Your favorite cookbooks? Recommendations?
Dec 7, 2008, 7:56 pm
#1
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Your favorite cookbooks? Recommendations?
What are your favorite cookbooks? I'm looking for some that contain fairly simple meals. Actually, meals that don't require a lot of prep time, or where the prep can be completed the night before.
Dec 7, 2008, 8:21 pm
#2
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"The Making of a Cook" by Madeline Kamman. There is a new version out as of 1997. The previous one is much older. Based on the first one I would say just get it. The first was a marvelous book.
Dec 8, 2008, 4:23 am
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mrs. gleff's cookbook, Fine Dining Solutions: Weeknight Dinners 
It's 22 healthy dinners that can be prepared in under an hour.
It's 22 healthy dinners that can be prepared in under an hour.
Dec 8, 2008, 4:42 am
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then you MUST try Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cooking. Its a cook book for people who don't really want to cook. it uses ready made ingredients like canned food or frozen dinners and adds a little twist so you look like you made a fancy and yummy meal when it really took no time at all. Its my absolute favorite!!! its semi cooking. a real must!
Dec 8, 2008, 8:14 pm
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then you MUST try Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cooking. Its a cook book for people who don't really want to cook. it uses ready made ingredients like canned food or frozen dinners and adds a little twist so you look like you made a fancy and yummy meal when it really took no time at all. Its my absolute favorite!!! its semi cooking. a real must!
Dec 8, 2008, 9:43 pm
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I think you would like Jamie's Dinners: The essential Family cookbook. It is very useful in that it gives recipes that are pretty flexible. For instance, he will give you a recipe for pesto, and then 4 ways to easily use the sauce. Some of the ingrediants might be hard to find depending on where you live/time of season, but a very straightforward cookbook.
Dec 9, 2008, 10:07 am
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I'll give the America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook my vote. Full of great recipes and really helpful, practical advice.
Though not a cookbook, the book Heat by Bill Buford is also a good read and gives some insights and tips from the perspective of a guy who transforms from journalist to culinary apprentice. The last 1/4 or so of the book was kind of dull to me, but the first 3/4 was pretty riveting considering the subject matter.
Though not a cookbook, the book Heat by Bill Buford is also a good read and gives some insights and tips from the perspective of a guy who transforms from journalist to culinary apprentice. The last 1/4 or so of the book was kind of dull to me, but the first 3/4 was pretty riveting considering the subject matter.
Dec 9, 2008, 10:21 am
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Rick Rodger's "On Rice". I'm not sure if it's still in print. It has dozens and dozens of simply to relatively simple recipes for toppings for rice. At least ten are in my regular repertoire. Almost all can be made in advance.
Also, given that this is a travel-oriented website, on my favourite things about the book is that a number of the recipes have an international flavour (i.e. are adaptations of dishes from a number of different countries in the world).
Also, given that this is a travel-oriented website, on my favourite things about the book is that a number of the recipes have an international flavour (i.e. are adaptations of dishes from a number of different countries in the world).
Dec 9, 2008, 11:23 am
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then you MUST try Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cooking. Its a cook book for people who don't really want to cook. it uses ready made ingredients like canned food or frozen dinners and adds a little twist so you look like you made a fancy and yummy meal when it really took no time at all. Its my absolute favorite!!! its semi cooking. a real must!
To the question. Any time I want a good basic recipe for something I haven't made before I always turn to the old standby Joy of Cooking.
Dec 9, 2008, 12:43 pm
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60-minute Gourmet
Check out Pierre Franey's 60 Minute Gourmet.
Many good quick recipes in this book, along with recommendations for side dishes.
Another good one is Gourmet's In Short Order (although I like Pierre Franey's collection better...)
Many good quick recipes in this book, along with recommendations for side dishes.
Another good one is Gourmet's In Short Order (although I like Pierre Franey's collection better...)
Dec 9, 2008, 4:38 pm
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While she can be annoying (and is over-saturated in the marketplace), Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals isn't that bad.
If you want to just read a cookbook to pass the time until the pizza guy arrives, I highly recommend Nigella Lawson's Feast. It's chatty and entertaining. Before making anything from it, however (especially in the US), check her website's errata for corrections. In the past couple of weeks I made the Honeybee Cake and the Chocolate Gingerbread and both were absolutely divine!
If you want to just read a cookbook to pass the time until the pizza guy arrives, I highly recommend Nigella Lawson's Feast. It's chatty and entertaining. Before making anything from it, however (especially in the US), check her website's errata for corrections. In the past couple of weeks I made the Honeybee Cake and the Chocolate Gingerbread and both were absolutely divine!
Dec 9, 2008, 7:24 pm
#13
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While she can be annoying (and is over-saturated in the marketplace), Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals isn't that bad.
If you want to just read a cookbook to pass the time until the pizza guy arrives, I highly recommend Nigella Lawson's Feast. It's chatty and entertaining. Before making anything from it, however (especially in the US), check her website's errata for corrections. In the past couple of weeks I made the Honeybee Cake and the Chocolate Gingerbread and both were absolutely divine!
If you want to just read a cookbook to pass the time until the pizza guy arrives, I highly recommend Nigella Lawson's Feast. It's chatty and entertaining. Before making anything from it, however (especially in the US), check her website's errata for corrections. In the past couple of weeks I made the Honeybee Cake and the Chocolate Gingerbread and both were absolutely divine!
Besides, the pizza guy doesn't deliver this far out into the wilderness. 
Dec 9, 2008, 8:11 pm
#14
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Really, try the Kamman one. It is an absolute classic. What is so interesting about it is that it doesnt just give recipes, it does do that, but it explains what is happening so that you can learn to think for yourself in cooking. It teaches the basic principles of cooking, not just a list of recipes.
Dec 9, 2008, 9:28 pm
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