Wednesday, August 06, 2008 8:00 AM

Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

Even if you’re the kind of cook who just throws things together, without a recipe, there are cookbooks, magazines and online recipe indexes you can’t live without. Like the (Sorta) Complete Compendium of Macaroni and Cheese Recipes, I wanted to start an uber list of your go-to culinary resources (in addition to the endlessly helpful WC board, of course). A few of mine…

When I want to learn the basics, technique or chemistry of cooking…
Cook’s Illustrated
The Best Recipe by the Editors of Cooks Illustrated
On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee

When I want to bake…
King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion
Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan (All credit to this board for introducing me to this incredible book.)

When I want to master a cuisine…
The Silver Spoon Cookbook by the Editors of Phaidon Press
Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child
Larousse Gastronomique by Prosper Montagne
Le Guide Culinaire by Auguste Escoffier
The Professional Chef by the Culinary Institute of America
Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Authentic Sichuan Cooking by Fuschia Dunlop

When I want a taste of home…
Encyclopedia of Cajun and Creole Cuisine by John Folse
Talk About Good (pictured) by the Junior League of Lafayette, La. (This is the first cookbook I owned, given when I left home for college)
River Road Recipes: The Textbook of Louisiana Cuisine by the Junior League of Baton Rouge, La.
Louisiana Real and Rustic by Emeril Lagasse

Post your top 3 cookbooks, food magazines or recipe resources... 

Posted by Nest Colleen
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Comments

re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

I don't have three to list, but I really like www.recipezaar.com to find recipes for something I have heard about but don't know how to make.  They have a lot of recipes to choose from and you can do various searches (like by ingredient) to narrow down what you want.  They also have ratings and comments by people who have tried the recipe.  I've found a lot of family favorites on here.

Posted by Posted by bebeau2be    Wednesday, August 06, 2008 7:36 AM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

Only three???  This is hard...

For magazines, I have to pick Everyday with Rachael Ray and Cooking Light.  Both have easy, yummy, and somewhat healthy ideas.

I also have 2 out of 3 Giada books, and I adore them too.

But perhaps my biggest resources are the WC nesties and their blogs.

Posted by Posted by LaKi    Wednesday, August 06, 2008 7:54 AM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

Hands down any of Ina Garten's cookbooks - Barefoot Contessa - see more about my obsession with Ina here: http://barefootbloggers.wordpress.com...I also love The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics as well as pretty much any recipe from the Williams-Sonoma website.

Posted by Posted by taraandkyle06    Wednesday, August 06, 2008 8:52 AM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

Cooking Light is a great inspiration for me when I want to eat healthier without feeling like I'm eating healthier. I've been making a lot of things out of Everyday Food because I can make those recipes on the weekdays without too much fuss. And Joy of Cooking 75th Anniversary Edition is my standard reference for most things (how to cook sweet potatoes, basic peach pie recipe, buttermilk pancakes, etc).

Posted by Posted by kmays    Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:14 AM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

My favorite magazines are Kraft Food & Family & Everyday with Rachel Ray

Top Cookbook-I really don't have just one, I do a lot of online searching and get recipes from other nesties-plus family recipes.  

Posted by Posted by swanbride28    Wednesday, August 06, 2008 11:12 AM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

For basic recipes, I turn to Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything.  My mum gave it to my a few years ago and it has seen me through many a cooking adventure!  For baking and entertaining recipes, I love the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks.  If I had to pick one, Barefoot Contessa At Home is probably my favorite : )

Posted by Posted by CAM630    Wednesday, August 06, 2008 11:29 AM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

My favorite magazines are Cuisine at Home and Cooking Light. I love cooking Asian food at home, so Martin Yan's China and Martin Yan Quick & Easy have been essential for delicious and authentic Chinese dishes. I also get a lot of recipes online from fellow food bloggers. There are just so many creative and innovative home chefs out there!

Posted by Posted by eapgourmet    Wednesday, August 13, 2008 7:11 AM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

I CANNOT live without THE AMERICAN TEST KITCHEN cookbook. It is simple, every recipe comes out perfectly every time & it has everything, from basic baking to great ideas for dinner. I bought it for my sister & every girlfriend who's had a birthday since I got married. LOVE IT!

Posted by Posted by echildre    Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:08 PM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

I cannot live without  My three favorite cooking magazines every month.  They include Everyday Food by Martha, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and Cooking light!!!

Posted by Posted by joneska7    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 12:43 PM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

My now hubby's mom and step dad gave me a subscription to Cuisine at Home two years ago and I love it for quick, easy last minute recipes during the week and the evals of cooking gadgets.  I couldn't live without my Jamie Oliver cookbooks - simple, taste meals - or my well-worn Bake Your Cake and Eat It Too, by Tamara Milstein

Posted by Posted by brightonborn    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 4:27 PM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

I have to agree with an earlier poster, I love Ina Garten's cookbooks.  Her recipes are so delicious and relatively easy but can be so elegant that they're great for when you have company over.  I'm also fond of my New Basics Cookbook, it has all the tips and tricks as well as some yummy basic recipes for almost anything you could get a hold of from a normal "american' grocery. and our William-Sonoma Bride and Groom Cookbook, which is just fun because it has recipes that we can cook together.

Posted by Posted by madscientistjg    Thursday, October 23, 2008 4:08 PM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

www.Allrecipes.com, Food & Wine Mag  I am in LOVE with All Recipes, you can save from their website, add your own, make a shopping list, calculate your servings and ingredients, LOVE IT!!!!

Posted by Posted by CBNichols    Thursday, March 05, 2009 3:42 PM


re: Favorite cookbooks and recipe resources?

I look for inspiration all over. I like the simplicity of rachel ray's books. I love any vegetarian cookbook by Linda McCartney. I also enjoy mexican food and the Tex-Mex Cookbook is fantastic.

Check out my blog - www.cooking4 canivores.com to see how I put it all together.

Posted by Posted by jjerribug    Tuesday, April 07, 2009 12:11 PM


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