Makeshift Apartment Library
What you see above is my overflow area for cook books. I own hundreds of cook books. I want to use this space to let you know what has been worth it and what you can live without. Comment on a book you own, too!
I’m just getting started doing this part…so bare with me!
The following book reviews are based on how often I used a book, how good the results were, how much the book cost, and the origonality of the recipes. If you do not own many cook books you might not know that many people publish books on the same kinds of things. For instance, I have a cook book of strictly cakes, that does not have one recipe for chocolate cake. While that is surprising, this might not be a bad thing, considering almost all of my other cook books have a chocolate cake recipe! If you want a solid chocolate cake recipe it might be a good idea to check out a book on chocolate baking. By the time you own recipes for every one of your favorite foods you have a hundred books, and pile them into a hall closet for safe keeping. Don’t judge me, people!
Each title has a link to the Amazon.com page, where you can see the book and other critics ideas about them. There you can also buy a used copy or a new copy of the book online. Every time i purchase a book, and I have the option to buy used, I will buy a used one before a new one. I push Amazon.com because I have purchased approximately 100 books from them, and they have always produced. You can also search for the credibility of the sellers, if you really worry about these things.
MUST HAVE
Eat Feed Autumn Winter; 30 ways to celebrate when the mercury drops by Anne Bramley
Anne Bramley has a Podcast called Eat Feed. The podcast is amazing, and so is her book. If I need something warm and seriously comforting when it’s cold outside, I reach for this book. It’s beautifully illustrated and separated into menus and situations (ie raking in the leaves, Sunday roast, fireside chat, and party hearty). It’s also a STEAL at $3.50 on Amazon.com.
LEMON ZEST; More than just 175 recipes with a twist by Lori Longbotham
This book is phenomenal. It is not for the visual learner, however. It has no pictures, but is an easy read and is company food-filled. Serve any of these things to your neighbors in the summer, and likewise at Christmas for a fresh take on holiday fare. It has recipes for everything lemon…including (my favorite) lemoncello. It’s an Italian lemon vodka-drink from heaven. This is your go-to book for every lemon use in the culinary world. This is a must have for summer. The only downer is that the pages are made from easily stained and easily ripped paper.
The New Steak; Recipes for a Range of Cuts plus Savory Sides by Cree LaFavour
This book is exactly what it says it is. It is the first word in steak. It has recipes for 10 different cuts of beef, recommendations for buying steak, recipes for side dishes, and sauces. Its chapters are as follows: 1. American steak, 2. Bistro steak, 3. Latin steak, and 4. Far East steak. These chapters make it easy to cook what’s on you’re mind. The recipes are delicious, and the book is full of mouth-watering pictures. Recipes for Sherry-Chantrelle Sauce over Hangar Steak, Triple Sage T-Bone, Flat Iron Steak with Roquefort Butter, Porterhouse with Black Mexican Chocolate Sauce, Fajitas, and Wasabi-Stuffed Filet are all included. The side dishes are also wonderful. So far, I have made the cauliflower mash, crispy fried shallots, corn griddle cakes, mango-cherry tomato salsa, coconut rice, and the mint-cucumber raita. The sides are reason enough to buy this book. Some of the steaks included are great ways to cook cheap cuts of steak, and others are great ways to make fool-proof steaks, when you do drop some serious cash on a steak. This book is, overall, one of the best books I have purchased in 2009.
Wouldn’t hurt
WRAPS; easy recipes for haldheld meals by Mary Corpening Barber, et al.
This book is published by Chronicle books, and is a great inspiration maker. It’s not for company food, but is great for family fare. Most wraps have many ingredients (up to 15) but there not for on-the-go people. Instead of using wraps as a means of transportation this book uses wraps as a way to present common things, and make them more interesting.
It has ideas for wraps to eat at every meal, from every culture, with any drink (even Guinness). This book provides ideas for wrapping up ice cream, tofu, chow mein, cottage cheese, trail mix & barbeque to name a few. Chronicle books seems to have a series of these, including Pot Pies & Meatloaf. They are consistently filled with beautiful pictures and are made of thick glossy paper that makes them perfect for using in the kitchen. The serving ideas are also very interesting and are using every day things that you’d have around the house.
Simply Delectable by Sharon Glass
This book is oversized, which makes it hard to cook with. Besides the size, the pages are durable and filled with pictures and basic recipes. This book would make a great gift for someone who doesn’t own many cook books, or who would like to try cooking Thai food, Italian food, or veal, lamb and filet mignon. The recipes are simple and basic, and of the ones i have made I can say that the amount of each ingredient was very closely monitored by the editor. The books has recipes for pasta, meat, poultry, vegetables, desserts, grains and suggested menu ideas. Don’t buy this book if you already have a go-to book for basic, simple recipes.
Don’t waste your money
None yet;)