Books for Cooks
Welcome to Books for Cooks, where I will attempt to list most of the cook books I use in the kitchen. Keep checking back for updates!
Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
From the Kitchen’s of Martha Stewart, this is probably one of my favorite cooking books. It is based on Everyday Food magazine, which is a monthly publication full of great recipes and kitchen tips. The book is divided into four sections, one for each season of the year. Each season features ingredients and cooking methods that are appropriate for the time of year (grilling in summer, roasting in winter). Most of the recipes are quite simple and easy to make, but with big taste. There is also a fifth section filled with basics such as rubs, sauces, vinegarettes, cooking tips and more.
Simply In Season
Another seasonal cook book, as the title implies, divided into four sections related to the four seasons, plus a fifth section produce available year-round. The recipes in this book come from readers across the country, along with narratives, poems, and other meaningful writings related to food and food preparations. This book focuses not just on great food, but the spirit of cooking and filling the soul. A World Community Cookbook, it encourages us to do “more with less.”
No-bake Cookies: More Than 150 Fun, Easy & Delicious Recipes for Cookies, Bars, And Other Cool Treats Made Without Baking
By Camilla V Saulsbury. Here is where some of the best no-bake recipes come from. Other notable books from this author are Cake Mix Cookies, Brownie Bliss Magic, and Cookie Dough Delights. The spirit of these books is to make great desserts in little time without the frustration of temperamental baking. This book is where the infamous Toffee Coffee Cookies appear, as well as many other favorites.
Cake Mix Cookies: More Than 175 Delectable Cookie Recipes That Begin with a Box of Cake Mix
Another great book by Camilla V. Salsbury using a box of cake mix to make delicious cookies. These simple yet creative recipes are easy to follow and great to eat. Try a tasty Big Fat Oatmeal Raisin Cookie or Apple Blondie with Caramel Frosting. The last section of the book includes recipes for homemade frostings and icings that are better than any store-bought container ever could be.
Brownie Mix Bliss: More Than 175 Very Chocolate Recipes for Brownies, Bars, Cookies and Other Decadent Desserts Made with Boxed Brownie Mix
By Camilla V. Saulsbury. As the title suggests, this book is full of great recipes that use a box of brownie mix and some extra ingredients to create an easy and tasty batch of brownies that is anything but boring. Much in the vein of Cake Mix Cookies, these recipes are fairly simple but with big results. Favorites from this book include adventurous Peppery Ginger Chocolate Cookies and Spicy Aztec Brownies with Cinnamon Glaze as well as more traditional recipes like Turtle Cheesecake Brownies.
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously
By Julie Powell. An essay/memoir capturing Julie’s mission to create all 524 recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume One by Julia Child, all in one year. Through this process, Julie learns not only how to cook but how to live - with gusto. This book was the inspiration for projects like Gingerama, Paprika-thon, and Turmeric-mania.
Midnight Snacks: 150 Easy and Enticing Alternatives to Standing by the Freezer Eating Ice Cream from the Carton
By Michael J. Rosen and Sharon Reiss. This cookbook is a little bit unconventional, but is quickly becoming one of my favorites in the kitchen. Though this is meant as “an irresistible handbook for every fridge-raider, insomniac, night owl, and late-night muncher,” I’ve adapted many of the recipes into breakfast treats to accommodate my early-to-rise mornings.
This book is divided into several cleverly-titled sections, divided by the time of night, with some expected recipes and a few surprises. Included are recipes for when you are too sick and stuffy to sleep, when it’s too hot to get comfortable, or when you want to pamper yourself with late night facials and a soak in the bathtub. There are even recipes for homemade dog and cat treats!
The authors write with tongue-in-cheek humor, from the recipe titles to the instructions. If nothing else, the quirky style will give you a laugh in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning. Many of the recipes are designed for one or two, though there are several suitable for an all-night party or study session with friends.
From decadent and indulgent to healthy and light, Midnight Snacks is sure to have a recipe for any late-night situation. Many of these recipes are great early-morning and sleeping-in weekend fare, or for those lounge-in-pajamas days, or when you just need a quick yet satisfying snack.
Soup
By Anne-Catherine Bley.
