Feeding Boys & a FireFighter

Recipes & tips for filling bottomless pits

Book review and chance to win: Aggie’s Family Cookbook

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Aggie's family cookbook
I think most people recognise Aggie MacKenzie as the sensible Scottish one from TV Show How Clean Is Your House. I’ve never seen the racy blonde one Kim in the same way again after she got totally slozzled on Celebrity Come Dine With Me a few years back and completely shamed herself – pure TV gold. Anyway, I digress!

However there’s more to Aggie than wearing white coats and finding bacteria in people’s fridges, she is incredibly experienced in the field of food. Professionally having worked on food magazines and indeed becoming the head of the Good Housekeeping Institute for many years; and as a family cook for over 20 years.

Her latest publication Aggie’s Family Cookbook (Save time, save money) is really a chance for her to publish everything she’s learned in this time and pass it on to us family cooks trying to make our way in the harsh world of feeding our hungry troops on tighter and tighter budgets.

Who is it for?

Busy parents who are perhaps struggling with staying on top of cooking family meals week in, week out, maybe stuck in a rut for ideas and need a bit of guidance. People who don’t have much experience in the kitchen or much love for it would find this book hugely helpful.

There’s a HUGE introduction full of very sensible tips, and a pretty impressive meal planning section which gives you four weeks’ worth of meals using recipes from the book, plus handy weekly shopping lists. If you’re superbusy then things like this can really help.

And of course, Aggie being Aggie, there’s a section on how to clean your kitchen. I found that a tad patronising. Kind of like in Gina Ford’s baby manual where she suggests you use a portion of the day for cleaning windows….

The book seems to be written for Americans as there’s lots of translations in brackets after British words like taps and aubergine (faucet and eggplant) which was a bit weird.

Easy to follow

Once you’re past the gigantic intro, you’re into the recipes. Pretty clearly laid out – although the method steps can be a bit long. I prefer them to be short and numbered so I don’t get lost.

I like the tips on each recipe but would like to know if I could freeze each dish, as she doesn’t always mention it.

The chapter headings are a bit vague. Food on the run – has it committed a crime?! Bits and pieces that make life so much better – sounds like an ad for B&Q!

Family friendly

Definitely aimed at the family audience with crowd pleasing recipes that aren’t too off-the-wall. Her eldest son Ewan gets a mention in quite a few of the dishes, so he’s clearly a chip off the old block in the cooking department.

Vegetarian friendly?

She does mention in the intro that we should be cutting down on meat for health reasons, but there’s no quick reference guide in the index for the vegetarian recipes which I find annoying.

But this is possibly because most of the recipes do revolve around meat, so she’s not really taking her own advice.

There are a handful of meat-free meals to try like vegetable empanadas, veggie curry and the most tempting no-hassle gnocchi with sage and butter.

Most likely to cook

The vegetarian meals (obviously) but also some of the sweet stuff like Scotch Pancakes, Brownies and Trifle. The Onion Bhajis look delicious. I also had a go at making the Pork, Chorizo and Chickpea stew which was a real winner.

Least likely to cook

Braised Oxtail anyone – yeeeeeeshk!

Would you buy it for a friend?

Probably not actually – it’s a bit too mumsy. It’s the type of book we should buy as it’s so practical, but it’s just not very sexy or aspirational.

Rating out of 10

6 – it’s like a pair of sensible shoes.

Published in hardback by Pavilion, priced £20

WIN WIN WIN!

***THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED, NO MORE ENTRIES PLEASE***

I have two copies of Aggie’s family cookbook to giveaway….

1. For your main chance to win please comment on this post telling me how you save time and money in the kitchen.

2. For a bonus second chance to win please tweet this post Win Aggie’s Family Cookbook http://wp.me/pU5T8-12c @cookingkt  #win #prize and comment HERE telling me you have done so along with your twitter username

3. For a third chance to win please follow me @cookingkt on Twitter and comment HERE to tell me you have done so.

4. For a fourth chance to win please go and ‘like’ Feeding Boys on Facebook, and come back to this page to comment you have done so.

This giveaway is open to all readers with a UK mailing address. The winner will be chosen using an online randomiser and announced in a subsequent post.

I am running this competition on behalf of Pavilion who will be responsible for sending the prizes to the winners. Their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

There is one main way to enter and several ways to get bonus entries. You must leave a separate comment for each bonus entry otherwise they will not be counted.

***THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED, NO MORE ENTRIES PLEASE***

Closing date: Friday 16th December, 2011

Thanks to Pavilion for my review copy of Aggie’s Family Cookbook

Comments

  1. ali.b. says

    That sounds my type of book, any inspiration is always helpful in the kitchen department!! Not on Twitter but I’m liking your facebook page. My way of saving time/money is my trusty slow cooker which can turn v.cheap cuts of beef into melt in the mouth gorgeousness – yum!!

  2. Jan Bailey says

    In addition to using the slow cooker as an energy saving device I also double up quantities and freeze the second meal for another day.

  3. Rebecca Smith says

    I make meals in advance and freeze them – I don’t do this all of the time but its very handy when a week suddenly turns extremely busy!
    Tweeted and following over at @OhNoItsBex
    Liked on Facebook as Rebecca J Smith

  4. Christine Ball says

    I try to prepare everything before I actually start cooking and I trying to cook as much as I can in the oven rather than also on the hob at the same time or later on, as it is pointless wasting additional energy (whether it be Gas or Electric) as well as time and money if one fuel can do two jobs

  12. r mulcaster says

    I try and make meals in bulk, so I will make a cottage pie to use and 1 or 2 to either chill in fridge or freeze for another day, so we have our own nutritious, and economical ready meals to use when I haven’t time to cook. I find this works for lots of meals. Also tend to buy a larger joint to roast ( if we have one!) and do like my mum used to and use the leftovers for other meals.

  13. stacie beer says

    i always make extra portions of stews, casserol’s and soups so i can freeze them, then when im short of time just defrost and cook a lovely healthy prepared meal!!!

  14. Rhonda says

    Brilliant book! I have bought a whistling kettle that goes on my electric hob, it takes less time to boil than a normal kettle and it costs less to run.

  20. Robert says

    I find the best way to save time & money is to cook some meals each week using ingredients that you already have in the cupboard, fridge, freezer, etc. This save time & money shopping & ensures things are used up rather than them going off & having to be thrown away.

  26. Julie says

    I make sure I do a meal plan at the start of the week, and I stick to eat. That way nothing gets wasted.

  28. Tracy Nixon says

    Thanks for the great giveaway! I save money by throwing as little waste away as possible. For example, veg that is maybe starting to wilt – just cut up and throw it in a casserole – with a suce over it no one would notice! Even throw it in a curry and make a vegetable curry! Vegetables are extremely cheap, wholesome and can be made into loads of different things! Casseroles and curries can also be freezed so another way of money saving!

  31. Alice says

    I check my fridge and cupboards a few days before I do a food shop. I try to use up everything before go shopping.

  43. Ele says

    I save time and money by putting off the supermarket shop for a day or so – there are always a couple of meals that can be rustled up from the odds and ends in the fridge. We also eat roast chicken a lot as the leftovers are fantastic and I always make stock.

  47. michael wiggins says

    My money saving tip was to plan what your meals are beforehand and stick to it.

    Or go to supermarket late in the day. They have stuff reduced which may be useful in a meal for a fraction of the price.

  51. Ileana Fernandes says

    Best time and money saving tip I have is making extra meals and freezing! Works a treat and is perfect for those days when you can’t be bothered to cook but can’t justify buying a takeaway!

    xx

  59. Susie says

    My money-saving tip is learn to cook! That way you’ll be flexible enough to make the most of supermarket mark-downs, BOGOFs and bargains, whatever they may be.

  62. Claire Smith says

    I save time and money by ensuring that I make meals in advance and freeze them in family portions ensuring that I don’t end up throwing extra away.

  66. Amanda says

    I save time and money in the kitchen by cooking twice a month. I work out a fortnights meals, write my list of ingredients, plan what days we eat what, then on Saturday the kids and I cook. I do the meals, the kids help with the cakes/biscuits etc. I rarely buy pre packaged food, and we get 2 weeks worth od food done in 1 afternoon, using the oven, slow cooker, stove top and roasting oven. the kids take care of the non cook slices. We follow the menu for meals, I take them out the night before and just reheat at meal time:)
    As I know exactly what we are eating, I know what to buy…no exras, no “cant be bothered cooking” meals.

