JAMIE'S DINNERS: THE ESSENTIAL FAMILY COOKBOOK Reviews

• Jamie Oliver Cooks at Home. Very Highly Recommended

  
  By A20IIR0422G3A5 on 2004-10-24
  Jamie Oliver writes cookbooks I look forward to reading and this fifth volume from the Anglo wunderkind chef fully satisfies my expectations.
  
  Julia Child, Marcella Hazan, Paula Wolfert, James Beard, and Diana Kennedy write great cookbooks from which I always learn something. Thus, it is always rewarding to read works from these writers. But, Jamie Oliver's books belong to a very select few which are not only educational, they actively make you want to put down the book and go to the kitchen and start cooking. The select group of writers who can do that for me is lead by Jacques Pepin and has recently been joined by Tony Bourdain along with Peter Reinhart, Chris Schlesinger, and his nibs, Jamie Oliver. Even my culinary idols Mario Batali and Alton Brown can't evoke my passion for cooking as well as Messers Pepin and Oliver.
  
  Appropriate to this grouping of writers, Oliver's latest effort, `Jamie's Dinners, The Essential Family Cookbook' is a perfect companion to Jacques Pepin's latest work, `Fast Cooking My Way'. Both books highlight the way the two chefs cook at home, with the focus being as much on simplicity and readily available ingredients as on speed. As I rarely cook with the intention of being done quickly, but I do appreciate a simple dish with high rewards on the palate, Oliver's book promises AND delivers on exactly the kind of book I like to go to on a regular basis, just like Jacques' work.
  
  The theme of Jamie's last book was wrapped around his effort to train 15 deserving unemployed young people and staff a restaurant, `15' with his graduates. This book is based on a similar socially active theme of improving school lunch meals. Jamie states that he has been doing a documentary on school food programs and how they may be improved. The book gives little information about this film, but it does have a lot of material on food appropriate to school lunches.
  
  The first third of the book is devoted to unconventional material and presentations of recipes. The first chapter gives us recipes for Jamie's `Top Ten' dishes: Sausage and Mashed Potatoes with Onion Gravy; Burger and Chips; Baked Lasagna; Jacket Potatoes (stuffed potatoes for us Yanks); Apple Pie; Roast Chicken and Roast Potatoes; Fish, Chips, and Mushy Peas; Chicken and Sweet Leek Pie; Tomato Soup; and Chicken Tikka Masala. Jamie often likes to offer some dishes as `the best'. And, I have never been disappointed with any of his `best' dishes. Many are now part of my standard repertoire. But, whether many are `the best' may be a matter of taste. His `ultimate' burger for example includes cumin, coriander, Parmesan cheese, mustard, and raw onion mixed into the burger patty. I am perfectly happy staying with my classic Julia Child recipes incorporating nothing more than sautéed shallots into the patty. But, I am sure that Jamie's version is `a tasty burger'. Even these simple dishes offer interesting techniques. The chips, for example are not fried, they are parboiled, then baked. The lasagna is bulked up butternut squash. The chicken potpie is topped with puff pastry instead of conventional pate brisee. One thing these dishes exemplify is that simple is not always easy. Jamie is not going for speed here, he is aiming at tasty, popular dishes. And, aside from the mashy peas, I suspect every dish will appeal to American tastes as much as it will appeal to our Brit cousins.
  
  The next chapter develops an idea I have had for a book for close to a year now, and Sir Jamie got to it long before it was anything more than a notion in my head. This is a presentation of related recipes that begin with a basic preparation such as pesto, then builds on this to create four or five related dishes which use this basic preparation. Ming Tsai wrote a whole book, `Simply Ming' on this idea. Ming promoted the idea as a method for saving time. I thing Jamie is closer to the practical matter for home cooks when he pushes the ideas as a means for building a good repertoire of dishes from a few simple techniques such as a marinara sauce, roasted lamb, stewed fruit, and puff pastry.
  
  Jamie's next chapter is on `5 minute wonders', that are very similar to the 26 recipe snippets at the beginning of Pepin's `Fast Cooking My Way'. For this chapter alone, I would have a copy of this book at my desk at work so I could pick up the ingredients for these dishes on my way home. True to Jamie's passion for fresh ingredients, most of the dishes need at least one fresh green or protein.
  
  The chapter on sarnies (sandwiches for us Yanks) is meant to elevate this humble preparation to a level which will satisfy even the gourmet palate by being nutritious, fresh, and interesting. I am pleased to find the selection is not limited to Italian influenced Paninis.
  
