Feeding Boys & a FireFighter

Recipes & tips for filling bottomless pits

Book Review and chance to win: My Daddy Cooks by Nick Coffer

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I’ve been genuinely excited about the release of Nick ‘My Daddy Cooks’ Coffer’s blog-titled recipe book.

I stumbled upon Nick’s blog when I first started out as a blogger myself last year, and was instantly won over by the hilarious videos of Nick attempting to cook meals with his toddler Archie. It was the immediate recognition that someone else was going through the same crazy kitchen antics and still managing to produce great family food that really inspired me.

Nick’s a really warm guy and I was lucky enough to be invited to be a guest on his weekend cookery show on Three Counties Radio. He can talk for Britain and has so much energy and enthusiasm for food, it’s like he can’t be anything but a success really.

So onto the book….

Who is it for?

Anyone who wants to whip up a delicious home-cooked meal for their family – with an emphasis on simplicity. Nick calls it “Tuesday evening cooking,” that doesn’t phase someone who’s knackered and quite possibly got little people snapping at their feet.

Fans of Nick’s blog will also be loving the cute pictures of Archie and warm chatty prose from his dad that feature heavily throughout the book.

Recipe count:
100

Easy to follow?
It’s billed as foolproof and toddlerproof so you’d hope so. The section headings are down to earth with titles like Throw It All In (Literally) and (Almost) No Cooking Required, clearly signalling that this book is a welcoming kitchen companion rather than a snooty foodie tome.

The recipes are clearly laid out, with the method in short numbered instructions which I personally prefer to wading through great paragraphs of text which are all too easy to get lost in when you’re under pressure to get dinner ready.

Nick is generous with his guidance if you’re a nervous cook and really holds your hand throughout the recipes. He’s quick to fill you in on little tips like how to remove bones from chicken legs and not to worry if you’ve not got exactly the right amount of ingredients and indeed suggestions of other things to use if you haven’t got them at all.

Family friendly?
Being a parent/foodie blogger, Nick knows his audience so he’s gone for crowd-pleasing classics along with some more adventurous recipes, but none of the ideas are lofty or require culinary skill. He doesn’t sanitise food and feels it important that children should try different tastes and textures – no hidden vegetable sauces here!

You might get the impression from the cover that this is a ‘show your kids how to cook’ type book. It’s not – it’s a book of great family recipes that you can choose to get your kids involved with and Nick makes that very clear from the get-go.

He also makes helpful suggestions of how to adapt the recipes for younger and older tastes, like holding the spices back in a curry or making two versions of the same brownie – rich and a double-indulgent rich.

Most likely to cook
Chinese lettuce wraps – kind of like tacos but with lettuce – sound surprisingly good and would make a fun weekend light lunch.

Bready scrolls look like a great alternative to sarnies for a picnic and there are endless possibilities for fillings.

Feta, mint and pea sauce – One of my favourite flavour combinations in the world – Nick clearly speaks my language!

Oven-baked risotto – I love these kind of unfussy recipes that cut many corners but still leave you with a winning result.

Least likely to cook
Baked cinnamon apples – they have always been unappealing to me – they look like baked spuds gone wrong. Sorry Nick but that’s just a bit too old-school!

Would you buy it for a friend?
I would definitely buy it for someone who had run out of kitchen inspiration in the daily quest for the perfect family meal. There are so many recipes to get through. It kind of reminds me of Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, full of a mix of classics and adventurous ideas but above all approachable and keen to get you cooking from scratch.

Rating out of 10
8

My Daddy Cooks is published on 26 May 2011, Hodder & Stoughton Hardback, £16.99
An enhanced eBook will be available on publication.

WIN WIN WIN!

Nick has kindly agreed to give me TWO copies of his book to giveaway to my readers…

1. For a chance to win please comment on this post telling me what’s your fave fool-proof family meal?

2. For a second chance to win please tweet this post Win family cook book: My Daddy Cooks by Nick Coffer @cookingkt http://wp.me/pU5T8-Jv 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.

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. As I am allowing multiple entries the randomiser may choose the same person twice, in this case I shall pick another winner until there are two separate winners.
When commenting please leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

I am running this competition on behalf of Hodder & Stoughton
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.

Closing date: 10pm Thursday, 9th June 2011

Good Luck!

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for my review copy of My Daddy Cooks

Comments

  1. Jane Willis says

    “Caribbean chicken” – not authentically Caribbean but everybody loves it. Chicken, banana and pineapple in a very slightly curried tomato sauce.

