Here are some of the cookbooks I love to use:
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, 15th Edition (Better Homes & Gardens Plaid)
Why I recommend this cookbook- I got this as a wedding gift and I use it constantly! I like the 15th edition because it starts off with the basics like equipment, food safety, storage, cooking methods, etc. The sections are great because for recipes that may be a little more difficult they give step-by-step instructions on how to prepare the dish. Also, there are spots throughout the book that have “Make-it-mine” where they give the basic ingredients, and you choose what combinations you want for the taste you’re wanting. Some recipes include “Make-it-mine”:
Rice Pilaf
Cheesecake
Muffins
Egg Casserole
Potpie
Oatmeal Cookies
And so on….
There’s also “Cook once, eat twice” throughout the book. To be honest I haven’t really made any of these recipes but I like having the option. I think this is great because leftovers can be monotonous, but it re-vamps the leftovers into a completely new meal. And I’m sure it saves money because leftovers can be put in the fridge and forgotten until it goes bad. Some of the recipes that you can cook once and eat twice are:
Crunchy Chicken Strips–> Ranch-Style Chicken Salad
Salmon w/ Roasted Tomatoes and Shallots–> Salmon Pasta Toss
Spice-Rubbed Beef Tenderloin–> Mop Sauce Beef Sandwiches
It is such a great cookbook! Great for beginners because it has all of the basics, and a ton of the recipes are easy enough for people that are not very good at cooking and want to get better. And there’s lots of pictures…seriously, who doesn’t like pictures in their cookbooks?
Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy Appetite: 125 Super-Fresh Recipes for a High-Energy Life by Gordon Ramsay
The title of the cookbook explains it all. Austin got it for me for Christmas so I haven’t had it very long but I’m looking forward to going to this cookbook for a lot of recipes and tips. Personally, Gordon Ramsay is one of my favorite chefs. I love the passion he has when he cooks and it inspires me to be passionate about what I cook too. There are sections in the book where he has “5 ways with…” where he talks about the nutritional value and benefits from that food, then he gives recipe suggestions.
I made the Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins from this cookbook and they were PHENOMENAL! Seriously, the best blueberry muffins I’ve ever eaten.
Jamie’s Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals by Jamie Oliver
Why I recommend this cookbook- First off, Jamie Oliver is a great cook. This cookbook is about learning how to cook good, affordable food. Each recipe recommends using good quality ingredients like organic, free range and overall fresh! I also love it because of the style cuisine! A few of the recipes I’ve tried from here are the
Classic Tomato Spaghetti
Macaroni and Cauliflower Cheese Bake
Mini Shell Pasta w/ a Creamy Smoked Bacon and Pea Sauce
Chicken Tikka Masala
All of them were so good! I can’t wait to try some more 🙂
Cooking Light Cook’s Essential Recipe Collection: Slow Cooker: 57 essential recipes to eat smart, be fit, live… by Editors of Cooking Light Magazine
Another great wedding present that I would definitely recommend. Seriously, you can’t go wrong when it comes to slow cooking. Throw the ingredients in the crock pot and let it go until it’s time for dinner. I’ve made the Homestyle Potato Soup and the Barley, Black Bean and Corn Burritos. Both of which turned out really good. When I plan the menu I like to include some meatless dishes, which is difficult sometimes because Austin is definitely a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I think he’s adjusting well to having less meat in our diet and he’s been very gracious with trying all of the recipes I’ve been cooking 🙂 There are bunches of pictures too!
Today’s Creative Crock Pot, The Original Slow Cooker Cookbook 2nd Edition
Again, a wedding present that has let Austin and I have great meals together 🙂 There are a few pictures but not every recipe has one, so you have to go more off what sounds good and not how it looks.
Cook’s Bible: The Definitive Cook’s Guide by Lorraine Turner
I really like this cookbook for the preparation techniques and cooking methods. I like the pantry section of the introduction because it includes the different varieties of foods used for cooking (oils, flours, vinegars, herbs, spices, etc.) and gives really informative descriptions and recommendations for cooking. For example:
Ginger- This hot, pungent spice has a lemony flavor when fresh, but a sweeter flavor when dried. It is particularly used in Indian cooking, as well as in chutneys, desserts, and baked goods, such as cakes, notably gingerbread and cookies.
The Practical Produce Cookbook: How to Plant, Pick, Prepare and Preserve Produce by Ray and Elsie Hoover
I got this for Christmas from my in-laws and I’m looking forward to using this a lot in the future. I’ve been trying to be more diverse with the fruits and vegetables Austin and I eat and this is going to be really helpful! It has 34 sections, ranging from Asparagus to Winter Squash and gives guidance on planting, preparing and preserving the food. Austin and I have been wanting to start a garden, and this will be the perfect guide for us to get started!
Step-By-Step Baking by Caroline Brether
My Mom sent me this while she was in Iceland. She sent me a package and I had no idea what was in it but I was super excited when I pulled this out of the box! There is a picture for each recipe, and more pictures for the step-by-step instructions on how to make each recipe. If I could I would bake something new from this book everyday until I’ve made them all! I made the Apple Jalousie and it was so good! What is also great is that it teaches you a lot about baking techniques because there is so much more to baking than following the directions on the back of a box of mix. Baking from scratch is the way to go, and this will help you become a better baker.
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