  These chapters alone are worth the price of admission, but we have 200 more pages of Oliver recipes to go. His salads are as interesting as usual with lots of original stuff and a few old standards. The chapters on soups, vegetables, pasta, meat, fish, and desserts are all up to his usual standard.
  
  There is a rather unusual chapter at the end of the book entitled `Kitchens That Work'. It is an uncommon subject for the typical cookbook, but it fits the theme of this book, that being cooking at home. Jamie's primary premise is that his recipes can easily be done in a relatively small home kitchen, which is what he actually has in his home. There are a few simple ideas that I am sure I will include in my long-awaited kitchen renovation. Leading the pack is the notion of a cutting board tabletop for veggies, with separate plastic boards only for meats and poultry.
  
  Very highly recommended.
  
  
  

• Easy, REAL FOOD recipes for every day!!

  
  By A13USTSSSVWSTX on 2004-10-21
  I'm a big JO fan, and ordered this book from the amazon.co.uk site, so I've had it for a few weeks now. This is, by far, Jamie's best cookbook to date - the recipes are easy and nutritious without being too "out there" with weird ingredients (ie the beet cake in last book - yuck), there's a large section on how to make tasty foods that kids will eat, fantastic ideas for packed lunches... I'm very happy with this book. Three cheers to Jamie for giving us a cookbook that's actually USEFUL!!
  
  

• inspiring and down-to-earth

  
  By A2Q7OU4QJ7IQK3 on 2005-01-05
  this cookbook is the best for home cooks who are passionate about cooking and food, but also need to be thoughtful, realistic and economical in feeding their families. there are a lot of wonderful recipes in here, but the best chapter for me is called "Family Tree," which gives you a homemade ingredient that you can make a lot of, like Jamie's simple but excellent tomato sauce, and then work into several meals over the course of a week or so. The way Jamie writes, and even the way he uses approximate measures, like a "handful of basil", encourages the home cook to have more confidence, imagination and fun in the kitchen. A complete beginner may need a book with more exact instructions, but for someone a bit comfortable and practiced, this book can really recharge the way you make everyday meals. i'm grateful to have it in my kitchen!
  
  

• This is a great cookbook!

  
  By A1LYBZFVTZ8QDM on 2004-12-13
  This is a great cookbook. The organization and ideas are very good, and the recipes I have tried tasted great. (The recipe for the roasted chicken alone is worth buying the book!) His recipes are not overly complicated, and there are a lot of easy modification ideas included with most of them. There are two reasons I did not give it a full 5 stars. The first is that the vagueness of his measurements is a little annoying. (ie, "knobs" of butter) The second is that an earlier reviewer said that the recipes are fairly healthy. While many are, or could be modified to be healthy, many are not. I was hoping for a little less cheeze and cream. Over all though, I am thrilled with this book!
  
  

• Good, easy and wholesome recipes, but not always a hit with kids

  
  By A3ND1L5N94GCSQ on 2006-10-24
  This is my first Jamie Oliver cookbook. His TV shtick never appealed to me, but when I read about his really admirable work at improving school lunches in the UK and providing training for school-leavers at "15," his London restaurant, I decided he merited some support. Besides, we definitely needed to widen our repertoir of home dinners.
  
  I've been very favorably impressed by the book. I've made about seven or eight things out of it now, and all have turned out to be excellent. Unlike some reviewers, I didn't mind the lack of precision in some recipes (I've always relied more on just using a "lug" of olive oil than measuring it, anyway), and I've learned to deal with the occasional editing lapse--if you read the whole recipe before starting (good advice I don't usually follow) you discover the "beaten egg" called for in the Spanish roast chicken isn't actually part of the recipe anyway.
  
  So I recommend this book very highly. I should mention that although there are a number of recipes that the author describes as hits or favorites of his children, we've yet to find recipes in the book that will enchant young and old alike. (I don't rule out that this is only because he prepares them better than I do.) But I'm happy to keep plugging away at it, because literally everything has pleased the old, and that's who's doing the cooking!
  
  
• Useless cookbook for families
  By A3F01QOVRA6MNT on 2006-08-26
  We don't all live by farmer's markets or in big cities. Too many ingredients (some hard to find in many places) and too long preparation time for stressed out families. I'm sorry Jamie, but I don't have time when I come home from work to crack open a coconut and shred it for fixing a sallad which, by the way, my family won't like. The amount of fat, especially saturated fat in the recipes is astounding. Fine for once a week, but for everyday? I was very disappointed in this cookbook, I'm sorry to say.
  
