Favorite Cookbook or Chef

Parent Cafe
1

<p>While shopping recently at the bookstore I noticed that the most prominently displayed cookbooks were by “celebrity” cooks and chefs. No surprise there. Big names move big sales. But my own collection of cookbooks lack any famous authors, with the exception of a compilation by Miss O and another one by Maya Angelou, neither of whom I’m sure wrote their own stuff. But the pictures are pretty. Got them at the discount table. LOL.</p>

<p>My best cookbook is an old one that hasn’t been updated in 20 years; “The New McCalls Cookbook.” (Does McCall’s Magazine even exist anymore?) It’s great for both beginners and experienced cooks. And it’s mostly comprised of black and white illustrations; very few photos!</p>

<p>I also like the Williams-Sonora series of little cookbooks.</p>

<p>As for TV chefs, Giada Delaurentis’ meals seem to be elegant but simple. Lidia Bastanich appeals to me because her recipes have a ‘homey’ style to them. Michael Ciarello is feisty and doesn’t go overboad on fanciness. And all of Ming’s recipes are intiguing.</p>

<p>Who do you read or watch?</p>

2

<p>The Iowa State Fair puts out a book of its winning recipes every year or so. You have to order it from the fair office, but it is great for anything sweet. They also include the barbecue contest winners, but I use it primarily for goodies. The early books had cakes, pies, cookies, and candy in the front, which I loved, but the newer editions are organized more like a traditional cookbook.</p>

3

<p>My stained, doggy eared, broken binding copy of Joy of Cooking is, without a doubt, my go-to book whenever I need instructions on something I’ve never done before. And their recipes for roast beef and roast pork have never failed me. I have found recently that internet sites have replaced my cookbooks when I’m looking for something new. Epicurious, Food Network, Martha Stewart are among my favorites.</p>

4

<p>I just met with a book distributor this morning and we had a conversation about how with book sales overall dropping, cookbook sales have increased. And about how he will not buy a cookbook (as a publisher) without photos. No photos= no cookbook sales.</p>

<p>I have always said that everyone loves to buy/read cookbooks, but no one really cooks from them. :)</p>

<p>My fav cookbooks are actually ones that are local - local schools or churches where the recipes are family recipes, tried and true. </p>

<p>On TV, I’d have to say while I don’t love Giada, I would LOVE to eat her food! I also really like Bobby Flay and love her or hate her, I can’t bypass a Rachael Ray 30-minute meals show…</p>

5

<p>I don’t really watch cooking shows on Foodtv. (I mean REALLY --does it look like Giada Delaurentis eats ANYTHING?) I do however like the inspiration I get from “Top Chef” on BRAVO.</p>

<p>Favorite cookbooks —“Classic Italian Cooking” Marcella Hazan, “The Joy of Cooking”, and
“Trattoria Cooking” by Biba Caggiano. All three copies are stain covered and well worn.</p>

<p>I also use Epicurious.com as a great way to compare recipes.</p>

6

<p>Newly released and top seller is Pioneer Womans Cookbook.
I have been a big fan for a year. Her website is award winning and has all the recipes that are in the cookbook.
At first glance you may say, boring, old fashioned, and not particularly healthy, as she uses “liberal” amounts of butter.
But, make her Asian Salad, her favorite grilled cheese sandwich, Texas Sheet Cake, otherwise known as the Best Chocolate Sheet Cake ever, and those apple dumplings.
You will be converted, as are tens of thousands of us reading her blog, making those recipes !</p>

7

<p>I have a comfort food cookbook I got at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s a great cookbook and has the sweetest pictures. Just love it.</p>

8

<p>I love the ones with lots of great pictures. At least I can see what I’m get into before making the dish. The Murdock series are cheap and great cookbooks that I’ve got from Costco.</p>

9

<p>Love, love my copy of The Victory Garden Cookbook by Marian Morash.</p>

10

<p>I love all cooking shows and have more cookbooks and magazine subscriptions than I can use. My latest favorite cookbook was from my son this Christmas:
[The</a> Baking Bites Cookbook](<a href=“http://bakingbites.com/the-baking-bites-cookbook/]The”>http://bakingbites.com/the-baking-bites-cookbook/). I just love the [Baking</a> Bites Blog](<a href=“http://bakingbites.com/about/]Baking”>http://bakingbites.com/about/) as well.</p>

11

<p>I have an old and a new of the Betty Crocker one that is a looseleaf notebook. I have favorites in the old one that did not carry through to the new. I also use Joy of Cooking and have one Julia Child one. More recent favorites are ANYTHING from Southern Living, and Williams and Somoma series of “city” cookbooks. I got the NYC for Christmas from my D2 after a trip there and have already used it–great recipes, great pics and great memories of what we ate while there. And now I want to get one in that series for Paris and Rome (D1’s grad trip 2 years ago).</p>

12

<p>The first two California Pizza Kitchen cookbooks are cover with splotches from many yummy meals. Julia Childs “The Way to Cook” is a basic I go to alot. If you’re from Seattle Lake Washington, every recipe in “Pasta and Co. By Request” is fantastic. It is their first book and it might be out of print but you can probably find it around there. My grandma had a cooking show on King5 for 25 years in Seattle so I got to give credit to King’s Queen Bea Donovan and her book! Both Marcella and Julia were on her show in the 60’s.</p>

