Books : Delia's How to Cheat at Cooking

Rating: - Came upon it by accident
I came upon this book after reading two other books which led me to the genre: "The Kitchen Diaries" by Nigel Slater, and the hilarious take-off on cookbooks called "Barring Some Unforeseen Accident" which actually has a cookbook in it, just probably not anything you're going to want to make.

Delia Smith's DELIA'S HOW TO CHEAT AT COOKING hit the spot for me mainly because my life is always a mess and I need quick and easy ways to make things--foods that are different from the same things i've been eating for years.

Granted, there's been a bit of hoopla about the ingredients she suggests, but I've had no problem finding them or thinnking they're unhealthy. Delia doesn't profess this to be a "gourmet" experience, so if you're looking for that, go elsewhere. It is what it is---a book for people who want to cheat at cooking, hence the "tinned" lamb. If you had the time or wanted gourmet cooking, you wouldn't be buying this book anyway! Basically, I enjoyed trying out 95 percent of what's here. But then, I've never gotten a cookbook where I've wanted to make every single dish.

I'd highly recommend this along with FRUGAL FOOD.

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Rating: - I really don't know what I think about Delia's How to Cheat at Cooking
I really don't know what I think about Delia's How to Cheat at Cooking - so bear with me as I attempt to untangle my thoughts. For a cookery book to have created as much controversy is no mean achievement, but then this is Delia. So what is it all about and why on earth do we care?

Dealing with the last point first - don't forget this is Delia we're talking about. For anyone who learnt to cook under her guidance on TV and/or through her books, she is special, trusted and revered. So if you heard her on Radio 4's Today programme saying she "didn't do" organic, was just a mere cook as confused as anyone and unqualified to talk about the politics of food, you must have felt aghast and, and I don't exaggerate here, betrayed. Was she being disingenuous? Could she really mean it? As far as the book is concerned, she was aiming to get people cooking who lacked the time or skills. And apparently, in spite of the endless TV cookery programmes (pace Jamie, Gordon, Nigella etc) it still wasn't happening.

I'm not sure that is totally true but even if you ignore such a bald statement, you have to ask whether Cheat realises its stated aim. Looking at the recipes, you have to ask whether this is really cooking. It strikes me as far more like assembling - further de-skilling a process that does demand certain skills, no matter how Delia might protest otherwise. What then is the price of de-connecting with your food? First you have to buy ready-cooked crispy smoked bacon, tins of minced lamb or chunky chicken in white sauce (M&S) or Aunt Bessie's Homestyle frozen mashed potato. But how do they compare in nutritional values and cost with fresh, unprocessed alternatives? The answers are left by Delia hanging in the air.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for cheating - and there are some good ideas here. I suspect however that popping out to three supermarkets just to get Delia's Cheat ingredients for her Good old shepherd's pie is not one of them - however time-poor or de-skilled you are. Actually I'm just not comfortable with the use of highly processed, dubiously sourced tins or packets and then to name the manufacturers.............but no I don't believe she took a penny from any supermarket or manufacturer for this book - that's too awful to contemplate. No wonder I feel betrayed. The only conclusion I can draw is that Delia has abandoned me and gone on to audiences new .......and it hurts.

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Rating: - Ingredients NOT Available in Ireland
Hi I live in Kildare in Ireland and I found that obtaining the ingredients used in the recipes in this book impossible to source locally even though we have a range of stores such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer.
I would find it hard to judge the book but only to say that it does not appear to be designed for use outside the UK, were I can only assume these products are easily obtainable.
On this I would not recommend this book to anyone in Ireland although I do enjoy Delia's other books and rate them highly.

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Rating: - Fed up with Celebrity Chefs
My kitchen bookshelf groans under a wide selection of cookery books by Celebrity Chefs. Used for special occasions they have their place. However, for my day to day 'something for a change' situation my dog-eared Good Housekeeping Cookery book smeared with the DNA of past feasts is my bible. I live in France and I often need something in a hurry to feed the succession of family and friends whom we warmly welcome for short or longer visits and so this new book by Delia has won my heart. I can't nip to Waitrose, Tesco or Asda, but I can find something equivalent (hopefully) in my local supermarket. More healthy variations can be substituted quite easily if necessary - but we are talking HURRY here aren't we?

When I cook for my visitors I don't want to be stuck in the kitchen with Anthony and his career chefs fussing over chopping and stirring, yet I do want to serve an attractive meal which will have folks asking for the recipe. So for me Delia has cracked it, and our visitors can enjoy our home-grown veggies alongside the cheating.

There are French cheats too - I know lots of them.

Thanks, Delia. Its a book which I shall consult very regularly.

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Rating: - But ... it's all wrong!
Isn't it? I mean - if I want to make a Shepherd's Pie I'd probably find it easier to hire an actual Shepherd than trudge from Waitrose (for the tinned lamb) and then to Sainsburys (for the ready-made potato topping) to Argos (for a 40" LCD TV that I can then fling tasteless Smash potato chunks at when Delia's face pops up) before I finally stop off at Southwark Cathedral (for forgiveness).

How to Cheat at Cooking? You'd be better off with a kebab.

Oh dear. Delia. You were slain in the high places.