  
• Great recipes if you have corn allergies
  By A2HUR4W8J84XUV on 2005-01-11
  I like this cookbook a lot. It's full of recipes I'll actually be able get my family to eat. The recipes call for ingredients I already have in my cupboard or refrigerator. The recipes don't use fatty or over-processed foods (like cheese and sausages) as main ingredients -- and the recipes that DO call for such foods can 'swim' without them. He gives hints that I can choose to use or not. There are a lot of fish, beef, and vegetable recipes... with fun, colorful ideas. And his recipes are fun to read! These are all attractive options for my family because I have to avoid using corn derivatives, which are in every food item that's been packaged in a US plant... so it's nice to finally find a cookbook that sticks to wholesome, unprocessed ingredients that food allergy sufferers can work with.
  
  
• A bit disapointed...
  By A1BGJYXGF67BS4 on 2005-05-25
  This is a gorgeous cookbook...to look at. The pictures and lay out are fantastic but I found the recipes to be a bit "out there". I was expecting awesome, easy , family recipes. I found maybe four or five recipes in the book that my family would eat. I mentioned the "squahed fig, basil and parma ham sarnie in tomato bread" to my husband and he just looked at me with a blank stare. I also doubt that my three year old will go near the "Sweet Duck Legs Cooked With Plums and Star Anise" but I will try some of the recipes.
  
  JO does provide an excellent chapter on vegies, how to select and prepare etc. Don't get me wrong, I will enjoy this book, I won't regret spending the money however it will not become the family cooking bible that I had hoped for.
  
  
• You'll love Jamie, cause Jamie L-O-V-E-S food!
  By A3G2IK4W29JZT7 on 2007-03-10
  I wasn't sure about getting this cookbook, but WOW is my stomach grateful that I did! Straight off, being that fish and chips are my favorite, I tried his "Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas"...minus the mushy peas...(they scared me a bit, being with mint?!?! and all)...it was deluxe, restaurant-ish, lick-your-fingers-and-enjoy-your-guests-praise-nonstop-throughout-the-whole-meal-GOOD! I tried lots of fish and chips recipes before by hoo-ha chefs, all over-complicated, disappointing messy and not-tasty muck, but this one by Jamie was SIMPLE (3 ingredients for the batter) and tasted like perfection! (p.s-try it with a tartar sauce with mayo, mustard, lemon-juice, pickles, onions and a freshly crushed garlic clove...Y-U-M)
  
  After trying the fish, I had a drive to try out some of the others so I tried his "Roast chicken with lemon and rosemary roast potatoes". Now... I make a great variety of roasted chicken dishes, complicated and simple, all BIG hits, and I really thought there was nothing new in the roasted chicken world, until this!!! Wow! My husband and I gorged the whole dish ALONE while quickly abandoning the fork and knife for our hands, licking our fingers every trip to the mouth! The recipe includes stuffing the chicken with garlic cloves and a pierced boiled lemon oozing it's juice...OH MY...speechless is the word! I recommend to eat this dish alone or with the hubby/wife, because it's too good to share with guests! It's our new favorite chicken roast (p.s-stick with fresh herbs, you'll taste the amazing difference!)
  
  After two amazing triumphs with Jamie, I went on to "The ultimate burger and chips". Had it with the hubby and a friend. This burger should have been on that show Oprah had, where her friend explored the top 50 burgers to eat before you die! B-L-I-S-S! This recipe calls for a pestle and mortar, which I never owned and was weary about, but I got one and I am loving it (bye-bye aggression!)We added fresh avocado slices to the bun, besides Jamie's other recommendations..."druel-icous"! This one makes the "junk food/snack" reputation of the burger vanish and become 100% Meal!
  
  The only danger with Jamie's cookbook is that you can forget about all conventional table conversation period...the eating experience becomes only EATING THE FOOD...AND TALKING ABOUT HOW GOOD IT IS...and having a very sudden urge to be thankful to God for food! (shouldn't that be the correct way anyhow, if you're cooking like you should...or could with Jamie?) This is my idea of an eating-lifestyle one must experience before they die! Life is too short to just eat to fill!
  
  It is so refreshing to come across a chef who does all the normal meals we all know and love, but has a deep-food-loving twist that makes it feel like it's the first time ever eating the meal, and who has such a passion for food that you can taste with every bite! Plus, I gotta hand it to him for sticking to the fresh veggies and herbs as opposed to all the dried, frozen and over processed junk there is widely offered today! Don't be afraid to try out new tastes and new herbs...with Jamie they'll become an inseparable part of your meals that you'll marry with the rest of your dishes too!
  