  5. Sally says

    It’s really hard not to like Nick and this whole concept of cooking with his small son. Your review and others I have read all seem to agree that there are some excellent no nonsense recipes here (however high falutin your ambitions, we all need these most of the time) and a really nice bloke. It sounds like the perfect book for my teens to cook from.
    If you do pick my comment I can provide a UK address.

    • Sally says

      Whoops – forgot to add my favourite family proof meal. Keema – spicy enough to please husband, soothing enough for teens (plus it contains peas) and a one-pot meal so I’m happy when time and energy is flagging.

  6. Hazel Rea says

    Favourite foolproof family meal – turkey casserole (made with fresh turkey pieces, not left over turkey). It can be stretched by adding extra mushrooms etc. if necessary.

  9. Lorraine Gaw says

    Pork casserole with cider & wholegrain mustard. So easy as you can pop all the ingredients into the slow cooker (or oven if you prefer) Use whatever veg you like – we tend to use shallots, carrot & swede. Serve with a nice jacket potato – easy peasy. (Plus the pork casserole freezes well – perfect for an ’emergency’ meal!)

  12. Dorothee Archambault says

    My fave fool-proof family meal is a home made quiche. It could be either Lorraine or salmon quiche.
    @Dorothee77

  14. Dorothee Archambault says

    I already follow you on Twitter @Dorothee77 – that’s how I heard about the comp!

  15. HELEN JESSUP says

    favourite family meal in our house is Roast Chicken dinner – loved by everyone except me, I don’t like roast dinners so I have my chicken on a salad, everyone else eats every scrap.
    I would love to win Nick’s book
    @jessies_online

  18. Multiple Mummy says

    Our favourite foolproof family dinner is fish pie! The kids just wolf it down, but I suppose you can’t beat fish in cheese sauce and mashed potato (with a bit of brocolli sneaked in!) They love it and so do we.

    Have tweeted @MultipleMummy

  21. Nina C says

    Has to be cheese and bacon pasta (with home made cheese sauce of course). If no-one can agree on dinner, it’s the alternative everyone enjoys!

  24. Sam Cantwell says

    My mix-up mince; basically a mince, onion and tomato combo with any vegetable that you have leftover. This can then be served with pasta, rice or even fresh bread if you add a bit more liquid for the sauce.

  25. ali.b. says

    Ooh thank you for the chance to win – I am always looking for inspiration in the kitchen especially for meals that we will all eat. It seems as the kids get older they are becoming more & more fussy!! Whats all that about??? Anyhoo, my family favourite meal is: Chicken dinner .. p.s. how are your york. puds coming on??

  48. kim says

    we are all a fan of chilli con carne with boiled rice and tortilla chips goes down a treat and if made more than needed gets frozen for another week all the family love it including the lil ones and simple & easy to make

  53. Kelly Koya says

    Our fav is tex – mex bean lasagne. It’s made with layers of black beans and salsa, alternatived with a mixture of ricotta and mozarella – can be made in minutes and tastes delicious!

  55. Sophie says

    My ‘go-to’ meal is probably chilli – either veg or meat. Can make loads at once, it’ll be happy cooking for longer if people are running late, can freeze leftovers, serve it with rice/potatoes, add different things if people are being fussy about certain ingredients… in short, something for everyone!

  63. Heather Shaw says

    Our standby recipe is quorn chilli. So easy to make yet healthy and filling! @kiki_725 on twitter

  72. annette hanley says

    My favourite fool proof family meal is Baked potatos can be thrown in oven and forgotton about for an hour or zapped in the microwave and filled with what ever you have in the fridge/cupboard.

  73. Sarah Allcoat says

    My family proof meal is definitely a chilli con carne- vegetarian of course then it appeals to everyone especially if you make it mild. If a huge amount of people turn up it can be expanded upon by serving with nacho’s and guacamole etc..perfect.

    @medsdemon

  76. Katherine Coldicott says

    My family love curry. As long as you’ve got the basics in the cupboard you can make a quick curry really easily.

  78. Stacey Gahan says

    My family love garlic and chicken pasta bake, never fails.
    Followed and retweeted @pinkxxlaydee

  79. Liz Burton says

    My favourite fool-proof meal is pasta with cheese sauce and salmon.

    Can knock it up in minutes, bung in some spinach too for a nod to the five-a-dayers – perfect!

  86. lindsey bluff says

    our favourite family meal is homemade pizzas on a scone base with salad, yummy and simple

  91. Carolina J. says

    Tweeted! (@pandcands)

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

  96. Sarah Ballantyne says

    Our favourite family meals is fish pie with peas – easy to make, freezes well and everyone loves it.

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