Australian Cookbooks for Everyday Family Meals and Treats

Posted by Susan Whelan Feb 22, 2009

Despite my fondness for searching for recipes online, I admit that I have a few favourite cookbooks that I refer to again and again. There are quite a few others on the shelf that get looked at occasionally, but I recently had a cookbook cleanout and I’ve tried to limit my collection.

I have kept cookbooks I use regularly, those with sentimental value and one or two that I keep for entertainment value only, such as a 1970s book on recipes for entertaining (oh, the decor!) and a gripping cookbook by Audra and Jack Hendrickson called Broccoli & Company: Over 100 Healthy Recipes for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauifower, collards, kale kohlrabi, mustard greens, rutabaga and turnips. (Garden Way Publishing, 1989).

Cookbooks for Australian Cooks

Here are my recommendations for cookbooks that should be in every Australian kitchen:

Fast, Fresh and Fabulous by Janelle Bloom (Random House, 2008). Janelle is a host chef on the TV program Ready, Steady, Cook and her cookbook is full of practical, tasty recipes that are easy to prepare. I have used the book at least weekly since I received it and can highly recommend the cheat’s lasagne, Bailey’s fudge, frozen Cosmopolitan and chocolate fudge brownies amongst others.

New Zealand author Sophie Gray’s destitute gourmet cookbooks, such as Everyday Smart Food for the Family (David Bateman, 2003) and Stunning Food from Small Change (Random House, 2000), are full of inexpensive, easy to prepare meals that look good and taste great.

The Commonsense Cookery Book. This classic Australian cookbook was first published by Angus & Robertson in 1914 and was re-released last year by HarperCollins in a retro-style gift book edition. Full of everyday meal ideas and all the basic recipes you’re too embarrassed to admit that you don’t know how to cook, it’s a great gift for someone moving out of home for the first time or a beginner cook.

Women’s Weekly and Family Circle offer a range of cookbooks covering every possible ingredient and dish including casseroles, cakes and biscuits, low-fat, kids recipes and birthday cakes. These are generally a great place to look for practical recipes that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Keep it Simple and Local

One of the best ways to keep grocery bills down is to be buy local ingredients in season. No matter where you live, buying cookbooks with easy to prepare meals that specifically target your country or area are a great way to not only make meal preparation easier but also cheaper.