Cookbook Review:
Australian Women’s Weekly
Only Four Ingredients
~Egg and Coleslaw Double Decker Sandwiches~
Only Four Ingredients
Published by: Octopus Publishing Group (3 Jan 2011)
Paperback: 120 pages
Price: £6.99 or £5.49 from Amazon
With a BIG thanks to the lovely ladies at CookAWW and Octopus Publishing that sent me a copy of this brilliant book to review.
I love the Australian Woman’s Weekly cookbook range; the titles are varied and diverse and the recipes are always well written, and are well laid out with helpful instructions, as well as some very useful Australian cup conversion tables at the back of the books. The photos are attractive and entice you to want to try most of the recipes in the books ~ I own several books in the current range and I am always on the lookout for new titles.
This book, Only Four Ingredients, is no exception to the rule of excellence and provides inspiration for some meals that you would not even consider only needed 4 ingredients:
The recipes are split into eight chapters and comprise:
Soups (including Accompaniments)
Eggs (including Pies and Tart)
Pasta, Grains and Pulses (including Fast Rice)
Seafood (including Tinned Tuna and Salmon)
Chicken (including Fast BBQ Chicken)
Beef and Veal (including Pastry Bites)
Lamb (including Lamb Wraps)
Pork (including Easy Ham)
The recipes are varied and some that grabbed my attention were Cheese and Spinach Twists, Blue Cheese Quiche, Chicken and Fig Salad, Egg and Coleslaw Double Decker Sandwiches, Quesadilla Wedges, Baked Prawns with Feta, Tomato Rocket Tarts, Mexican Lamb Tortillas, Potato and Lentil Patties, Pea and Pesto Soup, Creamy Macaroni Cheese, Chilli Jam Chicken and Cashews…..to name but just a few. There are recipes to appeal to most people, with gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian dishes throughout the book.
The Australian Women’s Weekly cookbooks are always accompanied by fabulous photos alongside each recipe, and the food styling in this book also offers ideas for wonderful serving suggestions too. Each recipe has a summary including preparation and cooking time; average servings; and the nutritional count per serving including total fat (including saturated fat, which is very useful for me on the Weight Watchers diet!); calories; carbohydrates; protein and fibre. This fabulous cookbook also contains a VERY useful and informative photographic guide about some of the ingredients, including alternative names and basic preparation instructions.
There is a Basic kitchen equipment section with photos to accompany each piece of equipment, making this a very handy book for inexperienced cooks and students. The book also includes a very comprehensive list of kitchen staples – another helpful feature for the “newbie” cook or someone setting up a new home. The cookbook has a conversion chart for oven temperatures and liquid, length and dry measures at the back of the book, a very handy section for those of us in Europe who want to convert “Aussie” cups to metric.
Alongside each recipe listed in the Index are symbols to aid your choice – F (fast), E (Easy), $(cheap the books is from Australia) and/or V(Vegetarian), this is a wonderful idea and makes choosing a recipe easier and more suited to your personal circumstance.
All in all, this is a VERY useful book if you want to cut back on time by using only 4 ingredients and with clear advice on certain time saving cooking methods; the choice of recipes is also VERY impressive and they really do use only 4 ingredients, although many ingredients are ready-made sauces, jams, chutneys and tinned/frozen produce….but still, the imaginative recipe ideas that are suggested are very impressive.
This book would be a Godsend for students, working mums (or dads) or those who have limited time and funds to prepare wholesome family meals; although I don’t fall into those categories, I still recognise the benefits of a cookbook where each recipe is only 4 ingredients and you will be surprised at the range and choice of recipes that are included in this cookbook.
A well deserved 5 stars from me and I recommend this cookbook for imaginative and easy family meals, snacks, easy and quick suppers and meals for one.
Reviewer: Karen Booth
Photos: Karen Booth
Recipe Review:
Egg and Coleslaw Double Decker Sandwich
I have been very busy lately, and I am also trying to pack for my trip away next week ~ London and Yorkshire here I come! So, this sandwich fitted the bill perfectly ~ quick, easy and filling as well as using my wee hen’s free range eggs too! I loved the idea of using aïoli instead if mayonnaise, as we love garlic and it certainly added a tangy kick to the sandwich. I served these whopping big sarnies with mâche (lambs lettuce) leaves for a very filling and easy lunch. Just one of the tasty and easy recipes from this excellent book and an imaginative idea for a sandwich too.
The Four ingredients are:
Eggs
Aïoli
Ready-made coleslaw
Whole grain bread
See you later with some more spooky cake ideas!
Karen
Great looking sandwiches karen! I love those Women's Weekly Cookbooks. I dare say I will have to get this one as well. They are always great and filled to overflowing with wonderful recipes! Lucky you to have had one given to you! xxoo
Mmn, haven't had breaskfast yet and you've made me hungry! Looks like a nice book, will keep a look out. Anything to keep life simple in the kicten!
Thanks Marie ~ the book is an amazing source of easy to make recipes for those times when you don't have time or few ingredients! These sandwiches were simple, but by using the Aïoli, gave a really nice flavour.
Great book Ren ~ would be perfect for you and midweek family meals….and uses nice ready-made ingredients too!
actually my two favourite things…egg salad and coleslaw…mmmmmmmm
Your sandwiches look lovely and fresh and tasty. I like the sound of some of those recipes, will have to look out for this book.
One of the very very first books I owned, back in my student days was a 'Four Ingredient' book- it was, as you say Karen, a godsend! Infact I still cook the occasional quick and easy weekday supper from memory from that (now very tattered) book!
Those sandwiches look amazing – I think I'm going to be the proud owner of let another cookbook!
Mary x
I never would have thought to put eggs and cole slaw together! I love aïoli (especially with a shrimp salad).
Enjoy your trip! I always think October is such a lovely time to travel!
Have some of these cookbooks and they are great. Love egg sandwiches.