delicious - Simply the Best by Valli Little

Delicious - Simply the Best (ABC Books, HarperCollins)

delicious magazine celebrates ten years of success and we home cooks all benefit with yet another beautiful cookery book. Yes, yes, yes! And while I love turning down the corners on the pages of the magazine, thus flagging dishes I am keen to try, I prefer to bookmark my favourite pages of the delicious cookbooks with those coloured sticky flags. Needless to say, there are numerous pages flagged!

delicious - Simply the Best is the seventh book in the collection and author, Valli Little, once again delivers 120 stunning all-new recipes based on fresh, seasonal ingredients. The 12 chapters are cleverly divided into Almost French (classic Parisian bistro dishes with a twist); Pop up Dinner (trendy dinner party food); Life's a Beach (simple and refreshing Summer food); A Moveable Feast (al fresco picnic food); Keeping up Appearances (food with the wow factor); East Meets West (Asian); Beyond Wicked (naughty but nice desserts); Trattoria at Home (the best of Italia); Date Night (dinners for two); Get Cosy (comfort meals); Playing with Fire (BBQ food); and Cool Yule (festive food).

You will learn how to make yesterday's croissants into a cheesy supper and get down and dirty with Cajun-inspired Dirty Rice with Salmon. There's Crisp Pork Belly with Sour Peach Salad (a winner, which I have road tested and featured on my recipe pages); and a moist yoghurt cake with sangria-poached fruit. Enjoy classic Lobster Thermidor or try your hand at Strawberry Soup with Goat's Milk Sorbet (stunning!). For something simpler, enjoy Melon, Pecorino and Prosciutto Salad or a savoury Double Dip made from Greek yoghurt, pomegranate, lemon juice pistachios and EVOO. And so much more, including superb styling and photography throughout. Try not to eat the pages.

My daughter, Lauren, recently sent me an SMS that contained a photograph of a dish she cooked from the book. 'You simply must try this one, Mum', she wrote. 'There are so many lovely recipes in this book,' she added. That's my girl!

delicious - Simply the Best by Valli Little (ABC Books - HarperCollins) $39.99. The title speaks for itself!