Active discussions
My feed Premium
Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

To ask your help in choosing healthy but budget recipe books for my Christmas present..

11 replies

housebythesea · 09/12/2020 19:27

I'm an OK basic cook already, but I really want to get us eating healthier. As in way more veg in our meals. 2 out of 3 of us eat meat, 1 is a vegetarian.

I'm on a budget due to low income. Doesn't have to be ridiculously cheap recipes, but I can't afford long lists of obscure ingredients or expensive cuts.

I've asked for a few recipe books for Christmas, but the choice is overwhelming haha.

Has anyone any recommendations for

  1. lots of veggies, healthy and
  2. relatively cheap

    What should I be putting into my wishlist??
    Thank you very much if you can help.
OP posts:
Report

Am I being unreasonable?

2 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
0%
You are NOT being unreasonable
100%
FortunesFave · 09/12/2020 20:11

Honestly, I'd ask for a set of kitchen herbs and spices. They're quite expensive and the best budget recipes need them. Anything cheap and healthy involves things like lentils and chickpeas...and those need good spices. You can get almost any recipe online these days. Like these gift herbs and spice sets www.madaboutspice.co.uk/gift-hapers

Saying that, I know some people just prefer books. What is your fave types of food that you'd like to learn to cook?

Curries? Or basic things? Maybe more Anglo?

Report
keeponrunning85 · 09/12/2020 20:13

The green roasting tin is an excellent veggie cookbook. Really straightforward recipes and no obscure ingredients, or not in the ones we've tried so far anyway

Report
housebythesea · 09/12/2020 20:48

@FortunesFave Thanks I always mean to grow herbs but never get around to it. I don't have a garden but I have heard they can be grown indoors on windowsills. I have a good collection of dried herbs already.

My favourites cuisines are probably Indian curries, Thai, and Mediterranean. I do like all soups and stews / casseroles as well though.

@keeponrunning85 thanks I'll look at that one.

OP posts:
Report
FortunesFave · 09/12/2020 21:39

Don't bother growing them unless you've got time. I mean...some basil or cilantro is good but the other stuff, the dried things and seeds you need for curries are all things you can invest in. As for the best curry cook book, my DH has this and it's wonderful www.amazon.com.au/India-Cookbook-Pushpesh-Pant/dp/0714859028?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Report
FortunesFave · 09/12/2020 21:41

Here's a good list of what you need in the store cupboard to create really nice curries of different types. You can probably get most of these individually and quite cheap

www.masterindian.com/blogs/master-indian-spice-blog/24-top-indian-spices-and-how-to-use-them

Report
bettyskitchen · 09/12/2020 21:46

Another vote for The Green Roasting Tin. Some of the recipes are online on The Happy Foodie if you want to try some out, we have the gnocchi regularly it’s so easy and really tasty

Report
Hobbes8 · 09/12/2020 21:46

Jack Monroe might be a good place to start for budget recipes.

Jamie Oliver is good for basic healthy cooking - he has a veg cookbook (haven’t read that one) or his 5 ingredients or everyday superfoods are good for healthy recipes. The older books are usually available fairly cheaply.

Maybe not for Christmas presents, but I sometimes buy second hand recipe books on eBay very cheaply. Kindle often do 99p recipe books as well - you can read them on a phone app for free.

Report
OldBean2 · 09/12/2020 21:48

If you are on a low budget, go to Jack Monroe's website, her recipes are free on there while you need them, buy her books when you can afford to.

cookingonabootstrap.com/category/recipes-food/

I think you will enjoy yourself making these, I know I have.

Report
Noodledoodledoo · 09/12/2020 21:50

Eat well for less books from the TV series

Report
Fortunefavours1 · 09/12/2020 21:56

I have the 'One pound chef' cookbook by Miguel Barclay. It's my most used cookbook as the ingredients are straightforward and all portions are priced at a pound. To make the portions more substantial and healthier I always add lots of steamed veg and salad on the side. In fact the 'veg and salad on the side' is something I do for all meals to up the nutritional content.

I'm in your exact same position, always looking for cheapish healthier veg rich recipes which don't call for a list of ingredients as long as your arm, and my latest discoveries have been meat and chicken stews/casseroles. You can add loads of veg, including frozen, and they're a great way to up your 5 a day and ideal for using up leftover veg.

Report
housebythesea · 09/12/2020 22:09

Thank you everyone some great ideas!!

OP posts:
Report
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.