Customer Reviews
I feel insulted and slightly robbed! - By: Mr. M. Turner, 31 Oct 2008 
I concede that there are a few good recipesin this book but certainly nothing that is particuarly new or exciting but on the other hand I never got passed page 22. There are quite literally thousands of cook books out there covering every aspect of cooking from the basics to the A La Carte, so I urge you for the sake of the Queens sovereign 'DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK'.
I really was insulted to find on page 22 a recipe for a 'Sausage sarnie with tomato ketchup', even to call it a recipe was a cheek! He doesn't tell you how to make your sausage or which type of the 100's of varieties & flavours you should buy or even whether to use pork or not, he doesn't tell you how to make the bread for the 'Sarnie' or again what type. He doesn't even tell you how to make a simple ketchup! The recipe simply says (and I'm not joking this is almost word for word) 'Grill OR fry your sausages until cooked (no advice on times, temperature, oil, skin piercing, etc) place on a slice of bread (No butter James?) add ketchup, then top with another slice of bread' Really James, isn't that the definition of a sandwich!!! That is it, that's the great recipe from one of this countrys leading chefs! If I was stupid enough not to know how to make a sausage sandwich then the chances are I would not have the intelligence to read the bookin the first place & would certainly not be safe around an oven! Oh! & thats not it no, no, no, this recipe of no more than 6 lines takes up 3/4 of a page, not even a picture of this culinery creation, just a white page of air!
I would rather swallow the £20 worth of coppers I spent on this book than continue to read it! Suffice to say that it went into the bin but not before a good soaking so my poor dustmnan didn't claim it for his own & fall for the same editorial joke!
My partner was less exciteable than me though more annoyed that I had just thrown away the birthday present I had given to her not an hour prior. 1 very generous star for you Mr Martin, now take your mountains of cash & hang your headin shame!
The collection by James Martin - By: S. J. Cooke, 13 Oct 2008 
A simple but informed cookery book, with good traditional British recipes & favorites of the British public (quick chicken tikka masala!). Easy to follow, & helpful for a first time cook, the essential roast dinner made easy!! I followed the recipe for Yorkshire puddings to the letter & had success first time! A very varied range of catagories, a great book for students, a modern alternative to Delia! A good buy, & well worth having on your bookshelf.
one star for the synopsis - By: S. Ross, 24 Jan 2008 the synopsis says it all & so does the other review....simplifies recipes....fry bacon put itin bread!!!!fry (or grill!), wow what a choice, sausages until they are brown, add tomato ketchup & put on bread-typical celebrity cook rubbish i'm afraid
A cooking good book - By: Superwrong, 22 Jan 2008 Another excellent book from James martin, with nice little notes above each recipe about why he has included them. You'll find roast beef & yorkshire puds, lamb curry & a multitude of tasty deserts from jam roly poly to treacle sponge. The recipes are easy to follow & the pictures are nice. My one gripe (and it cost you a star James!) is that some recipes only take up half a page, & then you have a blank half page - could have put an images of the dishin there because not every dish has a picture. Also, to take up half a page with 'bacon sarnie' ingredients bacon, fresh bread & tomato ketchup seems a bit cheeky - I would have expected a bit of a variation on it for it to be includedin a cook book. If you like Nigella Express you'll like this.
