Cookbooks

[Fanny McLonghorn]

What are your favorite cookbooks? Which ones do you use the most/have the best recipes?

I only own two:: Legends of the Texas Barbecue, and Alton Brown's Gear for Your Kitchen. The Alton one isn't really a cookbook as much as it is a comprehensive look at kitchen tools. I like that one because I'm trying to build up my arsenal despite my emaciated wallet.

I would love some cookbooks to get me started in the kitchen. So far, I only know a few things I picked up from mom and off of the TV.

 

[BigLeonard]

The Joy of Cooking.

 

[Woland]

My favorites for recipes:

Food & Wine Annual
Food & Wine Annual
Food & Wine Annual...

Please to the table (Russian)
Raichlen's BBQ and Grill books
60 Minute Gourmet
Legends of the Texas BBQ
Cookery N’Orleans Style
The Internet

 

[TexasHooch]

The NEW Best Recipe.

Published from the folks of Cooks Illistated and America's Test Kitchen.

 

[Smoky Brisket]

this is really all I use the library for, because otherwise I'd have 50+ cookbooks.

 

[Idahorn2]

What sorts of things do you like to eat? American, Southwestern, TexMex, Southern, Continental (French), Italian, Chinese, or what?

SmokyBrisket's suggestion is a good one. The Food Network is probably a good source for lots of things. If you find some you really like at the library, get the book. We have dozens, and quite a few of them never get used any more.

We always use the Joy of Cooking recipe for buttermilk pancakes--plus MOLASSES.

 

[Fanny McLonghorn]

In reply to:

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[DoobieWah]

Check Half Price Books for anything by Julia Childs.

Actually, I buy cheap cookbooks at Half Price all of the time, but I never cook by recipes. I read 'em on the can for ideas, proportions of ingredients, etc.

Julia Childs is a great read if you ever heard her speak. Her voice comes through in her writing and it's ...


... interesting.


P.S. See if you can find a copy of Cook 'em Horns. I'll be keeping mine.

 

[Idahorn2]

Second the reference to Julia Child. The first volume of Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a real staple. She dresses up green beans with chicken stock, shallots, and butter. Works very well even with frozen beans--and other vegetables.

 

[HornOnTheBayou]

You could also get a subscription to a cooking magazine. My wife gets Cooking Light and I think 90% of her recipes come from there. They are real good and of course healthy.

 

[MirrOlure]

Any self-respecting Orangeblood has to have this on the shelf:

 

[CaptainEd]

i get cook's illustrated every two months and that's a great magazine.

 

[Summerof79]

This is a really good cookbook, that in my humble opinion is considerably better than the UT offering. For us recipes are more like guidelines. We usually follow the recipe exactly the first go round and then tweak it to our taste. It's also a nice gift to those that enjoy Austin but don't live here.

I bet the wife has more than 50 cookbooks, I probably have about 10 myself relating primarily to meat products/ BBQ. The wife also likes "Stop and Smell the Rosemary."

 

[SouthernSooner]

Some of my favs:

-- "Matt Martinez Makes a Run for the Border" -- some great sauces and dressing recipes.

-- The aforementioned Robb Walsh "Legends of Texas BBQ"

-- Chef Paul Prudhomme's "Louisiana Kitchen" -- Step-by-step blackened redfish, excellent gumbos and sauces.

-- "Feast of Santa Fe - Cooking of the American Southwest"