Even with the vast number of recipes available on the internet these days, there’s nothing quite like leafing through a beautiful book full of recipes. It’s a medium that’s stronger than ever before, with cookbooks topping bestseller charts throughout the year. If you’re anything like us then you’ll have shelves upon shelves of them in your home – some kept in pristine condition, others earmarked, stained and scrawled over after years of use.
It’s this national love for cookbooks that has prompted us to start our very own cookbook club. Each month we’ll select a cookbook that we think stands out from the rest and ask you, the Great British Chefs community, to cook a recipe from it. We’ll publish a small selection of recipes on our site so, even if you don’t already have the book, you can still get involved and see how your cooking compares to everyone else’s. Apply to join the Facebook group here and take a look at this month's book (and recipes) below. We've also included the winning post from last month's book, as well as some of our other favourite entries.
Merry Christmas, everyone! While we're sure you're filling up your shopping trolley with all those British classics like mincemeat, figgy puddings, sprouts and parsnips, we thought we'd bring a little bit of Scandinavia to proceedings this year with Trine Hahnemann's fantastic book Scandinavian Christmas.
With seventy festive recipes showcasing how important home cooking is for Nordic households in the run-up to the big day, there's plenty to get stuck into. From breads and biscuits to main courses, side dishes, canapés and cocktails, this book contains everything you need for a hygge-filled festive season.
If you want a taste of what's inside, then the three recipes below are featured in the book. But if your interest is piqued and you want to make this year's Christmas full of Nordic flavour, head over to Amazon to bag yourself a copy.
When we think of Scandinavian loaves we tend to think of rye bread, but at Christmas it's all about enriched doughs – all sweet, fluffy and tearable. This is a great loaf to whip up when you've got guests arriving, as it'll fill your house with festive aromas. The raisins and almonds simply add to the sense of occasion.
Known as pepparkakor, these spiced biscuits are a favourite among children during Christmas as they're simple to prepare, boast a huge amount of festive flavour and can be cut, shaped and decorated any way you like. There isn't any actual pepper in the recipe; the name comes from the warming spices of clove and cinnamon instead.
Looking for something to serve at your Christmas party that can be made in advance then simply popped in the oven as guests arrive? These vegetarian cakes are jam-packed with Nordic flavour and are a doddle to make. The combination of beetroot and parsnip works in perfect harmony with the refreshingly fiery horseradish cream, and we can guarantee they'll be snapped up in seconds.
Last month we donned our aprons and went on a round-the-world baking trip with Claire Clark's 80 Cakes From Around The World, a classic book which showcases the variety of sweet treats prepared across the glove. Cookbook club members tackled Croatian honey cakes, towering chocolate showstoppers and more unusual creations from the likes of Egypt. Huge congratulations to Renata Barrett whose winning dish came top – she will win a signed copy of the cookbook club book of the month! Take a look at all the honourable mentions from last month below.
Make sure you post photos along with commentary of the dishes you cook from Scandinavian Christmas in our Facebook group to be in with the chance of winning.
