The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook, Expanded Edition: From Lady Mary's Crab Canapés to Christmas Plum Pudding―More Than 150 Recipes from Upstairs and Downstairs (Unofficial Cookbook)

Giving it 2 stars because it's not TERRIBLE but it's certainly not great.I am a HUGE fan of the show and this season I decided to cook along each week.I have done a little "Downton Abbey Dinners" project and have had some fun.I wanted so much to love this book and for a few months while it was sitting on the coffee table as I waited for the January premier, I didn't really notice the errors in the recipes. Once I started cooking I noticed that the recipes are poorly written, serving sizes are off and in some cases the recipes are word for word what I have found to be available online. I don't mean mostly the same, I mean WORD FOR WORD the same.Most of the recipes that I have tried have been pretty good BUT many are missing steps. The steps missing would leave someone relying on the cookbook thinking "Now what?" and then thinking they had done something wrong when the dish didn't turn out properly. I have been able to move on and know what to do but I've said out loud "Um, there are a few steps missing here".I have also noticed that the serving sizes are WAY off in some of the recipes. Last week I made an appetizer soup and the recipes said "Serves 4". Ummmm yeah... no.The 4 people being served this appetizer would need to be "Jack & The Beanstalk" sized giants. The soup was good but only serves 4 if you're planning on it being a main dish for 2 days. (it's VERY rich and for my palate needed salt and pepper)Some recipes are so simple and have worked really well but you will have to think about some of the measurements, because they just don't make sense, and adjust a bit. Of course I made my own personal adjustments but I think most that cook do that.I write a cooking blog and had planned to give a copy of the book so some blog followers but I just can't. There are too many errors for me to stand behind it.

I enjoyed the commentary with each recipe. I LOVED the tie ins to the show. (Mrs. Pattmores Dropped Chicken) It showed that the author at least was familiar with the series...II know it is an UN-Official version happy to see dishes like Kegeree, Lancashire Hot Pot & Bubble & Squeek but I was still a little disappointed that the recipes weren't more 'period', for instance: Oysters Rockefeller: ( I am aware that the Antoine's chef who created it supposedly went to his grave with the orig. ingredients used BUT to include 'monterey jack' in the books recipe...really...(?!) I highly doubt THAT particular cheese (made by 19th c Mexican Franciscan friars of Monterey, California) would've ever set foot in Mrs. Pattmores kitchen!I am planning on making the Sally Lunn bread ( which I've actually tried once AT Sally Lunns - IN Bath England - so I'm def hoping that recipe is faithful to the orig!All in all a very nice, well thought out cookbook for fans, of which I am one!

Book was in good repair, only the last page was stuck to the book itself; I was able to separate without damaging the back. Happy about that, as this is a birthday gift.Contents of this cookbook are awesome for any Downton Abbey lovers. I myself am not, but my mother is obsessed. The pictures are vivid & the recipes in a ledge able font; I know my mom will have a blast preparing these dishes & I’d recommend for any foodie that loved this series.

There are a few small errors here and there, and of course no pictures, but overall it's a fun cookbook to add to your collection. It's separated by type of dish - appetizer, entree, etc - and has a lot of recipes to choose from (a lot more than I was expecting, actually). Even if you're not a Downton Abbey fan I would recommend this book if you want to try something new and do some traditional English cooking.

I purchased the kindle addition of this cookbook to help me create a menu for a Titanic mmurder mystery dinner I was hosting. I wanted to serve a six course meal in trying to keep with the time period. I made the smoked salmon mouse for the appetizer, followed by the unsinkable mushroom barley soup, spinach salad with goat cheese, cranberries and walnuts and Cornish hens with creamed carrots. Directions were easy and delicious, especially the barley soup. Guests were raving about the meal. I’m looking forward to trying more of these recipes in the future

The recipes are luscious and rich for the upstairs dining room and a little expensive to recreate. You can close your eyes and feel the indulgence of using prime meat and expensive seafood heavy cream. Then you get to the chapter for downstairs and those recipes are doable and comforting foods you might remember. Even if you only buy it for the scone recipe it’s worth it.

This book is really cool if you watched the show but the recipes are really difficult. I can make one thing in this book, maybe you are more skilled then I am.

Nice book. Would have preferred recipes have their "proper" names, not renamed for characters on the show. Most recipes are available online but nice to have in one place. With of you are a fan of the show.

It’s got many good recipes although I haven’t yet got time to use it myself. One thing which is probably good but would not appeal to many is that it’s done the old fashion way, dirty white paper, not pictures whatsoever etc, to fit in with the show I assume. I myself i will always check with recent recipes (online probably) to get an idea of what exactly I am supposed to get out of the recipe.

Nice cook book with nice touches about the upper class eating habits. The paper it is printed on is not of the best quality, but it is supposed to have been written by a member of the lower order or staff member, so it is the paper they would have used in the period the book is set in.

I wanted a recipe book that goes back in time and gives me an idea what sort of recipes and meals were served in the beginning of the 20th Century and this books really give me a very good idea of this! fun recipes and simple ingredients, am looking forward to try them out on my family, and the best part of them is that they are not complicated at all. Well done to the Author Emily and also a thank you to her for her research on tips & etiquette which are added on each page. well done Emily Baines! I am sure you have put in a lot of work and hours to produce this interesting recipe book for all us food lovers and cooks!! well done!!.

Unfortunately Due to an accident I had to return this cook book but I did look inside and there were some lovely recipes

tutto ok