Ever loved a book so much on Kindle that you immediately go out and buy the hardback…?

Gizzi Erskine has been on my radar ever since Cook Yourself Thin, a TV show and recipe book with reduced calorie versions of some great dishes. Since then she’s gone on to write solo, and her next recipe book – Slow: Food Worth Taking Time Over – is out 18 October.

I decided to download her last book, Gizzi’s Season’s Eatings, and I can’t believe I waited so long. This is my idea of the absolute perfect recipe book for the party season, with recipes all the way from Halloween to New Year. It took me about five minutes to decide I HAD to get this in hardcopy too, so I can drag it into the kitchen and cover it in mess, just like I do with all my other beloved recipe books.

I love cooking for special holidays, especially at the end of the year, but most of the recipes are twee and not really in keeping with the flavours or spirit of the season – think marshmallow ghosts or witches’ hats made of ice cream cones. All fine if you’re catering for a kids’ party, but I really enjoy recipes that go a bit deeper into the celebration. Gizzi’s offerings for Halloween include Coq au Vin Spooky-Faced Pie and West Indian Curry Lamb Shanks with Fried Pumpkin. I’m drooling just thinking about it. I love the way that each recipe really feels in harmony with the celebration it’s for, and that there’s a lovely intro for each one about how and why she developed the recipe. I cannot wait to make these and I’ve been Googling where to buy goat shanks ever since…

There’s a Thanksgiving inspired section that features Baked Jerusalem Artichoke, Spinach and Parmesan Dip, Brown Shrimp Gratin and three types of shredded sprout salad, as well as two types of creamed corn. I am dying to make the Brown Butter Salted Maple Pumpkin Pie, and I won’t even get started about how excited I am for the entire Bring Back The Buffet chapter, featuring ham, chicken liver parfait, seafood, salads, curried eggs and pickled pineapple. We haven’t even got to the Christmas Day chapter – I already gave her roast potato tip a go and it really does make a difference…

It’s rare that I’ll flick through a recipe book and want to make almost everything in it, but Gizzi’s Season’s Eatings is just so wonderfully put together, and her recipes are so warm and inviting and perfect for the cold end of year weather, that I feel like I’ll be cooking from this book for years to come!

Gizzi’s Season’s Eatings is currently only £3.99 on Kindle. Slow will be released on 18 October and is available to preorder here.