Customer Reviews
Easy recipes for every occasion - By: Sabine Zimmermann, 14 Aug 2008 
As always with Rachel's books, the recipes are easy to follow & turn out the way you expect them to - so you get great results with a minimum of fuss. There is something for every occasionin this book, as the chapter titles show: "Food for the Soul", "Childhood Favourites", "Making Memories", "Something to Celebrate", "The Lazy Sunday", "An Elegant Afternoon", Pleasure Without the Guilt", "Food for Romance", "For the Love of Chocolate" & "Classic Dishes". I tried the "White Chocolate Buns" & they were dead easy to make, I even managed to whip them up before going to work, something I normally wouldn't be able to do, since I'm not exactly a member of the rise & shine party. They tasted great (funnily like macaroons - very yummy & a bit sticky) & disappeared really quickly once my colleagues tasted them. I can only recommend this book, especially if you're looking for something to make the whole family happy. Since it is beautifully laid out (with an added pink ribbon to mark your page) it also makes a nice present.
Reliable - By: G. Wills, 11 Mar 2008 I now own two of Rachel Allen's books & have tried many of the recipes from each (Food for Living & Food for Friends), they have worked every time & are very reliable & easy to make. At last a 'proper' cookbook & Rachel seems to be a very likeable person - well done.
absolutely invaluable! - By: angelshark, 23 Feb 2008 this is such a fab recipe book! i got it for xmas & i use it alot. so far have made the spanish chorizo (used veggie sausage instead) & chickpea soup, blue cheese potato & leek soup (which is so gorgeous), heart shaped toast with egg & the cheesy soda bread, & some of the smoothies! they all turned out really well. i can't wait to make so many different things & next on my list is the chocolate & banana bread & butter pud! the book is writtenin such a simple & lovely way & is not pretencious atall. it also has great illustrations & feels very good quality. i particularly like the different sections such as food for the soul & the lazy sundays section, as there is something for any occasion. i would DEFINITELY recommend this!
Personable and practical - By: Magic Rat, 23 Oct 2007 Rachel Allen presents a lot of these recipes on Saturday mornings on BBC1 & extremely good they are too - varied, easy to follow &in possession of an ambience from a time gone by yet somehow modern at the same time - witness her seeds & honey bread recipe. Elements of the traditional & modern combine perfectly. Allen's prawn pate is delicious (believe me!) as are her white chocolate buns & her tips on ways to embellish a simple roast chicken dish are useful (not ground-breakingin any way, but tempting to try with the minimum of fuss or expense). Her lasagne is, as she admits herself a basic enough dish, but she adds just a few things to itin pureed onion, carrot & celery that make it absolutely delicious. I did it last weekend & it was truly wonderful. Her flapjacks are tantalising, as is her pork & mushroom pie. As for the chicken Kiev - best I have ever tasted !
Rachel Allen has an easy-going style devoid of pretension & posturing, yet simultaneously exuding class & culture, not an easy thing to do.
A Beautiful Book full of Real Food - By: Top Muffin, 21 Sep 2007 I was so excited to see Rachel Allen has published another cookbook!
It's a beautiful book, full of lovely colourful photos & most of the recipes are things I will actually use.
She's always great on Saturday Kitchen so I made sure to watch her new show & I love it - she's very easy to watch & her accent is lovely to listen to. It's refreshing that there are no pointless self-obsessed innuendos like Nigella or tired cliches like Gordon & Jamie. I get the impression she's just a real woman with a real family & real clothes who likes really good food!
