Favorite Cookbook?

[KimKelly]

I've just been reading the posts about the new Cooking Light Cookbook, and I have to say I agree! It is fantastic. Just as a note, I got mine at Costco - the prices are usually less than bookstores.

Anyway..... How about other cookbooks? I've got racks of them. I read them like novels. Anyone have any others that are all time favorites??? There must be something else out there that I've missed! One of my favorites is Death by Chocolate by Marcel Desaulniers. How about you???

Kim

[Tally]

Kim, I love to read cookbooks, too! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

The ones that I use and refer consistently would be the 1998 CL Annual Cookbook, Trim and Terrific Louisiana Cookbook by Holly Clegg, and the books in the Moosewood / Mollie Katzen series (vegetarian).

I purchsed the New Joy of Cooking last year and find to to be a great referece for kitchen basics -- e.g., just what is the best way to cook a pot roast???

[Pat58]

Weight Watchers "Simply the Best" is a great cookbook. It has family pleasing recipes that are usually fast and easy to make. I find myself reaching for it several times per week - a real "user."

[RobinC]

I am a cook book junkie! I love them!

The Pie & Pasty Bible and The Cake Bible - both by Rose Levy Beranbaum are excellent.

For the other end of the food spectrum, for more healthy cooking, I have been pretty impressed with many of the recipies from Weight Watchers new series of cookbooks.

[lindrusso]

Hi KimKelly,

I just wanted to let you know that you might be able to find more information on this topic from the archives.

Here's a link that I found:
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Archives/Archive-000002/HTML/20000807-1-000294.html



[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 08-13-2000).]

[KimKelly]

Thanks Lindrusso! And here I thought I had come up with something original!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif

Kim

[skylarc]

I love seeing more cookbooks addicts! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif My husband puts up with my addiction because he figured out that it ultimately leads to him getting fed.

Here are some current favorites:

A good book for entertaining is Marian Burros' "The New Elegant but Easy Cookbook". Everything can be made ahead (there are little icons that tell you whether it can be frozen or refrigerated & for how many days), the recipes serve anywhere from 6 - 12 and absolutely everything I have made from the book has turned out well, often great.

Other Marion Burros' books are good, quick weekday cooking books: "Eating Well is the Best Revenge" and "20 Minute Menus" are both good.

"The Cook's Bible" is a good "reference" cookbook.

I too love Moosewood cookbooks, but they can be very time consuming. "Moosewood Low-Fat Favorites" at least has prep times for each recipe.

Weight Watcher's "Simply the Best" is quite good. I have been disappointed by some of the WW cookbooks. Some have unclear or illogical instructions, and many of the books are poorly indexed, some aren't indexed at all. Some of the smaller books are published by Southern Living Books -- which means that many of the recipes came from CL.

[dncomom]

I just had to put in my two cents worth here! Count me in as another cook book junkie! I just love both "Looneyspoons" and "Crazy Plates." They are great. Lots of great food and the other info is very humorous.

[Vanessa]

Good question. I moved around some books so the ones I use more are at hand. So at least for now I can say the ones at hand are
New Basics Cookbook from Rosso & Lukins, The Way to Cook -Julia Child. I have learn a lot of info at techniques from this book. The C Light Annuals 93-2000 (great to look through and find things although I treasure my monthly C Lights)& last but not least my collection of latin cookbooks specially the puertorican cookbooks of old fashion cooking.

[Tally]

Dncomom - The Looney Spoons cookbooks are terrific. I found them at my library and copied several recipies.

[jmkenad]

I too am a cookbook junkie. I have many - two that I recently purchased and love are Cooking Light 5 ingredient 15 min. cookbook (some great QUICK meals), and The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook (lots of great pictures and great resource data!)

Both are published by Oxmoor House 1-205-877-6560

[bijoux22]

My favorite cookbook of the month is "Simply Shrimp, Salmon & Steaks (fish). I have made 12 of the recipes and all but two were definate keepers. Recipes call fresh ingredients and most are very healthy. The salmon stuffed portabello mushrooms were yummy, and the salmon with the green chili cream was outstanding!

[Laura B]

Originally posted by bijoux22:
My favorite cookbook of the month is "Simply Shrimp, Salmon & Steaks (fish). I have made 12 of the recipes and all but two were definate keepers. Recipes call fresh ingredients and most are very healthy. The salmon stuffed portabello mushrooms were yummy, and the salmon with the green chili cream was outstanding!

I just bought that cookbook from the Good Cook club, and I have not yet made any of the recipes. Which ones would you NOT make again so I can take that into consideration?