13

<p>America’s Test Kitchen Family and the Baking one–three ring binders, they have great receipes in them, and DH loves to read all the “tips”. He’s reading the Ina Garten cookbooks now, I like Eleanora’s Kitchen–Italian like my Grandmother used to make. I check a lot of cookbooks out of the library, we really enjoy reading them, possibly tying a few, without adding to the collection.</p>

14

<p>I only see real cooking shows occasionally at the gym, since I don’t have cable.</p>

<p>My favorite cooks/cookbooks…I have a ton but here are a few (in no particular order):</p>

<p>Madhur Jaffrey “A Taste of India,” “An Invitation to Indian Cooking,” and the big light green “Far Eastern Cookery”</p>

<p>“Better Than Storebought”</p>

<p>Rose Levy Beranbaum “The Cake Bible”</p>

<p>Sheila Lukins “The Silver Palate Cookbook” and “The New Basics”</p>

<p>Craig Claiborne, “The New York Times Cookbook” </p>

<p>Barbara Tropp “The Modern Art of Chinese Cooking”</p>

<p>Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen</p>

<p>Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volumes 1 & 2</p>

<p>Paula Wolfert “Cooking of the South West of France”</p>

<p>Jean-Georges Vongerichten “Asian Flavors of Jean-Georges”</p>

<p>Martha Stewart’s Entertaining (I blush to admit. :smiley: )</p>

<p>Maida Heatter’s Great Desserts and More Great Desserts</p>

<p>Various books by Marcella Hazan, Madeleine Kamman, Lee Bailey (Aunt Freddie’s Pantry and the “Country” books, especially), Sarah Leah Chase, and others. And Simca’s Cuisine. I have to stop myself now. :D</p>

15

<p>SUNNYFLORIDA—I have an old Betty Crocker ringed cookbook from 1962 that I still cook from (since my Mom raised us on those recipes). I still use it–especially for cakes, cookies and brownies.</p>

16

<p>I only see cooking shows at my brother’s fancy gym.</p>

<p>My favorite cook books:</p>

<p>Julia Child - The Way to Cook. (Hate Mastering the Art)</p>

<p>Mark Bittman - How to Cook Everything</p>

<p>Mark Bittman - The Best Recipes in the World*</p>

<p>Julie Sahni - Moghul Microwave</p>

<p>Charmaine Solomon - The Complete Asian Cookbook</p>

<p>Gray Kunz, Peter Kaminsky - The Elements of Taste</p>

<p>*current favorite - haven’t made a bad dish and they are all so easy</p>

17

<p>I don’t like to watch the Food Network – it always seems to be about excess and not about appreciation, but I do love to cook. I currently have about 120 cookbooks on my shelf but the ones I use most frequently are</p>

<p>Joy of Cooking</p>

<p>Better Homes and Gardens circa 1980</p>

<p>Julia Child Mastering the Art 1 & 2</p>

<p>The Blueberry Hill Cookbook, Kitchen Notebook and Menu Cookbook (all from the early 60’s and chock full of things that work)</p>

<p>The Silver Spoon</p>

<p>The Italian Cook ( a british cookbook that somehow does the best italian I have ever found)</p>

<p>The City Tavern Cook Book - From the restaurant in Philadelphia</p>

<p>And just about all of Consolation’s list</p>

18

<p>Some favorites:
Soup Suppers Arthur Schwartz
Fast and Fresh Marie Simmons
Pasta e Verdura Jack Bishop
All of Marcella Hazan’s books
The Way to Cook Julia Child
Classic Home Desserts Richard Sax
The various volumes published by the Editors of Cook’s Illustrated – Although there’s an awful lot of overlap, these, along with Cook’s Illustrated magazine, are my go-to sources for recipes and everything cooking-related. </p>

<p>I’m also exploring food blogs. Two current favorites are SmittenKitchen and 101 Cookbooks. I’ll have to check out the Pioneer Woman blog.</p>

19

<p>1963 edition of Joy of Cooking (specifically)–I use this ALL THE TIME–it’s old-fashioned and uses REAL ingredients
NY Times cookbook (Claiborne)
Gourmet cookbook (Reichel, yellow cover) (haven’t really used the new one yet, although I bought it)
Silver Spoon
Rose Levy Berenbaum on Cakes, also Pies, and Bread
Jerry Traunfeld, Herb Farm Cookbook (best directions for roast chicken ever)
Maude Dickinson When Meals were Meals (farm recipes from the early 1900s; again, real ingredients)</p>

20

<p>I love to bake, especially from:</p>

<p>Dorrie Greenspan, Nick Malgieri, Richard Sax.</p>

<p>I have a great time with Martha’s Cookies–that woman knows her cookies–have not been unhappy with anything yet. Also, her Baking cookbook (not the exact name, it’s upstairs and I’m too lazy to get up) is wonderful too. Her Irish soda bread is beyond compare. I am NOT a cake decorator, so I skip over those parts.</p>

<p>I am also working my way through the New England Soup Factory book. Perfect for this cold spell. I try to keep soup ingredients in the hopuse for snow-in days. Other people run out for milk, but I go out for onions and celery!</p>