Favourite Cook Book(s)?

[thinkofthesoldiers]

My mother in law showed me Lydia's (from pbs) new cookbook a few weeks ago. The recipes looked good.

[Deleted]

I love MtAoFC & use it a lot. I also like Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook & The Joy of Cooking (though a used edition from the 70s is better than the modern version).

For baking, I'm obsessed with Baking for Two. Recipes that make 4 cupcakes, yes please!

[tacosforlife]

I'd get an America's Test Kitchen cookbook. There are a couple of versions out there. The one we have is out of print, but I'm sure the new one is good, too.

[circa1978]

America's Test Kitchen is a good suggestion. If you like to bake, I like all the Baked cookbooks.

[cuddlyevil]

Intercourses is really good too.

And America's Test Kitchen is always a good idea.

[Deleted]

Nov 27, 2015 9:15:35 GMT -5 pandora89 said:

Nov 27, 2015 9:08:48 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

I love MtAoFC & use it a lot. I also like Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook & The Joy of Cooking (though a used edition from the 70s is better than the modern version).

For baking, I'm obsessed with Baking for Two. Recipes that make 4 cupcakes, yes please!

Is it difficult? Would someone trying to dabble in learning to cook be able to work themselves through it?

I am leaning towards getting this and the Art of Italian Cuisine that TOTS posted, but both apparently are very similar in structure (and dont have a lot of pictures apparently lol).

Sometimes the recipes are under explained, but its such a famous cookbook that you can always find a blog about someone making the recipe for help if you need it.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Nov 27, 2015 9:10:45 GMT -5 pandora89 said:

Nov 27, 2015 9:07:15 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

My mother in law showed me Lydia's (from pbs) new cookbook a few weeks ago. The recipes looked good.

Thank you! The Art of Italian Cuisine? That looks really good too.

Yeah I think that's the one.

[Mrs. ChanandlerBong]

The plain old
Betty Crocker book has very basic recipes. It's howni learned to cook.

[dirtyred]

"How to Cook" by Julia Child. Simple, delicious recipes.

[kadams767]

How to Cook Everything, Mark Bittman. He has a vegetarian one also and they are both great. I also second tacosforlife on one of the America's Test Kitchen books, their recipes have never failed on me.

I know not everyone is a fan, but I have a few of Ina Garten's books as well and they are also winners. The Entertaining one is really nice.

[boston340]

Nov 27, 2015 9:39:16 GMT -5 kadams767 said:

How to Cook Everything, Mark Bittman. He has a vegetarian one also and they are both great. I also second tacosforlife on one of the America's Test Kitchen books, their recipes have never failed on me.

I know not everyone is a fan, but I have a few of Ina Garten's books as well and they are also winners. The Entertaining one is really nice.

I have both of the "How to Cook Everything" cookbooks and am willing to send to the OP for free if you're interested. I simply don't use them anymore.

[UMaineTeach]

These are my go to 3:
m.target.com/p/better-homes-and-gardens-new-cook-book-revised-paperback/-/A-12973926?ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=12973926&ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Entertainment%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Entertainment&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=1018862&gclid=CPK636XwsMkCFYn3HwodbpcFpw&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/w/the-complete-americas-test-kitchen-tv-show-cookbook-2001-2015-americas-test-kitchen/1118864528?ean=9781936493937&st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Core+Shopping+Books_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP275&k_clickid=3x275

americastestkitchen.buysub.com/tv-show-companion-cookbooks-and-dvds/the-complete-cook-s-country-season-8-tv-show-cookbook.html?sourcekey=CPGZZKVB0&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=%5BPLA%5D+%5BShopping%5D&utm_term=&utm_content=s_dm%7Cpcrid%7C65586081162%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7C



Sorry for the long links

[pretzel]

I'm waiting for the Serious Eats vegetarian cookbook, but if I was an omnivore, I'd buy the new "Food Lab" by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Almost all my most popular dishes come from the Serious Eats website.

[cjcouple]

Some people hate her but I really like the pioneer woman's first cookbook. Easy recipes to follow and photos with every step and they're delicious meals. Even if you don't get the cookbook her chicken tortilla soup is one of my favs. Also her spicy pulled pop pork. Both available on her website.

[sushi]

For someone new, joy of cooking because it has pages of explanations about technique and ingredients. It's not just recipes. This was my first in college, and I still refer to it

ATK for great recipes that are easy to follow.

Jaques pepin has a book, forget the name, but it's also full of technique and really good recipes and a did (he used to do a show with Julia Child so that might be a good compromise)

I recently bought food lab. It's by a former atk test cook, is very science based. I love it. The ratio of recipes for a newer cook isn't as good as the other 3, but if you like the whys, it's phenomenal. I spatchcocked (heh) my turkey yesterday because of it, and dry brined, and it was the best damn turkey I've ever had.

I have a slight cookbook collection problem

[starlily]

Whichever cookbook you decide on, I'd recommend this to supplement it since you said you're a novice: www.amazon.com/The-Elements-Cooking-Translating-Kitchen/dp/1439172528

[isabel]

Ad hoc from Thomas Keller is pretty involved, but I've loved every recipe we've tried. It's a great book.

[auntie]

Nov 27, 2015 9:05:13 GMT -5 pandora89 said:

Slightly tempted to get "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" but I dont know if its way over my head.

I love these and have a number of favorites in both volumes. I also really love Julia Child's The Way to Cook. It's like a more modern, basic version where she presents a master recipe step-by-step and then offers variations. I reach for it way more often than my ancient Joy of Cooking. Any of the America's Test Kitchen books are good. 

[cuddlyevil]

I like David Rosengarten's books as well. Good technique in layman's terms.

[rockpaperscissors]

My favorite for very basic recipes is the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. It was my very first one and I still use it regularly.

[rugbywife]

I love Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.

[beefcheeks]

Another vote for the ATK cook book. That is my go-to cookbook for basics.

[UMaineTeach]

Adding Martha's Cooking School cookbook.

[sonrisa]

I like Ina Garten's books. (Barefoot Contessa). Easy and tasty.
I also like America's Test Kitchen.

[MixedBerryJam]

Nov 27, 2015 9:19:57 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

I'd get an America's Test Kitchen cookbook. There are a couple of versions out there. The one we have is out of print, but I'm sure the new one is good, too.

This is an excellent suggestion because, if it's the book I'm thinking of, it give the story behind the recipe, why these ingredients work and those ingredients didn't, etc. So you'll learn a lot about cooking that you can apply to other recipes.

If you like marinades, Hot Barbecue is wonderful. I love this book and have not had a meal from it that I wouldn't make again.

[cuddlyevil]

Nov 27, 2015 13:49:22 GMT -5 Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear said:

Nov 27, 2015 9:22:46 GMT -5 cuddlyevil said:

Intercourses is really good too.

What

It's an aphrodisiac cookbook.

[memenee]

Anything from Cooks Illustrated. They are really good.