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I've been to the market today. It was lovely and cold and dark and full of coffee and squished avocados and fresh deliciousness. And I've been cooking all day. I'm in the mood. I like to cook a lot, in case you don't know. While I was waiting for the kettle to boil (for my cup of Twinings Afternoon Tea; to be partaken of with some Banana Bread).. I got to thinking. What are your Top Five Cookbooks? In fact - I would LOVE to know your Top Five... PLUS one you are dabbling in at the moment. I know the Top Five could change at any moment, as could the dabbler.. but I would like to know where you are at now. Go on. Tell me. I'm all ears.
Here's my list (at the moment) - as you can see, I have a penchant for the traditional, the vintage and the spicy too.
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Top Five - these are the books we pull out all the time ::
The River Cottage Family Cookbook :: I love the recipes, I love the photos, I love the layout, I love Hugh, I love it's simple good food and lack of pretension, I love it all. Plus it tells you how to make bacon. I like that idea a lot. Thanks to Loobylu for recommending this one.
The PWMU Cookbook :: we have Cam's Mum's VERY OLD, battered copy. It's where we turn for all sorts of classic daggy recipes. (I love the CWA one too... in fact any of those old church/school fundraiser cookbooks have a place in my heart)
South East Asian Food :: by Rosemary Brissenden - just a really good Asian cookbook with all the faves in it. (although I also love Charmaine Solomon's Complete Asian Cookbook and Cam loves David Thompson's Thai Food. And you can't beat the curry paste recipes from this book)
The Cook's Companion :: because my eldest child spent a lot of time in the kitchen at Stephanie's when she was a wee gal. I like this book because it reminds me of happy, long ago times and it's a good reference which covers most of the basics. (I also like Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course and anything by Jane Grigson or Elizabeth David)
Maggie's Farm and Maggie's Table are tied here. I love Maggie Beer. I love Australian food. I can't decide between these two!
PLUS - Dabbling - this book changes DAILY!! ::
I'm currently dabbling in a book I bought a long time ago :: Dear Francesca - it's full of Italian family recipes and anecdotes. Really a lovely book. I'm making things from it today, including egg-less Tiramasu, slow cooked pasta sauce with tomato, blade steak and italian sausage... and tomato soup. It's a really evocative book, with simple and delcious recipes. Just how I like my cookbooks.
Of course, I haven't mentioned so many other favourites. Nigella, Jamie, Alice Waters, Carol Field, Mr Granger, Tessa Kiros, Mrs Fulton, Mollie Katzen, Christine Manfield, Antonio Carluccio and Claudia Roden to name but a few. It's so hard to choose! I'm kind of obsessed with anything about baking bread Italian style too. So don't even get me started on those titles.
Looking forward to reading your Top Five, Plus one!
xx Pip
Here's my list (at the moment) - as you can see, I have a penchant for the traditional, the vintage and the spicy too.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Five - these are the books we pull out all the time ::
The River Cottage Family Cookbook :: I love the recipes, I love the photos, I love the layout, I love Hugh, I love it's simple good food and lack of pretension, I love it all. Plus it tells you how to make bacon. I like that idea a lot. Thanks to Loobylu for recommending this one.
The PWMU Cookbook :: we have Cam's Mum's VERY OLD, battered copy. It's where we turn for all sorts of classic daggy recipes. (I love the CWA one too... in fact any of those old church/school fundraiser cookbooks have a place in my heart)
South East Asian Food :: by Rosemary Brissenden - just a really good Asian cookbook with all the faves in it. (although I also love Charmaine Solomon's Complete Asian Cookbook and Cam loves David Thompson's Thai Food. And you can't beat the curry paste recipes from this book)
The Cook's Companion :: because my eldest child spent a lot of time in the kitchen at Stephanie's when she was a wee gal. I like this book because it reminds me of happy, long ago times and it's a good reference which covers most of the basics. (I also like Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course and anything by Jane Grigson or Elizabeth David)
Maggie's Farm and Maggie's Table are tied here. I love Maggie Beer. I love Australian food. I can't decide between these two!
PLUS - Dabbling - this book changes DAILY!! ::
I'm currently dabbling in a book I bought a long time ago :: Dear Francesca - it's full of Italian family recipes and anecdotes. Really a lovely book. I'm making things from it today, including egg-less Tiramasu, slow cooked pasta sauce with tomato, blade steak and italian sausage... and tomato soup. It's a really evocative book, with simple and delcious recipes. Just how I like my cookbooks.
Of course, I haven't mentioned so many other favourites. Nigella, Jamie, Alice Waters, Carol Field, Mr Granger, Tessa Kiros, Mrs Fulton, Mollie Katzen, Christine Manfield, Antonio Carluccio and Claudia Roden to name but a few. It's so hard to choose! I'm kind of obsessed with anything about baking bread Italian style too. So don't even get me started on those titles.
Looking forward to reading your Top Five, Plus one!
xx Pip
