Basic Basics

Carol Bowen has been the devoted owner of an Aga kitchen range for almost twenty years and this handbook brings cooking on a range right up to date providing hundreds of thousands of Aga and Rayburn owners with a much-needed collection of refreshingly new recipes. As the title of the book suggests, however, Carol Bowen does not ignore the basics and this handy work of reference will serve not only those who have just purchased or inherited a kitchen range for the first time but also those who have owned one for years and are looking for fresh ideas. As an Aga is more than just a cooker this book contains all sorts of useful hints and tips for getting the most from your oven - everything from drying sports clothing to using your kettle for cleaning the hotplate lid. The recipes are all clearly marked with unique symbols to indicate instructions for 2-door, 4-door or Thermodial-control models and can be cooked in Agas, Rayburns, and all similar types of ranges. No one who owns an Aga or other kitchen range should be without this essential guide.

The ultimate how-to guide to storing food in your freezer-how long to store, how to prepare for storage, and how to thaw out over 200 kinds of foodstuffs. In this sequel to her Basic Basics Combination & Microwave Handbook, Carol Bowen offers more handy kitchen and culinary advice with an easy to follow, encyclopedic layout. Simply look up the fruit, vegetable, fish, meat, sauces, cakes, or herbs of your choice to find the correct guidelines on freezing each type of food. Bowen also explains the technical aspects of how freezers work, gives advice on choosing and positioning your freezer, and covers topics such as freezer insurance, cleaning, maintenance, emergencies, packaging, and accessories. You will also learn techniques for freezing, defrosting, refreezing, and thawing, as well as storage times. These days, making the most of your food budget is more important than ever. And with The Basic Basics Home Freezing Handbook, you'll save both food and money with any meal!

Britain's top selling cookery writer shares tried and tested recipes for pressure cookers. Slow-cooked flavor in a fast-paced world-pressure cookers are one of the greenest cooking methods imaginable. Sales are on the increase and even Jamie Oliver has launched one of his own. They allow us to cook quickly, cheaply, and efficiently because the food is cooked in liquid at temperatures far higher than in a conventional pan, which shortens cooking time by up to 70 percent. Because the method seals in flavor, cheaper ingredients can be used to great effect and since the cooking time is far shorter you save time and gas or electricity. The pressure cooker presents a distinct advantage for certain foods and for ingredients that need long cooking, it is a real winner. The most dramatic time and energy savings come with meat and poultry. Braised beef can be perfectly cooked in 30 minutes, osso bucco in 25 minutes, and a chicken tagine in 15 minutes. Perfect for today's cooks.

Get cooking with this beginner's reference that covers essential equipment, kitchen staples, illustrated techniques, and easy recipes. This is a handbook for the starter cook. Ingredients and techniques are listed alphabetically for quick and easy reference, and it provides the basic methods and techniques for dealing with vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, poultry, grains, legumes, breads, and pasta, with advice on how to clean, store, prepare, and cook each entry. Line drawings illustrate techniques such as dicing, slicing, coring fruit, and rubbing in fat, and where appropriate a very simple recipe-such as a basic broth or pie-is included, which allows the reader to develop the skills demonstrated. Entries also cover simple but easily forgotten information such as how to poach an egg and at what temperature to roast a chicken.

Diabetes is now, unfortunately, a common health problem. About 1½ million people in the UK alone have been diagnosed as sufferers - that's about 3 in every 100 people. It is believed this figure may double in six years. There are estimates that as many as a further 1 million may have diabetes but have not been diagnosed. Of those diagnosed, about 95% are suffering from Type 2 diabetes, this is non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Those most at risk are the middle-aged and elderly but increasingly we are seeing diabetes affecting the young. One of the primary causes of Type 2 diabetes is being overweight but happily, this form of diabetes is controlled simply by diet and exercise. So understanding nutrition and diet is essential to maintaining your health as a non-insulin-dependent diabetes sufferer. Fortunately these days there are no special foods recommended, you should quite simply follow the kind of healthy diet that everyone should be eating, namely at least five portions of food and vegetables every day and cutting back on convenience foods which are high in fat, sugar and salt - all of which are particularly unsuitable for those with diabetes.

Unlocking the world of preserves, one jar at a time. Marguerite Patten, doyenne of British cookery, shares her wealth of knowledge and her tried and tested recipes for jams, marmalades, jellies, curds, pickles, relishes, chutneys, and ketchups. Home preserving is Marguerite's most natural culinary territory and she starts by explaining the equipment and the basic techniques, as well as what to do if things go wrong. She covers not only family favorites such as piccalilli, ginger marmalade, and rose petal jam but also more unusual classics from around the world, such as quince cheese and hot pepper jelly.

Do you own a microwave? Probably. But did you know that recent research has shown that because of the lack of power that it uses, compared with conventional cooking methods, the microwave works out the cheapest of all the cooking appliances? And with energy costs spiraling to unthinkable levels, it seems that the microwave's moment has come – and not before time. Because of its energy efficiency isn't it time to use it every day creatively rather than just warming up leftovers? There are countless dishes that are done beautifully, and completely, in a microwave. Vegetables cook perfectly, losing fewer nutrients than in a pan and fish is generally regarded better done in the microwave than poached or steamed. So with that in mind this collection of both time-honored and newly created microwave compatible favorites is here for you to enjoy – they represent years of mid-week and special occasion eating developed by the author for her husband and herself, for the numerous times when a speedy dish was required to feed a friend at lunch or when eating alone. We hope you will enjoy the selection.