What's your favorite cookbook?

[emilycat]

Just out of curiosity, what do you all consider your favorite cookbook?
My cookbook of the moment is Karen Lee's "The Occasional Vegetarian," but I have to say that my all-time favorite would be Molly Katzen's "Moosewood Cookbook." She's also my favorite cookbook author;I have three of her books, and three of the Moosewood Restaurant books. I LOVE them!
Emily

[SandyM]

Hi Em, and welcome to the board!

I have favorite recipes in all of my cookbooks, but some of my most tried and true come out of Prevention's Healthy Eating (versions 1 & 2). I've shredded the binding on these paperbacks - they're awesome.

For reference and assistance , I often refer to my Joy of Cooking.

[AndreaU]

I love The Ultimate Vegetarian Cookbook by Roz Denny. Her recipe for Broccoli Risotto Torte is amazing! I probably make it once a week or so during the fall & winter (good comfort food and great as leftovers). This cookbook turned me on to risotto and now I can't get enough of it. There are photos with every recipe (see related thread), which I love. Another favorite is Classic Home Desserts by Richard Sax. You can pretty much find any kind of dessert recipe you want.

[ML]

I would have to say that my favorite is "Texas Tales", by the Montgomery County Junior League. It has wonderful recipes, including Mexican Won Tons and Shrimp baked in feta and tomatoes!

I also really like "Stop and Smell the Rosemary", "River Road Recipes I", and "The Black Swan" ( it has wonderful recipes for imperial chicken and bread pudding with whiskey sauce http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif )

[helene]

Hi,

I will like to ask
AndreaU
if she can post her
recipe for:

Brocoli Risotto Torte.

Thanks,

Hélène

[AndreaU]

Absolutely, Helene! Here it is... it's not a quickie recipe but well worth the time & preparation.

Broccoli Risotto Torte (Serves 6)

8 oz. broccoli, cut into very small florets
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 large yellow pepper, chopped
2 T. olive oil
4 T. butter
1-1/4 cup Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
4-1/2 cups stock/broth
salt and pepper to taste
4 oz. fresh Parmesan cheese, coarsely grated
4 eggs, separated
Cooking spray

1. Blanch broccoli for 3 minutes then drain and reserve.
2. In a large saucepan, gently saute onion, garlic and yellow pepper in the oil and butter for 5 minutes until they are soft.
3. Stir in the rice, cook for a minute then pour in the wine. Cook, stirring the mixture until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Pour in the stock/broth, season well, bring to a boil then lower to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Meanwhile, spray a 10" round deep cake pan and line the base with a disc of waxed paper. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
6. Stir the cheese into the rice, allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes, then beat in the egg yolks. Stir in broccoli.
7. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks and carefully fold into the rice. Turn into prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour until risen, golden brown and slightly wobbly in the center.
8. Allow the torte to cool in the pan, then chill if serving cold. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and shake out onto a serving plate.

(This is Andrea again... Enjoy! Sometimes I will use 2 cheeses (1/2 and 1/2)- Parmesan and cheddar or Parmesan and Monteray Jack work well for a creamier texture. I serve this hot, after letting it sit for a few mintues after taking it from the oven. I've never served it cold as in the recipe, but I'm sure it would be just as good. As I mentioned in my earlier post, this makes for great leftovers.

[lanie]

Oh I could just sit here forever - I think out of literally well over a hundred or more cookbooks and mags (not incl) I have one that is American - Applehood & Motherpie put out by the Junior League of Rochester and we have a chef here Bonnie Stern who has published 3 great books AND I love the Complete CookingLight cookbook that I just purchased recently - but do have others that I also like very much - but they get stacked away and every year or two I go looking and find a revelation!!!!!! That recipe looks amazing Andrea - thanks!

[venus]

Emilycat--

The Moosewood books are great! Their ratatouille recipe is to die for. I used to live in the same town as the Moosewood Restaurant and ate there quite a few times. My husband (then fiance) still raves about their Spinach and Feta Ravioli--every time he goes to an Italian restaurant, he looks for something similar.

Sandy--I use my "Joy of Cooking" all the time too http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif You can tell what I really like, because the pages of those sections are stuck together!!!

[This message has been edited by venus (edited 10-17-2000).]

[helene]

Thanks Andrea,

The recipe looks great.

Hélène

[mightyh]

I, too, like Applehood and Motherpie... Also a favorite: America Discovers Columbus put out by the Junior League of Columbus, OH a while back.

Cooking Lights are really my favorites, though, especially the new ones with many more pictures than the old annuals.

[emilycat]

Venus,
You don't happen to have a recipe for feta and spinach ravioli, do you? It sounds so divine! I would love to go to the actual Moosewood restaurant someday...isn't it in Ithaca? I bet it's so beautiful up there now, with all the leaves. Hmmm..maybe it's time for a weekender. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Ohioan]

Hi, all! There was a thread like this one a while back: www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/000817.html (http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/000817.html)

You can always tell a real foodie when she (or he, Ralph and Ed!) not only can't stop talking about food but also can't stop talking about other people who talk about food. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Hee, hee,
Phoebe

[sneezles]

ML
My mother-in-law gave me the River Roads I when I got married (21 years ago!!) and it's falling apart!! I also have the RR II edition and it has some great ones in it. I also use the Joy of Cooking for reference but the one I have was my husbands grandmother's so I have to be pretty careful with it since the pages are very brown and the binding is worn. It also has some of the best cake recipes.

[venus]

Emily, I wish I did http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif It would be incredible. There is a CL spinach ravioli recipe, but I haven't tried it yet. Has anyone else?

The Moosewood is in Ithaca--where my parents still live. It is really beautiful there this time of year--perfect for hot apple cider and warm fires. Occasionally you can get really beautiful days, which are perfect for hiking in the State Parks. I'm not a big nature type, but my hubby is and he brings it out in me http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Where are you? If you're nearby you should definitely go! Not only is it beautiful, but there are many many great restaurants there besides Moosewood.

[Lizz13.1]

My two favorites so far (I have the complete CL cookbook on order and am waiting for it). However, my two favorites are Quick and Healthy 2 and The American Heart Association's Quick and EAsy. Recently, I began my own CL Book. I bought the magnetic photo album pages for a 3 ring binder. I go through CL and cut out the recipies I want to try. I then stick them in. It is a great source. If I do not like the item after I make it, I through out the recipie. This board has also been a source which I copy from.

[emilycat]

Venus,
I'm actually in Atlanta, so it's not exactly a road trip to the Finger Lakes region. I haven't seen the leaves in New Englad yet in the fall, though, so I think maybe next year I'm going to make a point of going. Do you think the foliage has already peaked for this season?
Emily

[marshalynne]

Hey Venus! I am originally from Boonville which is near to Syracuse. It surely is beautiful there. Emily, I too love the Moosewood Cook Books...especially the Broccoli Forest, but unfortunately I lent them out and they were never returned when the borrowee moved. I am hoping to get them for Christmas. Would you be able to post the spinach feta ravioli recipe? Also, my other favorite cookbook changes all the time...it is this site! You guys have the best recipe collection right here!

[venus]

Hi marsha! How is Upstate?

I don't have the feta and spinach ravioli recipe http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif Maybe someone else has something like it? A CL version would be good! I agree that this BB is a great source for recipes--I use it more than most other cookbooks.