Practically, you can’t reinvent the wheel every time you go to plan a meal, so you must have some go-to recipes or cookbooks up your sleeve. On the other hand, too many cookbooks in the kitchen can be a bad thing. Pare your books down to a manageable number. Read them. There’s usually great how-to sections in the front or back of the book. Finally, have fun, and cook with them.
Here are my top 7 go-to cookbooks.
Mad Hungry: Simple recipes. Fresh Ingredients.
The America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book: There are so many bad recipes out there (especially on the internet). When I’m looking for a no fail baking recipe, I start here.
Cake Love: Hands down, the best cake recipes. I love his baking philosophies. Almost every cake or cupcake that comes out of my oven starts with this book.
Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook: Classic baking recipes. My favorite brownies can be found in here.
Cooking Light: When I want to lighten things up (which is alot), I get ideas from here.
King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking: If I’m baking for myself, I go whole grain. Whole grain pancakes are delish! This book also taught me a wealth of knowledge about the science of baking. Don’t be afraid to go whole wheat.
Everyday Food—Great Food Fast: Quick, simple,fresh recipes. The recipes are separated out by season so that you can cook with foods that are in season. Genius.
What are your staple cookbooks?
[...] Go-to Cookbooks [...]
[...] Go-to Cookbooks [...]
Confetti Cakes Cookbook. I LOVE this book and all the recipes for cake are AWESOME.
Best-ever cookies by Nestle. Not just cookies, it has breads, cakes and other great desserts.
My most-used cookbook is Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone. Tons of easy, delicious, super-reliable healthy recipes, including a large section organized by vegetable (great for inspiration for getting through my CSA boxes!).
p.s. It has some great cake recipes too.
Great cookbooks, thanks for sharing! My favorites:
Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook 14th Edition
***Taste of Home Cookbook (spiral bound) – Pretty much incredible. I have planned entire holiday meals out of this one alone.
Barefoot Contessa At Home
Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible – The woman can cook. Period.
I have a super-old Betty Crocker Cookie Book and it is simply the best! I’ve got to track down that “Cooking for Men and Boys” cookbook.
Great list of cookbooks. I should get the whole grain baking book by King Arthur Flour.
Great shares!
Your stack looks just like my stack…
The Mad Hungry short ribs have become a family favorite.
I have shelves and shelves of cookbooks!
always wanted to be a pastry chef!!
Unless I am baking I always say I use them as recomendations, add what you and your family like, taylor the recipe to fit what is in your pantry and your taste buds.
I like to collect old-old cookbooks and read how much things have changed. What we consider a big Sunday supper was an everyday affair, with greeting your husband at the door with a martini!, LOL!!
Love it! Writing down titles as i type.
I LOVE cookbooks, and have several you have. I enjoy watching Mad Hungry on tv, so that will be the first I’ll get. Thanks again for sharing.
I have the America’s Test Kitchen binder for family cooking. I was wondering how the baking one was.
ATK’s Family Baking Book is my first go-to. The recipes are tested like no others so trust is never an issue. I can always rely on them to give me great results – truly foolproof. And they also give you ample tips and advice along the way. I <3 all their magazines, shows, websites and cookbooks.
I LOVE cookbooks of ANY kind! Love your selection! Some trusty classics + some new ones!
I have a full fledged collection, but here are my go-to’s: The Southern Living Cookbook & The Flavors of Bon Appetit 1998.
If you love to bake, check out the cookbooks written by Carole Walter. She is a teacher and author. Her books are have detailed instructions with information about the ingredients. each one is a primer in baking. She has so many tips in each volume. I have taken her classes and learned so much.