Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
BOOK OF THE WEEK with Linda Jennings. Mary Berry Cooks, ISBN 9781849906630 (Ebury Press) Mary Berry BD11 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members only
I wonder how many other ladies have a collection of cookery books resembling their shoe closet? Those totally impractical but ‘too gorgeous not to buy’ purchases; wonderful to look at and own but rarely used.
So why am I kicking off the Gulf Weekly Book Club with, Mary Berry Cooks? It wouldn’t be an obvious choice I suspect, but look upon this book as your favourite pair of loafers – the ones you wear when you don’t need extra stress.
Opening with a fantastic chapter on ‘Kitchen Wisdom’ and accompanied by Mary’s no-nonsense, no fuss advice on preparing ahead, each fool-proof meal in this book is made easy but also interesting for both novice and advance cook (I had forgotten vanilla pods come from the orchid family). It hasn’t remained at the top of the cookery charts without good reason!
The UK’s favourite baker and much-loved judge on the very popular BBC’s The Great British Bake-off, Mary prides herself on being a home cook, mother and grandmother; hence this, her book on favourite recipes for family and friends.
However, the main thing about Mary Berry’s recipes is that they work, and with over 100 of them in this super book from canapés, main courses, deserts and, of course, her famous cakes, it will soon become your favourite kitchen companion.
* Extra, extra … read it now in paperback
Inferno (Dan Brown) Transworld, 9780552169592 No.1 best-seller out on sale May 6, BD3.500 club member special price.
* My favourite read-of-the-week
The Hired Man (Aminatta Forna) Bloomsbury, 9781408843161, BD4.800 club member special price.
A powerful tale set in a Balkan village dealing with the effects of civil war and how the past is rarely set to rest.
