Cooking with the Two Fat Ladies

I actually taught myself to cook using this book. I had never been much of a cook before I discovered the Two Fat Ladies television program, but was so intrigued that I ordered their cookbook after seeing only a few episodes. The recipes it contains offer genuine flavor and not the tasteless slimmed-down "light" cuisine I find almost inedible. The desserts are particularly good, and I have successfully made the Adult Chocolate Cake, the Danish Apple and Prune Cake, and the Galette Des Trois Roix. Unlike other cookbooks I have tried, these recipes actually worked. Moreover, the ladies' overall cooking philosophy comes through in the book, emphasizing organic ingredients and better quality meats over bland supermarket-stocked products. You'll also benefit from the interesting food history cited throughout that comes from Clarissa Dicksen-Wright's vast knowledge of earlier cooking techniques, and the tremendous good humor of the memorable and beloved Jennifer Paterson. I highly recommend the book, together with the sequals from the follow on series.

Ya' gotta love these gals. I never miss their television show. Their refreshing, down-to-earth style and recipes are like a breath of fresh air. This is a useful and entertaining cookbook for "real people."

You wouldn't think that the book could be as entertaining as the TV show, but it is (I actually took it to bed to read!). Their brief recipe descriptions and the lengthier anecdotes carry the same irreverent tone. You can tell the two fat ladies have gotten around, and have collected their recipes from some interesting people and places along the way. Given what they might have included (spotted dick?) the recipe selection is actually pretty accessible to the American palate. More, please!

My husband, who is the chef in our family, and I never miss Jennifer and Clarissa on TV and the book is more of the same. Not since Julia Child have there been any cooks with more personality and joie de vivre. The cook and the gourmand in our family loved this book! (I want to be Jennifer when I grow up.)

An absolutley excellent book. Lots of pictures loads of brilliant recipes and loads of excellent little stories.