  Suggested food blessing for Jamie's dishes: "Hallelujah, thank you God for Jamie! Amen."
  
  
• A\Jamie cooks your easy dinners
  By A29JXNB0Z62IL9 on 2004-11-27
  This is one of his best and his most practical for the amateur chef who likes to eat well and, on the whole, healthily. Really helpful and interesting recipes (even if we have seen some of them before) chosen with great imagination and told with his usual wit and charm. Beautifully designed and illustrated as usual. My only crits - of all Jamie's books - I wish he were more accurate about some measures: what exactly does he mean by a "slug" of oil, or a "handful" for instance? For American readers (who must far outnumber the Brits) alternative measures by cups are almost essential. We don't need/want to be dragging out the scales all the time, do we? And finally, Jamie, isn't it time for an index of ALL the recipes in ALL your books? It's maddening having to search through five of them to find a recipe. Maybe this could be a slim and inexpensive volume attached to some interesting, out of the way, specialized recipes. Apart from those two things, wonderful addition to the cook's library. Thanks, Jamie!
  
  
• Jamie's World
  By A3C0E3PRHG4MMQ on 2005-11-21
  This has to be one of my favorite cookbooks, not only because the recipes are healthy, tasty and family friendly, but because one really becomes absorbed in the ambiance of the book.
  
  There is a rustic, hominess and familiarity to the recipes, pictures and descriptions that makes one feel that they are included in Jamie's quirky, British style.
  
  I love the pictures of Jamie eating a sarnie on the street curb and the lasagne pictures with the cheese melted to a crisp along the edges of the pan; and someone has already dug in!
  
  My kids and I love the bowtie pasta with peas -- whoever thought they'd agree to eat a pea? This pasta is the only way they'll do it.
  
  Certainly not classical cuisine fare, but good, homey rustic eating and lots of Jamie, as well! How can you beat that?!
  
  
  
• Intriguing and Useful
  By A1XXU82RFUH9UN on 2005-07-19
  I love this book.
  At first glance, many of the recipes look a bit "out there," but they are all pretty intriguing so you want to try them out. Once you try them out a) you are surprised at how simple the recipe actually is and b) you are hooked on the book. At least, that's how it worked for me.
  
  Personal favorites: my finicky son loved the mac 'n cheese. In fact, it has loads of tomatoes and then, I added spinach to it. So it was healthy in terms of macs.
  The South Indian Seafood soup was a hit. As was the chorizo/chickpea soup.
  
  Looking forward to more cooking with this book!
  
  
• Fantastic recipes!
  By A1VBMUPJZBHMWH on 2005-09-04
  After buying this book I have become a huge Jamie Oliver fan. It is by far the best cookery book I have ever bought. The recipes are easy, the ingredients aren't too weird or difficult to find, and he uses a lot of the same ingredients for different recipes. The results are amazing! Even my 3 year old and 18 month old love the recipes from this book.
  I highly recommend Jamie Oliver's book - the man is a genius in the kitchen!
  
  
  
• Interesting food but very sweet...
  By A2DFWVJMOOZGPZ on 2005-11-13
  This is a different kind of cookbook in my opinion, in a good way.
  I LOVE reading Jamie's comments, he writes just like he sounds on TV which makes the book VERY enjoyable. I often read it before I go to bed. I didnt actually want this cookbook, but I got it last year as a X-mas gift and I am gald. Some of the recipes are ummm different, that is why when I saw it for the first time I didnt buy it. I think that is me though, I am still new to cooking and I dont think I could pull some of these recipes off. With that said after I actually took time to read it there are penty of recipes I plan on trying. It is a HUGE book and it took me some time to thumb through. As a newbie to cooking there are lots of good meal ideas and ones to aspire to. It is worth the money just for a good read :)
  
  
• simply great
  By A10MHMG8RKBMT8 on 2005-09-06
  I got this one for my wife, since she's a fan, but the fact is that I'm the one that is enjoying it because of my wife's fine cooking.
  
  
• Easy to follow and delicious recipes!
  By A3EW9ZJ19KBONT on 2006-03-21
  I completely lack any culinary talents but I made the porkchops entree and it turned super! Exactly like the picture - which looks like a gourmet dish - and so very delicious! The recipes are easy to follow and easy to modify to your tastes! I can't wait to try out more recipes and know that this will be a well used book.
  
  
• All about taste!!
  By A35UL8R5JABT8A on 2007-07-16
  I loved this book. I live on my own and wanted a book that was no frills, easy, healthy cooking and not for 6 people at a time! His 5 minute wonders are meals you can make for one in five mins and I've tried all of them. Fantastic, I'm never getting fast food take aways again cos these taste better and are far far healthier. I can't praise this book enough, it's all about taste taste taste...yum.
  
