Book: Larder Lads, by Louise Holland and Roberta Moore (Ebury Press, £12.99, paperback)

Chef's CV: Capital career path has taken Louise Holland from the Dorchester and Mossiman's to in-house chef at cookery book mecca, Books For cooks and food producer on Channel 4's Late Lunch. Larder Lads may be "just for the boys" but, save for the celebrity recipes, it is an all-female production, the team being completed by Louise's old school friend, Bobby Moore's daughter, Roberta, who works in public relations and events management.

Presentation: Putting the man into manual, Larder Lads is a kitchen phobia-conquering training programme and recipe book for "the independent man". Starts with culinary Highway Code, information on essential store-room basics, kitchen equipment and botulism-beating food hygiene, to give the stove virgin the confidence to think he too could be Jamie Oliver. Mother's apron strings in writing, Larder Lads progresses into the daunting territory of cooking via larder-loading tips, utensils' list and roasting charts.

Ingredients: Divided into chapters with laddish headings like Handling Your Tools, A Lads' Night In, Who Needs Mother - The Roast Lunch and You've Cracked It - The Dinner Party. Recipes live up to the promise to be simple: Chicken Curry, Macaroni Cheese with Ham, Cinnamon French Toast, Bubble and Squeak, Sweetcorn Chowder, Crepes Suzettes, even Baked Beans on Focaccia. For ladded credibility, there are celebrity contributions from Big Breakfast head boy Johnny Vaughan (Spaghetti with Godfather Meatballs); Chris Evans (no, not ginger but Post-Pub Pasta) and world champion puncher Lennox Lewis (Jamaican Jerk Chicken With Rice).

Ready, steady, cook: Contemplated doing the Teddy Sheringham Mustard Mash, this being Euro 2000 time. However, anti-Man Utd bias prevailed for this Leeds fan, so wearing film critic's hat instead, chose Bread and Butter Pudding by Langan's Brasserie co-owner Michael Caine. Why? Firstly, Caine can rise to any occasion (useful in a kitchen and for his imminent appointment with the Queen). Secondly, banana and rum are Oscar-winning additions to a Sunday lunch staple. Ingredient measurements, instructions, preparation and cooking time are all spot-on. Simple as a dimple.

Taste test: Rum acts like Viagra to pep up this pensioner of puddings; bananas and sultanas bond as instantly as a Las Vegas wedding couple. Go for ice cream, not cream, for the hot and cold contrast.

Verdict: Culinary L plates, Larder lads is the book to help boys lose cookery inhibitions before going the full monty with the Naked Chef. HHH

RECIPE

Sir Michael Caine's Bread and Butter Pudding

The authors write: Michael Caine gave us his favourite version of this English classic. The addition of bananas and rum is a welcome and delicious change.

Utensils: oven-proof dish and mixing bowl.

Ingredients:

large knob of butter

10 slices of medium sliced white bread, crusts removed

2 bananas, sliced

50g/2oz sultans

3 eggs

4 tablespoons sugar

570ml/1 pint full fat milk

4 drops of vanilla essence

2 generous tablespoons rum

To serve: double cream or good quality vanilla ice cream.

Method:

1: Pre-heat the oven to

150C/300F/Gas mark 2.

2: Prepare an oven-proof dish by greasing it with butter. Butter several slices of bread and place in layers between the sliced bananas and sultanas.

3: Beat the eggs in with the sugar and add the milk. Then add the vanilla essence and rum.

4: Pour the mixture over the bread and butter and leave it, covered with clingfilm or foil, for one hour in the fridge. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

5: Serve in warmed bowls with double cream or good-quality vanilla ice cream - yum.

Top Man Tip: Use the paper that the butter came in to grease the oven-proof dish.