Advantages: Great Sections, easy to follow
Disadvantages: None

...bought my own house and moved out on my own not only did my dad buy me a microwave, as my culinary skills were limited to “Ping” food but also bought me the best book I have ever read and owned. The Complete Mary Berry Cookery Book a hard back book of culinary delights that even I can master. I especially liked the fact that not only does each section give you very handy tips prepare certain items, for example I have never cooked a full chicken never mind carve it but Mary not only taught me how to clean, prepare and carve but also to spatchcock (mind you when I’ll ever spatchcock a chicken I have no idea). The dishes are also categorised within each section as to how long they actually take to prepare and cook from 30 minutes to a couple of hours which I find really useful when unexpected visitors turn up and expect... Read review

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Advantages: straight forward,easy-to-follow recipes. fabulous colour photos
Disadvantages: not up-to-date

...for scones, tuile biscuits, chocolate ganache petit fours and be confident Mary will have included them. I would even (shock, horror) use her ingredients instead of Delia's if they didn't agree. That's how much faith I'd put in Mary Berry.... Read review

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Advantages: Never tried a recipe from it yet that didn't work well
Disadvantages: Too many tempting recipes that aren't the most healthy foods in the world!

...I took up baking as a hobby about ten years ago. I had various cookbooks, and used recipes from different books quite frequently. Until I got Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book. I think I have lifted another cookbook to make biscuits since (because I have a Biscuits and Cookies book with a lot of variety in it) but any other baking has been sourced from the Berry book. Our family's favourite recipes from the book are her Very Best Shortbread (to die for!), her Millionaire's Shortbread (a caramel shortbread) and her Victoria sponge recipes. There are also some wonderful teabread recipes, and super ideas for contributions to charity or school fete cake stalls, and also for baked presents. The recipes are all simply stated, and clear. I've never found a recipe that I had to deviate from yet (although some I have adapted just... Read review

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Advantages: There are so many recipes I haven't tried yet
Disadvantages: Not enough time to try them all

...I am not a particularly good cook, but I am a fairly enthusiastic one (every now and then) and so I do love recipe books. I have many, many recipe books in my kitchen at home but probably only use 3 or 4 of them on a regular basis. This review is on my most used recipe book The Mary Berry's ultimate cake book. Usually when I look at, or buy a recipe book there are half a dozen recipes in there that I really want to try. With this one there are over 200 hundred recipes in the book - all falling into my favourite food category - and there are half a dozen that I don't want to try. So already the odds are well in its favour. The book is divided into sections starting with the usual blurb that you find in these books that no-one ever reads about what equipment you will need and what to do if it all goes horribly wrong - which... Read review

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Advantages: Invaluable advice transforms the way you cook
Disadvantages: None

...I was first attracted to this book by the title 'Cook now, eat later' as it seemed to be the answer to my prayers. Always keen to cook but nervous of last minute disasters I have been reluctant to host dinner parties at home. This book has the answer. I bought the hardback book. My local WH Smiths had the book on sale at £20 however Just Good Books had it at the fantastic price of just £5. What a bargain! The hardback cover is green and the jacket has a picture of the author Mary Berry examining sprigs of rosemary in a thoughtful way. Not the most exciting cover and perhaps the publishers should think of changing to a more eyecatching picture. Mary Berry believes that cooking for people should be fun and a pleasure and has written this book to show how you can organise your cooking so that there are no last minute panics... Read review

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Advantages: Comprehensive, covers basic techniques, good photography
Disadvantages: No personal insights to the dishes

...Mary Berry's Complete Cookbook, is just that - it's complete. Everytime I get a new vegetable or hear a culinary term I don't understand I pull it out. It's my reference guide to cooking. A lot of cook books at the moment are sold on celebrity, rather than the actual style or content of the book. They have personal passages in about how their aunt used to cook this recipe, or where they ate something like it in a restaurant on holiday. This book isn't one of them. It is a cooking reference book, but that is where it's strengths lie. This book is great for all levels of cooking as it not only presents recipes, but sections on selecting produce and culinary techniques. For example it includes a guide to cuts of meat, in terms of the anatomy of the beast and in terms of taste, texture and example dishes. It also has... Read review

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Advantages: easy to follow recipes
Disadvantages: you want to do all the recipes they look so good

...I shouldve gone on Cant cook won`t cook tv program but got Mary Berry`s Complete cook book as a gift instead and now even I can cook some recipes. Although this book costs £25, you can get it cheaper on amazon, it is worth every penny. It comes in 13 different sections. It has 540 pages with a picture of every recipe. It is great for home cooking and has not only english meals but meals from around the world but popular over here. The first section covers Hot and Chilled soups and divided in groups depending on how long it takes to cook, Under 30 minutes, 30-60 minutes and over 60 minutes. This covers microwaving and freezing. 2. First courses Canapes, savoury dips and sauces, Tapas, Prawns, pates. 3. Eggs and Cheeses 4. Fish and shellfish 5. Poultry and Game The chicken recipes are all delicious, even the sweet... Read review

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Advantages: Simple Step-by-Step recipes, no fancy words and good pictures
Disadvantages: Not all steps have pictures

...I received Mary Berry's "Complete Cookbook" as a present from my mother before I even dreamed of becoming a chef. Looking back, it was one of the best presents that I have received in my 18 years. The book is broken down into 13 different chapters, each being for a different type of cookery. They are: - 1. Hot & Chilled Soups, 2. First Courses, 3. Eggs & Cheese, 4. Fish & Shellfish, 5. Poultry & Game, 6. Meat Dishes, 7. Vegetarian Dishes, 8. Pasta & Rice, 9. Vegetables & Salads, 10. Yeast Cookery, 11. Pies, Tarts, & Hot Desserts, 12. Chilled Desserts, 13. Cakes & Teabreads. Before the main chapters begin, there is a chapter full of 'Useful Information' covering the following topics: - Equipment, Freezing, Microwaving, The Well-Provisioned Kitchen, Flavouring Food and Safe & Healthy Cooking. At the front... Read review

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Advantages: Step by step simple instructions,
Disadvantages: Book pricey to purchase

...I first acquired this book in 1993 and have used it constantly since then. Even if I am not looking for a specific recipe, rather a query about meat or vegetables, this is the first port of call which usually answers my questions. *** THE AUTHOR *** Mary Berry is a household name: name that conjures up trustworthiness, honesty, reliability and straightforwardness. If you've ever seen a picture of her or seen her on TV such as on the Saturday Kitchen show, it's like she's your Gran giving you good advice. Having said all this, I'd never heard of her before getting the book but my Mum knew of her quite well. My book states that she's the author of over 30 cookery books and is most famous for both her Aga Cookery Book and her programmes some years back such as Woman's Hour. *** ORGANISATION & LAYOUT *** My book is hardback which...