Cook delicious meals this Christmas without following elaborate recipes and overspending
(15/10/2008)

When it comes to food, many people are unsure about how to produce good quality meals on a reasonable budget. A recent poll of British adults reveals that growing concerns about the credit crunch this Christmas will force people to cut back the amount spent on gifts and food and drink. The poll estimates that a total of £2.7 billion will be slashed from spending and reveals that 9% of those interviewed will cancel having friends and family over for the festive period in order to save money.

According to James McIntosh, a leading home economist, it is possible to cook delicious meals this Christmas without following elaborate recipes and overspending. "There are many cookbooks on the UK market for Christmas this year," says James, "but very few that teach you the basics of a wholesome British diet, giving variations on the recipes as well as hints and tips on saving food and fuel when cooking."

James' new book mix is the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas kitchen this year. It is a comprehensive guide to basic proportions in cookery, giving the quantities needed for simple, everyday recipes that can be used in Christmas cooking. It contains over 170 recipes - from how to make gravy to how to get the stuffing for your turkey just right, and how to make the perfect trifle or a Christmas soufflé. Priced at just £4.99, it is an ideal stocking filler.

Anthony Worrall-Thompson says that mix is "A fantastic concise book explaining everyday recipes and giving every cook a helping hand with successful cookery."

mix is the first in a series of four books by James McIntosh. The next title, dinner, will be published on 28 November and will include wholesome dinnertime recipes for under £5. The following two books are veg (to be published in December) and cake (to be published in
March).