November Books for Teens and Adults

Dinner

Meera Sodah

Fig Tree

Meera Sodha’s latest book aims to help us make a great dinner quickly, and with little fuss. Over 100 mouthwatering recipes, packed with flavour and surprisingly ingenious combinations, help us find delicious new ways to make a quick dinner.

‘The ability to put a good dinner on the table has become my superpowers and I want it to be yours too’.

This is not a book to look through when your hungry, the photography is beautiful, vibrant dishes full of colourful vegetables, delicious spices and exciting ideas, tempt you on every page. Meera Sodha has created a book that you want to work your way through, rather than just try the odd recipe, and then go back to revisit, again and again!

After contents, the book is divided into seasons, and then Alternative Contents; Quick, One pot/pan, Bung it in the Oven, Noodles/pasta, Rice, Soups and stews, Salads, and Meera’s Favourites. This makes it easy to find a recipe to suit your needs, find something that suits the occasion or to find something you can do with the ingredients you have to hand.

Dinner is a beautiful book to look through, the colourful layout, stunning food photography and easy to follow recipes are a winning combination. A very enjoyable way to hone your cooking superpowers!

Meat Free Mowgli

Nisha Katona

Nourish Books

Nisha Katona has made a collection of recipes based on her work as an Indian chef, her experiences with her first generation immigrant Indian parents and their love of growing vegetables and her belief that we need to cut down on our meat consumption for our own health and that of the planet. Drawing from her background, being raised as the daughter of a Hindu priest, she explains that meat was considered something rarely eaten, Nisha Katona has created a collection of recipes where the vegetable is the star.

The recipes are accompanied by beautiful photography and easy to follow instructions. There are some interesting alternatives to traditional dishes, the Samosa Tart is a healthy swap for those wanting to avoid the deep fried samosa, and the Broad Bean Stuffed Puris, with their vibrant green filling, makes a delicious swap for a naan or chapati. A wealth of other fragrant dishes fill this collection, curries, dahls, pickles, along with vegan desert ideas, party food, drinks, snacks and sides. A wonderful book to inspire you to try something different, cut down on meat and dairy, and get some more vegetables into your life!

Vegan(ish)

Jack Monroe

Bluebird Books for Life

These recipes are 100% vegan, the title refers to the fact that you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy these recipes! The front pages explain just what you can achieve by having some vegan days if you can’t give up meat or dairy completely. Apart from the animal welfare there are huge environmental benefits from reducing our consumption of animal products and this book does a great job showing there are so many tasty and easy options that don’t need meat and dairy.

Recipe book addicts will know that you often find repeats in cookery books but this selection of 100 recipes has some really original ideas. Jack’s down to earth approach means they are affordable, easy and have a wide range of appeal, there’s really something in here for everyone! There’s plenty of healthy meals and some mouth watering ‘fake-away’ dishes; Chinese dishes, pies and pasties. This is a great addition to anyone’s recipe book collection and you certainly don’t need to be vegan to enjoy this food!

Taming Fruit

Bernd Brunner

Greystones

This beautifully presented book takes us on an historical journey of growing fruit. Beautiful full colour paintings, prints, photographs and illustrations celebrate the beauty of fruit, fruit trees and how orchards have shaped our lives and landscapes.

Brunner’s study of this subject is thorough and he provides fascinating details of how growing fruit over the centuries has been an important part of human life. This book examines the bond between people, trees and fruit. Using quotes, extracts and examples of cultural history we learn about the way fruit and orchards have become an important part of our world, providing food, vitamins, a habitat for wildlife, an income, and a way of life.

The illustrations are a joy to look through, this is the perfect antidote to long winter days! Beautiful images of natures bounty, an ideal book for nature lovers, gardeners and those longing for the spring!