Hi,
I dont use cook books any more as I always use this site for inspiration but my Sister (who is a "pudding Queen") asked me to recommend her a good starter only book,
Can anyone recommend one?

hi doppleganger

its not exactly starters only, but party food and appetizers its a fab book and i think your sister would love it its called "the complete book of party food and appetizers" there are over 400 recipes in it and no joke its by bridget jones

You may not believe this but I saw a programme that said Mrs Beeton-the famous Victorian-sold so many books simply because she was a young housewife with some publishing skills but few culinary pretences and so wrote her famous book using only recipes she found easy to follow -hence her popularity and fame. I'm sure it is still available in some form today.

Hi Doppleganger,

I was in books for cooks last week in London and I flicked through a book by Shane Osborn. Its called starters and its rrp is £18.99. Amazon are currently selling it for £13.29 which is a saving of 30 percent.

I would highly recommend this book for its recipes and photography.

Yesp for sure try Phil Vickery "Proof of pudding" easy to intermediate I would say

Can I ask a stupid question, are we talking a book of recipes for "starters" or Hors D'ourves, or a book to start someone off making puddings?

Well it was starters Rustie but changed somewhere along the way!

Thanks 4 this y'all, yes it is a startes only cook book she's after.

Then I would go for...
Amuse-Bouche: Little Bites of Delight Before the Meal Begins
by Rick Tramonto, Mary Goodbody

French Delicacies: Dine with the Master Chefs of France: Appetizers by Peter Hayter

Little Foods of the Mediterranean: 500 Fabulous Recipes for Antipasti, Tapas, Hors D'Oeuvre, Meze, and More by C.A. Wright

I don't personally have them all but have read them and used them.

Doppleganger so sorry I thought you meant your sister was a starter(novice cook), how stupid of me!

I have or have read all the books that Rustie mentions and they are truely wonderful books. Especially Amuse-Bouche. I would say however, these books contain many recipes that are sort of canape sized and would make excellent pre-starters or entrees or indeed, hors d'oeuvres. You could of course make the recipes larger into a starter size portion.

Whilst Shane Osborns book is my favourite on the subject, I also have Appetizers, Starters and Hors d'oeuvres by Christine Ingram, Soups and starters by Linda Fraser and a real favourite is Australian Womens weekly, starters and soups.

All excellent but the Austalian Womens Weekly has the advantage of a picture with every recipe and a really good price tag.

Sorry MammaChef, this was a personal perference BECAUSE of the canapes etc as I hate being filled up by a starter and not being able to go on and face the main course. I know there are an awful lot of others like me out there. The idea of having a pre-starter then a starter before you even get near a main course fills so many of us with horror!

AWT's idea of having a starter, or just some nibbles/canapes, and pudding was right up my street.

Yes good idea Rustie, I love starters but then can never manage my main course, so canape sized starters is an excellent choice.

To have pre starters and starters is too much I agree but they do serve them in many restaurants and some people for special occassions.

I think your choice of books were wonderful as I said in my previous post, as long as the buyer knows they are bite sized portions before purchasing.

Stupid me! I thought you meant a novice cook.........lmao

Well so did I actually FORDY, so dont feel too badly. I came on to post the like and realised I had it wrong.

DON'T FEEL SO BAD NOW MAMMA