Jamie’s 30 minute meals has not left my kitchen bench since I bought a copy. I took up the challenge and attempted to create his delicious meals in 30 minutes. One meal was the Rogan Josh Curry and whilst the meal itself was delicious, it took me an hour to make and I was racing the clock, and then another hour afterwards cleaning up the pots and mess in the kitchen.

It is helpful to watch the cooking episode on TV, and then attempt the meal later. I am glad he has outgrown the need to say “pukka”.

Cookery books are the only books I buy anymore (everything else I borrow from the public library) and recently I have added these to my shelves:

• ·         Now Vegan by Lynda Stoner
• ·         The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone
• ·         Livwise by Olivia Newton John
• ·         Eating for the Seasons by Janella Purcell

Some others that have been on my shelf for awhile and I have enjoyed testing the recipes are:

• ·         The Hare Krishna Book of Vegetarian Cooking
• ·         Super Vegetarian Dishes by Vikki the Vego
• ·         The Vibrant Vegetarian by Vikki Leng
• ·         Raw Energy by Leslie and Susannah Kenton

While I can’t claim to be Vegan or Vegetarian, I do make eating choices in favour of that diet regime most of the time. I have significantly reduced the amount and frequency of eating red meat in recent years. I still eat seafood at least once a week and poultry now and then. I heard someone say that it’s difficult to be vegan in our society and so calls himself a “flexivore”.

Begin totally vegan or vegetarian is not straightforward and you really need to make sure you are getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals such as B12, D, iron, calcium and others. Jamie’s meals in his recipe books are not totally vegetarian but his does have many scrumptious recipes that are.

I am reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.