Customer Reviews
The one I always reach for first - By: Mr. J. M. Johnson, 09 Aug 2007 
I have a library of over 100 'cookery'and recipe books. Some are classics & some are useless, but, over the years, I keep returning to just three of them (the other two are Nigel Slater's Real Cooking & Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery). Yes, she can state the obvious. Yes, she can be irritatingly twee: "What you do then is...". But the recipes work, they taste reallly good, & her advice is always 100% sound. If I could only have one cook book, it would be this.
Great introduction to cooking, dated recipes - By: bookworm, 15 Jan 2007 
This book is probably the best book for someone just starting to cook.
The writing style is simple, easy, witty & the information is very, very useful.
However, I find the recipes very dated, like something that was fashionable in the 70's & 80's. I don't mean to say that cooking necesserily needs to be fashionable, but there is too much emphasis on very traditional, meaty, stogy dishes, very English-like, although - the recipes work. I am more geared to healthy, lighter eating, & I find the book a bit too heavy heanded with its recipes, but that's only me.
But I am sure, had the book been written more recently, it would have been much fresher (as they are some great recipes on Delia's website).
Perhaps the dishes are kept more traditional & old-fashioned as they may be easier to make for the beginner then some modern recipes, which perhaps use some less known ingredients. But this is the metter of taste & choice.
So I would say, this book is the best book for the cooking instructions & methods, but for the recipes, I would say it is so-so, at least for me.
Everyone's first cookbook... - By: C. Nolan, 12 Apr 2006 
I have about ten cookbooks, but by far Delia's Cookery Course is the best of them alll. The recipes are clear, well laid out with different chapters, the book is sturdy & Delia writes interestingly on the various dishes & even equipment needed - but most importantly, the recipes are EASY!!!!!
I have never, ever failed with a recipe from this book, they are alll so practical & clear. Delia Smith takes nothing for granted & explains each step simply. The dishes themselves are very tasty & look very nice. Everyone will be familiar with them as well, from the potato & leek soup to the Apple Crumble. One final thing: her souffles don't collapse! Buy it!!
Complete Cookery Course - By: D. Mohanani, 23 Nov 2005 I used many of her recipes at christmas time last year & plan on using them again this year. I made Christmas Pudding, mince pies & my own mincemeat. Her recipe for mincemeat was the best I have tried so far & this was the first time I made christmas pudding. All items turned out very well. The instructions are very clear & easy to follow. At no time was I confused about the instructions & that for me makes this book one I would recommend very highly.
Delia is fantastic as always - By: Dr. A. Clark, 10 Nov 2003 Delia's writing style is wonderful - interesting, entertaining, & very easy-to-follow instructions. Complemented by the lovely photographs in this edition, Delia's inimitable style makes this book worth buying even if you don't have a kitchen. And if you do have a kitchen, you WILL be able to follow alll these recipes even if you have hardly even boiled an egg before. The one negative comment I could make is that this compilation of recipes is starting to look a little dated now, & perhaps doesn't reflect the hugely increased range of products available in supermarkets. Having said that, for good home cooking you couldn't find a better starting point than this.
