What’s For Dinner? By Fay Ripley – Review and one copy to giveaway

I’ve been looking forward to this one for ages, and when I got my copy I was not disappointed! What’s For Dinner easy & delicious recipes for everyday cooking by Fay Ripley 2012 published by Collins. This is Fay’s second cookbook and follows on from the first, it’s aimed at the same audience, I think. I liked her first one, but actually I think this one is even better.

This book is aimed at people who cook the day in day out family meals for children and adults alike. I’m a reasonably adventurous cook, but when you have little people to feed this is not necessarily a winning combination!

I find Fay’s approach to feeding little ones really helpful, she is good at creating recipes that include new tastes but not in a way that is overwhelming to little palates. Big people like her recipes too. Some other recipes aimed at children that I’ve come across are just not what you want to eat as an adult, but Fay crosses the divide well, and manages to mostly please both sets.

The book is nicely done, well presented, recipes are easily followed plus there is a picture of each recipe. Chapters are: *Monday* Tuesday* Wednesday* Thursday* Friday* Weekend* Cornershop * and lastly *Sides*. There are hints and tips at the end of recipes, feeding little ones etc. Having the meals in ‘days’ means you can’t just go to a main meals section, you have to flip through. There was a time that would have annoyed me, but now I think this is ok, if forces me to look through again and maybe discover a little gem that I had previously missed.

Some of the recipes I’ve marked to try are: Quick Zingy Kebabs with Tzatziki, Hoisin Pork Fillet with Lemon and Ginger Noodles, Nutty Mango Rice Salad, Crispy Prawn Salad, Hot (tomato) Pesto Chicken Nuggets, Show Off Chicken Platter, Colly Stuffed Jackets with Sticky Snags, Falafel Burgers, Little Greek Almond Moons, Blueberry and Coconut Cake and Easy Bakewell Cake.

I have one copy to give away to a commenter on this post, selected at random. To be entered please leave a comment saying why you’d like to win this one. Closing date is 4th April at 12 mid-day 2012. Good luck! NOW CLOSED
Here are my first makes from the book.

No Fuss Smoked Salmon & Boursin Risotto
This recipe came about by serendipity. I went down to my local shop on the hunt for something for my own lunch, and I saw Scottish smoked salmon. Freedom Foods smoked salmon. Buy one get 2 free!! It would have been rude not to. J Of course this meant I then had extra salmon to think how to use up, I was looking through Fay’s book and immediately came across this risotto, which I had not even marked previously!
The cheese should be goats cheese, but I swapped it for Boursin instead. This is a cheats risotto simmered with the lid on the pan. I’ve tried a few oven baked risottos before, but wasn’t very pleased with the outcomes, they were usually ok, but not wows. This one was moist and creamy with the cheese, delicious already, but more so for us adults with the fish and dill. What I ended up with was a fast supper so good I could hardly believe it! My little one would not eat smoked salmon, but before I stirred in the fish and dill I removed her bowl and added in some bits I know she would like. Smiles all round.

Pea and Bacon Soup
Pea, bacon and mint soup with crispy oven baked croutons. Yum! I did the croutons with soda bread, which for a yeast-free-er like me was a real bonus.

Cottage Pie
Different from the one I normally make as it has a tin of tomatoes in it and also parsnips along with potatoes in the mash. It was good.

Italian Chicken Bake
Chicken baked with the flavours of pizza. I served this with garlic bread, I think new potatoes would go as well, and I’ll do this next time, especially since I can’t have garlic bread.

All in One “Paella”
Not quite paella as I know it, but a nice prawn rice dish for supper.

Green Macaroni in Minutes
A vegetarian macaroni with leeks and spinach added in. We adults liked it and little one was very, very suspicious of the greenery in it, but did eat it. J The recipe link is here.

Sweet Sticky Chicken
An Asian inspired chicken that baked to sticky deliciousness. A serious hit in my house! My little one at this, and hubby before he’d even finished his first plate was keen to see if there was more, who could blame him though, it was a real treat.
Served with Egg Fried Rice
Egg Fried Rice is a regular on my table, this one is a prefect side.

Rustic Italian Savoury Scone
Loved this one, a scone bread, quick to make and flavoured with pesto, olives and mozzarella, yum!

Nutty Nuggets of Deliciousness
Short crumbly buttery, nutty biscuits sandwiched with Nutella. Addictive! Recipe link here.

Festive Pig in a Bun

I call these porkie patties. Sausage meat with dried cranberries and pine nuts added into them. Some of us had them in buns and some not. Amazing with a bit of blue cheese.

Served with Coleslaw

I served them with Fay’s coleslaw, which was a good one. The patties and coleslaw are the ones pictured on the cover of the book.

Next Up: Winner of Fay’s book

Next Up after that: Quadrille’s New Voices in Food – the first four books.