[gabbyh]

Since my husband is Australian I decided to try "new food fast" by Donna Hay
I wasn't disappointed! It has some of the most beautiful "realistic" food pictures I have ever seen. Most recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less and ingredients are few and simple. Some US conversions do have to be made but it's simple. Also, I have just ordered "The Good Morning America Cut The Calories Cookbook" and "Bugialli On Pasta" from the good cook. I'll give you all a review when they show up. I must admit I read my cookbooks like a novel and do more "reading" than "cooking"!

[This message has been edited by gabbyh (edited 08-20-2000).]

[Wendy w]

I have an addiction: it is called cookbook collecting! I own over 100. My current favorite is Prevention's Quick & Healthy. The recipes that I have tried are very tasty and do not taste low fat. My favorites so far are: Lemon-herb chicken breasts, White bean soup w/basil & tomatoes and Pasta Primavera.

[newsomz]

however, vanessa, you mentioned you have a collection of latin cookbooks and I'm looking for some good latin cookbooks...

so, any suggestions? :)

I'm definately looking for more "home cooking" type recipes (as opposed to "gourmet" recipes). Any input you (or anyone else with suggestions) has would be wonderful.

Thanks,

Carrie

[Canice]

Originally posted by gabbyh
Since my husband is Australian I decided to try "new food fast" by Donna Hay. I wasn't disappointed! It has some of the most beautiful "realistic" food pictures I have ever seen. Most recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less and ingredients are few and simple.


Oh, good to hear! DBF (who doesn't cook) bought this book and I've been a little intimidated - not sure why. But maybe I'll take it for a spin -- any non-red-meat, non-pasta recommendations??

Here's a beloved cookbook of mine, available only in the Seattle area, I'm afraid, or on Amazon.com -- it's The City Gardner's Cookbook, put out by Seattle's P-Patch(community garden) committee. All simple, pure, garden recipes with no canned, frozen, packaged, freeze-dried ingredients. About as radical as they get is maybe one recipe in the book calling for chicken broth or one for fish stock. The rest is just pretty much fruits, veggies, grains, herbs, and spices. And a lot of heart-warming stories about Seattle gardners and their P-Patch plots.

I also like Diane Seed's "The Top 100 Pasta Sauces" because it shows you how to pair ANY vegetable with pasta, most dishes are simple, and -- OK -- the illustrations are really warming.

I like the Green's cookbook (Ed Brown) and the Fields of Greens cookbook (Deborah Madison) for soups because they are such deep, layered, complex flavors. "Thin" soups will really disappoint after you've tried these.......

[Carolina68]

Another cookbook addict here:)
CL complete is my favorite, but I also
like both my Southern Living cookbooks (Southern Living & Southern Living ultimate), although I usually lighten up their recipes a bit, they generally turn out very well. I also like my Moosewood books. For reference I usually refer to The Best Recipe (cooks illustrated), Fanny Farmer, or Better Homes & Garden Cookbook.

[jphilg]

Without a doubt, my favorite cookbook is A New Way to Cook by Sally Schnieder (or something close to that)> Of all of the many cookbooks in my collection, it has taught me the most.

Other favorites are New Basics, Weber's Art of the Grill, Hay Day Country Market, and the Inn at Little Washington Cookbook. MOst of the time I pull weekday recipes off this board or epicurious.com, but I need cookbooks for inspiration when I throw a party.

Jen

[JaneStarr]

One of my current favorites is "Desperation Dinners!" by: Beverly Mills, Alicia Ross

Although not sold specifically as a "healthy" or "lowfat" cookbook, almost all of the recipes are in keeping with healthful eating.
Jane

Here's an excerpt from a review:

Written by two working moms with four kids between them, Desperation Dinners! fulfills its promise to supply you with more than 250 recipes that can be made from start to finish in 20 minutes. With the help of Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross, you can serve up appealing and nutritious home-cooked meals on nights when that might seem impossible. There are meaty dishes (Fiery Chinese Beef) and meatless ones (Very Vegetarian Chili), as well as Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Cream for pasta-lovers, and even Magic Brownies for those with a sweet tooth. The authors' technique, which calls for using convenience foods (canned, frozen, boxed, bagged, or jarred), is based on the idea that the time saved justifies extra cost and sacrificed quality. Their Desperation Pantry includes staples such as canned beans and broth, along with onion powder, frozen lemon juice, pre-shredded cheeses, and produce that is ready to use, such as chopped garlic and sections of citrus fruit. This is not great cooking, but the meals will rescue families from a surfeit of fast food and boxed-pasta dinners.