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DON'T FEEL SO BAD NOW MAMMA

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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