocks” of cooking – this consists of 5 key techniques (roasting, poaching, etc.), 5 mother sauces (Hollandaise, Béchamel, etc.), and 5 key staples (pasta, bread, etc.). After this are the main bulk of recipes, classic dishes for starters/mains/sides/desserts/baking. Finally, there is a section on seasonal dishes and flavour combinations where you can put the knowledge you’ve learned from the rest of the book to use.
There are pictures for every recipe which I always appreciate in a cookery book. The instructions are clear and there are often tips about specific skills included near the relevant recipes (eg. Pin-boning and skinning a fish fillet).
There are 163 recipes in the book – I’ve cooked 50 and there have only been a few misses (the rocket pesto and the paella). Some highlights include the smoked mackerel pâté, the grilled halibut with beurre blanc, chicken tikka masala, pork pies, and the pumpkin soda bread. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to build up their foundational cooking knowledge and get some good basic recipes.
It starts with a few pages on essential ingredients and equipment, as well as the principles of cooking. There is then a section on the “building blocks” of cooking – this consists of 5 key techniques (roasting, poaching, etc.), 5 mother sauces (Hollandaise, Béchamel, etc.), and 5 key staples (pasta, bread, etc.). After this are the main bulk of recipes, classic dishes for starters/mains/sides/desserts/baking. Finally, there is a section on seasonal dishes and flavour combinations where you can put the knowledge you’ve learned from the rest of the book to use.
There are pictures for every recipe which I always appreciate in a cookery book. The instructions are clear and there are often tips about specific skills included near the relevant recipes (eg. Pin-boning and skinning a fish fillet).
There are 163 recipes in the book – I’ve cooked 50 and there have only been a few misses (the rocket pesto and the paella). Some highlights include the smoked mackerel pâté, the grilled halibut with beurre blanc, chicken tikka masala, pork pies, and the pumpkin soda bread. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to build up their foundational cooking knowledge and get some good basic recipes.
August 9, 2014
I've been cooking for years and was a bit suspicious of this book but it has some excellent knowledge for the expert. I have made the Salmon en croute recipe four times and its simplicity is excellent but the affect is rather good. The spiced duck came out rather well as well as did the Chicken Tikka, Tuna in sesame crust and the Kedgeree.
October 24, 2015
Another online bargain for £5 which nearly broke the back of the delivery driver who brought it! It is another good book for the amateur cook full of information and tips as well as recipes that you can try. I got it more for the information and found it very useful as I'm not a cook at all!
April 25, 2020
Great book for anyone interested in cooking. The section written by Greg & John dealing with foods in season and special meal ideas was my favourite.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews