Rachel's Food for Living

"A lot of the recipes can be got from the web but for the pictures and the recipes themselves buy yourself the book (or better still, buy for he/she who lurks in the kitchen area). The chocolate brownie recipe is a personal favourite featuring their inspired use of raspberries and (as they keep for ages) you don't really have to share them with anyone else."
~ Written on 2008-10-10

"As always with Rachel's books, the recipes are easy to follow and turn out the way you expect them to - so you get great results with a minimum of fuss. There is something for every occasion in this book, as the chapter titles show: "Food for the Soul", "Childhood Favourites", "Making Memories", "Something to Celebrate", "The Lazy Sunday", "An Elegant Afternoon", Pleasure Without the Guilt", "Food for Romance", "For the Love of Chocolate" and "Classic Dishes". I tried the "White Chocolate Buns" and they were dead easy to make, I even managed to whip them up before going to work, something I normally wouldn't be able to do, since I'm not exactly a member of the rise and shine party. They tasted great (funnily like macaroons - very yummy and a bit sticky) and disappeared really quickly once my colleagues tasted them. I can only recommend this book, especially if you're looking for something to make the whole family happy. Since it is beautifully laid out (with an added pink ribbon to mark your page) it also makes a nice present."
~ Written on 2008-08-14

"I now own two of Rachel Allen's books and have tried many of the recipes from each (Food for Living & Food for Friends), they have worked every time and are very reliable and easy to make. At last a 'proper' cookbook and Rachel seems to be a very likeable person - well done."
~ Written on 2008-03-11

"this is such a fab recipe book! i got it for xmas and i use it alot. so far have made the spanish chorizo (used veggie sausage instead) and chickpea soup, blue cheese potato and leek soup (which is so gorgeous), heart shaped toast with egg and the cheesy soda bread, and some of the smoothies! they all turned out really well. i can't wait to make so many different things and next on my list is the chocolate and banana bread and butter pud! the book is written in such a simple and lovely way and is not pretencious atall. it also has great illustrations and feels very good quality. i particularly like the different sections such as food for the soul and the lazy sundays section, as there is something for any occasion. i would DEFINITELY recommend this!"
~ Written on 2008-02-23

"Rachel Allen presents a lot of these recipes on Saturday mornings on BBC1 and extremely good they are too - varied, easy to follow and in possession of an ambience from a time gone by yet somehow modern at the same time - witness her seeds and honey bread recipe. Elements of the traditional and modern combine perfectly. Allen's prawn pate is delicious (believe me!) as are her white chocolate buns and her tips on ways to embellish a simple roast chicken dish are useful (not ground-breaking in any way, but tempting to try with the minimum of fuss or expense). Her lasagne is, as she admits herself a basic enough dish, but she adds just a few things to it in pureed onion, carrot and celery that make it absolutely delicious. I did it last weekend and it was truly wonderful. Her flapjacks are tantalising, as is her pork and mushroom pie. As for the chicken Kiev - best I have ever tasted !

Rachel Allen has an easy-going style devoid of pretension and posturing, yet simultaneously exuding class and culture, not an easy thing to do."
~ Written on 2007-10-23