    It costs me $300 a fortnight(2 weeks) to feed a family of 11

  67. Karen says

    We all eat the same meal each evening. Before we would tend to cook different things, which is much more expensive and uses more pans and dishes

  68. Rob Clayton says

    save money by buying as many fresh ingredients as possible. the main ingredient is always chosen by checking out the special half price or better offers. usually have a quick look at morrisons / sainsbury / asda websites before i do my shop, to look for the best half price offer. then i can find a recipe and get everything i need. save time by buying ready made stockpots, again i keep a eye out for these when they are on offer

  69. Fran Light says

    I save money in the kitchen by searching out supermarket discount vouchers and 2-for-1 offers and I save time (and money) by getting creative with leftovers – mashed potato topped pies, bubble & squeak-esque concoctions, omelettes with exotic fillings and my personal favourite, thick chunky soups!

  73. Sarah Arnett says

    I save time by preparing everything when its bought – ie chop peppers, wash grapes, grate cheese etc and then when i need things its all ready!

  74. Hannah Beadle says

    I love cutting corners in the kitchen and smart price tinned tomatoes and actually all value tinned vegetable are convenient and incredibly cheap fab just to store for the odd ocassion in the cupboard

  78. Hazel says

    I save time by cooking batches of buns etc.and freezing them. They come out of the freezer ready wrapped to put in lunches etc.

  82. Martina says

    I cook more portions and then freeze it for another day. I use lots of frozen vegetables instead of fresh ones.

  86. Diane Carey says

    I try to buy food that is on offer that week and BOGOF’s. I always write a menu out for the week so we always know what we are having. This saves time, and we are more organised

  90. Karen A Barrett says

    I have a planner on the fridge that shows all the meals for a month.
    (Some days do get jigged around a bit) I do my shopping list from this, use as a reminder
    to get things out of the freezer in the morning and most importantly, first one home knows
    what’s for tea and they can start to prepare. It saves time, arguements because we decide
    together what’s going on the planner, money because we buy what we need and so we have
    no wastage.

  96. Hazel Wright says

    I save money by shopping a couple of times a week as I buy alot of fresh fruit and veg, I pick up a fair amount of ‘sell by’ produce but I also make sure that nothing EVER gets wasted!

  102. Gillian Holmes says

    Basically I cook from scratch most of the time and I usually cook two portions and freeze one for those in a hurry days.

    @12kazuko12

  108. Dessiree Brown-Llaneza says

    I only buy meat when it is reduced and bung it in the freezer. I use the slow cooker a lot and freeze a lot of portions as extra meals for the kiddies. I religiously meal plan for the week which avoids me doing little ‘top up’ shops that as we all know can amount to 20 or 30 pounds. I try and create meals from everything i have left in the cupboard. I try and educate myself on new recipes as its amazing what you can create. Before i used to look in the fridge/freezer/cupboard and think ‘we’ve got nothing to eat’ now i look and think ‘well we can make this, this and this!’ This book is JUST the sort of thing i need to expand my knowledge!

  113. Laura Carroll says

    Whenever I make a meat dish I make double or triple the amount then freeze and later serve with different accompaniments – rice/chips/boiled potatoes etc – so I can pretend it’s a ‘different meal’!

  118. lorraine polley says

    i buy good quality ready meals, always read the labels to check fat content etc, as my husband and I both work shifts, with alot of night shifts you never know what meal you should actually be eating!!!.

  120. Simon Moore says

    Use the slow cooker all the time. Nothing better than getting in from work and having a meal ready to be plated up.

  121. Angie Hoggett (@angiehoggett) says

    I always plan meals for the week so I know what ingredients I need and to best use up everything so nothing goes to waste. I also find it saves time because if I know what I am making I can make some things ahead of time.

  125. sue willshee says

    I’m a veggie and I do agree that using more veg instead of meat saves money. I’m shocked when I see the prices of meat in the supermarket! Thank goodness I don’t have to buy it!
    I don’t really worry about saving time in the kitchen, I’m quite happy to take as long as I need to get a result. I do obviously try to reduce costs but its difficult because as well as being veggie I’m also coeliac so a lot of my food has to come from the ‘free from’ section which has to be the most expensive part of the supermarket! To save money I tend to make my own gluten free bread. Partly because it’s cheaper and partly because I just can’t find a GF loaf that I like. @piperanddaisy

  135. Cheryll H says

    To save time and money in the kitchen I meal plan around leftovers – less wasted food, more cash in my pocket 🙂 @pipersky1

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