Any Jack Monroe fans (A Girl Called Jack)? New cookbook is out. Thoughts on budget cooks?

I'm an admirer of jack and read some of her columns. Not tried any recipies yet. I cut my feeding a family on a budget teeth on Poor Cook. Some of what I learned still in use although copy of book long gone. Anyone still got one?

Poor Cook was a new one on me; it possibly came out when I lived abroad in the late 70s to mid 80s. Anyway, it's now available again on Am@zon Jess, thanks for mentioning it!

I had not come across Jack Monroe until she was on a televised 'debate' with Edwina Currie who, disgracefully, mocked and rode roughshod over her. Have since read a fair bit about her and find that she is a woman to be admired. Not seen any cookbooks yet.

Yes, I admire Jack and was impressed with her subsequent letter to Edwina Currie, which was published after that programme. Edwina Currie showed herself up.

Must have been published about 1972... oh I think I might have to re-aquire it. Seeing as i am now down to zero cookery books (unless there are a few stashed in storage somewhere...)

I've become a real Jack fan in recent months. I haven't bought her cook books, but have heard her on the radio, describing the ingredients she keeps in her store cupboard and how to make meals for not a lot of money. She was good on Women's Hour with Jenny Murray (last week I think). I saw the debate she appeared on with Edwina, and thought Edwina made a real exhibition of herself, in a Bad Way. Jack looked very upset and has since responded well.

I had the Paupers Cook book, and loved it. It's great to see a young woman like this, talking about the difficulties of being so hard up, but managing to eat well.

Jack's letter to Edwina Currie:

agirlcalledjack.com/2014/02/04/dear-edwina-thankyou-for-last-night-i-hope-it-was-as-good-for-you-as-it-was-for-me-bigbenefitsrow/

Not much good for vegetarians though.

I remember cooking from Delia Smith's Frugal Food in the 70s. There were a few rather odd things in there I remember but it was a huge help. Katherine Whitehorn's Cooking in a Bedsit was excellent too.

I think Jack is splendid. These days I am fortunate enough not to have to count the pennies so carefully but I think it would be money well spent to make her book a set text in schools and freely available in supermarkets.

It irritates me when I see her recipes printed in the Guardian (stuffed cabbage leaves, 38p each).

I wonder how many Guardian readers have to manage their budget to that extent.

You'd be surprised - a friend of mine always reads it. Her husband left her and her two children last year. She was always a fan of Jack's, now she has her copies of the Guardian second-hand and the recipes are a godsend.

That's a bit harsh petallus - I have been a gruaniad reader since I was about 20 but could only afford the Saturday version as a treat for years. Being poor doesn't mean you can't identify with the newspaper of your choice.

It's not just about managing budgets, Petallus. It's about unnecessary waste, simple nutritious recipes and being imaginative.

As for Guardian readers not needing to watch the pennies, when I lived and worked in Africa we had the weekly overseas version, printed on flimsy paper, sent to us. It served its purpose for keeping us in touch and well informed and was then put to other uses best not described here. Double value.

Thanks for all your comments. I'm a long-standing Guardian reader for what it's worth, although these days I access a lot of it online and treat myself to the Weekend one every so often.
I ordered a copy for my daughter too, as a present, but the postage charges were quite hefty, so to escape these I've ordered a third copy, got free postage and will give this extra copy to my local library.
I hope that those who cannot afford the book will borrow and benefit.

Poor Cook is still in regular use in my kitchen as are Frugal Food,Jocasta Innes's Pauper's Cookbook, How to Feed Your Family for a Fiver and occasionally Katherine Whitehorn's Cooking in a Bedsitter! Miss my Marika HanburyTenison' Left Over For Tomorrow which was excellent.

I haven't heard of Left Over for Tomorrow, will look out for it. I love leftovers, it's one of the many joys of Christmas, all that yummy food, just waiting to be resurrected (no, I don't mean Easter)

For my 'O' level Domestic Science exam I had to make a 2 course lunch for 4 people for 5/-. I wonder if it could be done today?

MiceElf - when we bought this house 40 years ago the Church Times was hanging up in the loo !

Jack Monroe is doing a webchat over at Mumsnet today, Wednesday.
I love her blog.

Excellent!