Customer Rating:  
Summary: Delia makes it easy for me to cook (well it feels like cooking to a non-cook)
Comment: I love this book. I wouldn't consider myself a good cook, and I need to follow recipes when I make anything new. I'm the kind of person who has bought lots of cook books in the hope of using them but never actually do. But this book is different - I actually use it and often. Delia's 'How to Cheat' has made it easy for me to make dishes which make me feel like I am really cooking. The recipes are tasty and generally simple (if I can make them anyone can). The only downside for me is that I sometimes struggle to find and buy the "cheat" ingredient. But I forgive Delia as the Goulash is fantastic (but I think my friends and family are getting bored of me making it so frequently).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Uninspiring
Comment: After reading the very mixed reviews on this page I was eager to see what all the fuss was about with this book. I am not overly concerned about the whole argument on whether or not it is right or wrong to cheat at cooking - although I might add that I am surprised at the anger from those who sit firmly in the latter camp (if you feel so strongly about it, why on earth would you buy a book entitled 'how to cheat at cooking' in the first place?) Personally, I bought the book on the basis that it might provide me with some after-work ideas for a quick meal. Flicking through the book, I have only really come across a couple of recipes that appealed to me and most of them contained so many specific ingredients that I felt it was not worth the bother. The ones with a shorter list of ingredients seemed to be so pointless as I felt it easier and cheaper to just buy the dish in a ready made version! Sorry, Delia, I know you are trying to move with the times, and I for one appreciate that, but I couldn't get on with this book, it's definitely not one of your best or one of my favourites.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Cheese, cheese and more cheese!
Comment: Far too many of the recipes in this book contain cheese - which I hate. Looking through the book I only like the look of two recipes and one of them is a cake!
Also, I wish it would give alternatives e.g so I could substitute my mashed potatoes for the frozen ones listed.
Book was bought as a gift and is now on the shelf at the local charity shop.
Customer Rating:
Summary: WHen "young Delia" was the cooking edge
Comment: The original "How to Cheat at cooking " has had an honoured place in our kitchen for 30 years. It was full of great corner cuts based on readily available products and the cheat s worked, like all Delia stuff - This original book didn't depend on which supermarket you used- no corporate recommendations here - just great ways to produce good dishes and sauces with less effort and relatively wholesome ingredients - the new book is different , fun sure, but sooo corporate, - seek out the old one(even as a collectable item it will still be cheaper) and rekindle your faith as well as getting quick dishes people admire on the table
Customer Rating:
Summary: Poor book, not useful, read back of the packets and save your money
Comment: I don't care to get into the controversy over whether or not this is part of this food movement or whether it sends the right message... all I wanted to know when I read it was whether Delia presented simple, day-to-day recipes that I could use when I was in a hurry and wanted something nice for the family.
Totally disappointed. Why? -- very simple: I do not need to spend money on a book to tell me to read the back of the packet of pre-packaged foods in the supermarket.
I don't have anything against the occassional use of a ready meal or a frozen ingredient, but why would I want to spend money for a batch of recipes that basically tell me nothing more than the information on the packaging tells me: open, pour, stir in a can of...
I returned this book for a full refund. Useless.
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