I’m one of those people that can cook (in a fashion)  … but that rarely does.

I once popped a couple of eggs in the microwave, you know to poach them? (lazy girls guide to cooking) They looked perfectly ok (if a-bit rubbery) until I stuck my fork into one of them and it exploded everywhere. Scared me half to death and scolded my face and eyelids!

On another occasion I took a pan off the hob, bent down to check the oven , as I did placing the pan  onto the kitchen floor.

I totally forgot the flooring was lino, that saucepans are hot and that the 2 don’t mix. Let’s just say mum went chuffing ballistic … but she did get a new floor from it. So in a way I did good …

My intentions are always good but at times the results are a tad disastrous. Saying that my dad did once declare that my Bread and Butter Pudding was the best he’d ever tasted.

I’m the kind of person that likes to settle down on the settee, coffee and cake in hand ,  with a great big cookbook on my lap . Who sits thumbing through the pages, admiring  the delicious looking recipes, maybe stroking the page and sometimes (on occasion) even slathering. Ear-marking which recipes I would make if I had the time or inclination.

That’s why if like me your a ‘wanna-be-but-never-quite-gets-around-to-it-cook ‘ then The Sheffield Cookbook, Second Helpings maybe just the ticket for you.

As well as featuring recipes from some of Sheffield’s finest foodies it also has the stories behind the food and the people/places that deliver it .

It makes for an interesting informative read and is described as a celebration of the amazing food & drink in Sheffield & South Yorkshire. Featuring 80 stunning recipes.

There are recipes from (to name just a few) the likes of The Bhaji Shop, Brocco on the Park, Harland Cafe and Homemade by Thelma’s; all of which we have featured on here (the blog) in the past.

Second Helpings is lovely and chunky. You really can’t beat the smell of a brand spanking new book. It’s like fresh coffee… familiar and homely.

Over 300 pages of deliciousness. The design and photography is fabulous, something I really appreciate having spent many a Friday ‘Ladies that Lunch’ session photographing my meal for the blog.

It’s harder than you think to capture food in all it’s glory … to make it look as delicious as it actually tastes.

On many occasion I’ve snapped what I thought was an amazing photo only to get home and discover it looks like a pile of poop on a fancy plate.

Oh dear #hampered

You can get your hands on a copy of the Sheffield Cook Book for yourself from Meze Publishing.  I understand that copies are also available at some of the establishments featured too …

Cooks and non-cooks alike will love it.

It costs £14.95 and would make an ideal Christmas present. It’s proudly sat on my coffee table and no end of visitors have picked it up and had a flick through. It’s a  reyt good conversation starter.

Right, you know were I’m headed now don’t you…

Yes … to make myself a Baileys coffee…  that I have that honed to perfection!

Until next time, Tracey x

• I was fortunate to receive a copy of the Sheffield Handbook Second Helpings for review purposes. As always all thoughts are strictly my own.
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• Reyt = right