Jamie's Ministry of Food is fab and very easy. She'll be making pies, curries, varoius veg and whatever very easy and quickly. In fact I've had the mince beef and onion pie for tea tonight.

Delia's how to cook is also very good, there are lots of very good basics. I always use her cheats cheese sauce.

I'd probably go for Jamies for a teenager to start and then move on to Delia.

three books here I'd say that's a bargain

this one but the postage is high on that particular one

and I bet if you look on ebay you'll find second hand copies of her book (it comes as either one big book or three parts) quite cheap.

Well I'm going to sound old and fuddy duddy but I'd say Delia's hoe to cook series are the best beginner books. Her recipes always work and she covers all the basics that everyone should know.

Definitely Ministry of Food

thanks both of you

I've ordered one of the usborne ones, healthy recipe cards.

I like the look of the Jamie Oliver book for her (and me!) but it's a bit out of budget for Christmas. I'll keep it in mind for her birthday though

Usborne Cookery School. Aimed at children with step by step pictures but both DH and I use them.

You could do a lot worse than Jamie's Ministry of Food. It makes nice meals, and explains all the different techniques very clearly and in an unpatronising way.

I'd like to buy dd1(11) a recipe book for Christmas. She's very interested in cooking and I'd like to encourage this (as I am very lazy....)

Last year I bought her this..

Sam Stern's Real Food Real Fast

but his writing style (very teenage trendy) irritates me and makes me feel old!

So I was hoping for suggestions for proper books aimed at beginners. Any recommendations?

thanks