  
• great all around cookbook
  By A29414S0H11R1D on 2008-01-04
  i got this book a few years ago when i first wanted to cook professionally. i am now a dinner chef at a cafe, and this is my go-to cookbook when i cant think of the last dinner special or salad for the night. everything is presented in an easy to follow, throw together style, and you rarely have need for a mesuring device other than your hands. i dont think ive made any recipe in this book that i havent liked. i have bought this book as a present on a few occassions for cooks of all levels. i definately recommend this book to anyone.
  
  
• Easy and colorful
  By on 2005-09-01
  It's a great book, plenty if recipes really easy and with a lot of variety. It has influences from a lot of different countries and the plates are very healthy. A lot of good ideas.
  
  
• F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C
  By A4KBEQP6V056X on 2006-01-31
  As usual Jamie drives you to his amaying world of easy, fun and joyfull cooking!
  A good item to start your cookbok collection
  
  
• Jamie's Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook
  By A3STHX4D9RA42S on 2006-11-04
  Jamie Oliver aka "The Naked Chef" is my favorite celebrity chef and former Food TV cooking show host. I learned to cook watching his shows. This cookbook is chock full of recipes for parties and family events. There are 120 recipes beautifully illustrated with color photos and simple instructions. Jamie Oliver makes cooking fun, fast and easy. You don't need to be a pro to have a hearty, healthy meal in minutes. Buy this book! You'll love it.
  
  
• A must-have!
  By A2NGGUHIZNHF7G on 2007-11-28
  I just love this book! I'm an experienced cook and have tried tons of different recipes from books, cooking magazines, etc. but Jamie's Dinner still gave me new inspiration and great, healthy, esay-to-follow recipes. Best of all, his recipes are also designed for frugal chefs and emphasize seasonal ingredients. It's an awesome book for beginning cooks (think: your kid in college) and a beautiful gift for even the experienced cook. Two thumbs up!
  
  
• I think Jamie has gone herb crazy!
  By A3NSWWGX8WVZZ on 2006-02-24
  I've always been a big fan of Jamie Oliver, but I think he needs to calm down with all the herbs he uses in his food. At the end of the day, I still want to know what I'm eating and over spicing the food takes that experience away. The book is great and has some great recipes and ideas, I especially liked the 5 minute wonders and the section on salads. So, to all you Jamie Oliver fans out there, buy the book, it's still wonderful!
  
  
• Great cookbook! Easy to follow...
  By A3CG2H79EDP320 on 2006-03-17
  This is a great, easy to follow book. It's not too complicated, and the end result is always wonderful.
  
  An excellent buy!
  
  
  
• Jamie's Dinner : The Essential Familiy Cookbook
  By A2VI0ZH4THGHE on 2005-10-27
  This is another one of Jamie's excellent cooking books. No complicated cooking or deep knowledge is necessary to achieve what Jamie does.
  
  
  
  
• simply one of the best chefs
  By A1U9HGXXWK37KI on 2006-08-14
  Jamie goes from cook to world class chef!
  This book is a must have for families who love to cook as a fam.
  
  
  
• Easy to follow recipies
  By A1E2EIOFUUUINJ on 2006-11-11
  Great recipies and easy to follow. Good foods to entertain your family and friends!
  
  
• The best book for family dinners
  By A3375SE1ILVUNY on 2008-04-18
  This is my ultimate favorite in recipe books. The recipes are easy and the instructions perfect. Jamie is one of the best chef's of his day. He just keeps surprising us with everything he does. These days he's gone organic and is gardening is own vegetables and fruit...excellent. I have other books by him too but this one I really like because the recipes are soooo easy and there are so many ideas for variation. Well done Jamie (once again)!
  
  
• Great cookbook
  By A3U9WIXM5JGB3Q on 2006-01-12
  This is my frst cookbook by Jamie Oliver but it wont be my last.
  
  I enjoy his style of cooking which is about using healthy and good foods and making delicious but not complicated food.
  
  The cookbook itself is full of yummy color pictures of the dishes and was gorgeous just to look at.
  
  
• Cookbook gift
  By A3NQG5PYW4D455 on 2008-02-09
  This was a gift for my daughter's birthday. She tells me she loves this cookbook!
  
  

• Jamie's Italy
• Cook with Jamie: My Guide to Making You a Better Cook
• Jamie's Kitchen
• Naked Chef, The
• Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life