My idea of self catering heaven (2)

I wrote Part 1 of this after my friend Paul of Kendal Cottages asked the question, “What would you look for in a self catering property?” He jokingly suggested he would include some Delia Smith recipe books. Yeah, right. LOL! But then I thought what a good idea it would be to have recipe books in a self catering place.

Now we have to be practical here. Not everyone on holiday is going to be obsessed with cooking or want to spend all day chained to the stove top. So, if I had a self catering property, what cookbooks would I include? Probably not the new Larousse Gastronomique or Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck Cookbook. Well, perhaps one of these might give a little hint of luxury to the place but not necessary, I think. We’re probably wanting something a bit more quick and easy here. On that basis, here’s my top five for a self catering property.

1. Gourmet Express by Ainsley Harriott. This made it to No.2 in my Top Ten list of books for 2008. You can read my review of it. It’s always the first place I look when I want a meal in minutes. It’s an invaluable book for getting good food fast!

2. Modern Classics Book 1 by Donna Hay, the No.1 in my 2008 list (reviewed here). There’s plenty of short-order ideas and great food fast in this one too. I like it!

3. Hmm, it’s getting difficult now because I tend to have books aimed at the more serious cook. Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food isn’t bad – especially if you don’t know how to cook anything.

4. Nah, I give up… Either do or do not. (There is no try.)

5. Go out and eat.

Have fun cooking, and if anyone else has recommendations about what recipe books to put in a self catering property, that would be great too.