ISO Cookbook recommendations

[neeter]

We are in a cooking rut and would love some inspiration! Anyone have a great go-to cookbook they use? Thanks!

[TwinFoxes]

Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything" is a great cookbook. The subtitle is "simple recipes for great food" which really sums it up. I don't feel like I need to be a chef to cook the recipes, but it's certainly not a cook a meal in 10 minutes type of book either. It really gives me ideas when I feel stuck in a rut. Plus he does a good job of explaining various terms etc. Its one weakness is it doesn't have a lot of ethnic food, unless you count Italian. My friend who's a serious foodie journalist gave it to me for a wedding gift and I still use it 8 years later! It as completely revised last year...maybe it's time for me to get a new one!

http://www.amazon.com/How-Cook-Everything-Simple-Recipes/dp/0471789186/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257334696&sr=8-2

revised version:

http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Everything-Completely-Revised-Anniversary/dp/0764578650/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257334447&sr=8-1

[WatchingThemGrow]

Wok Fast
Once-A-Month Cooking family favorites

allrecipes.com

[♥ms.pacman♥]

i'm a big fan of America's Test Kitchen, so one of my faves is "The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook". It comes in a 3-ring binder and is organized with little tabs so it's easy to find everything. I should note though that most of the recipes in there are not quick, fast & easy recipes that you can just slap together, they usually require a bit more time & effort but they are worth it. I should also add it's definitely not a diet/health cookbook, but again, i think the results (good tasting food) is worth it.

[neeter]

omg i have the bittman and the atk cookbook, but haven't really used them yet. maybe i need to be inspired by my own bookshelf! thanks for reminding me of those!

[pakin]

I like "Everyday Food: Great Food Fast."
http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Food-Great-Fast/dp/0307354164/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257351002&sr=1-1

Pakin

DS 4/2001
DD 6/2005

[rhettsmom]

Okay, not a cookbook, but these two sites will get you OUT of the cooking rut without getting all fancy on ingredients. I'm not big on lots of ingredients or anything I can't readily find in our tiny town grocery store.

http://www.quick-and-easy-dinner.com/cheap-quick-easy-dinner-recipe.html

or

http://www.all-casseroles.com

Have fun, this is a great time of year to cook.

[bluestar2]

The Joy of Cooking (new editions). It has everything in it!

[crl]

My go-to is Joy of Cooking. It has recipes for pretty much everything and nice descriptions of ingredients, etc (so if a recipe calls for a vegetable I've never used before I can figure out what it is supposed to look like before going to the store).

For something different, I've liked my Moosewood cookbook. They have a bunch, but I have the home cooking one.

Catherine

[katydid1971]

I have many of the cook books mentioned and love 'em but lately find many wonderful recipes at www.foodtv.com

[khalloc]

Cooks Country!!!!!!!!!! The best cooking magazine/book ever.

[septmama2b]

We are in a cooking rut and would love some inspiration! Anyone have a great go-to cookbook they use? Thanks!

Besides the others that have been mentioned which I have and love, my favorite one is The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=barefoot+contessa&x=0&y=0). I've made most of the recipes in it, and have never been let down. I've given this cookbook as my standard bridal shower gift along with all of my notes written in the margins to several people, and they love it.

[boolady]

Besides the others that have been mentioned which I have and love, my favorite one is The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=barefoot+contessa&x=0&y=0). I've made most of the recipes in it, and have never been let down. I've given this cookbook as my standard bridal shower gift along with all of my notes written in the margins to several people, and they love it.

I was going to suggest this, although it may not be as broad as some others mentioned. I have most of her books, but my favorites are this one, Barefoot Contessa at Home, and the newest, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics. I just really love her style of cooking...simple, with a focus on fresh ingredients. I do try to slim down some of her recipes sometimes.

We also use the Everyday Food cookbook a PP mentioned. I love cookbooks, but primarily use these, the Food Network website, and the Cooking Light website.

[Seitvonzu]

i enjoyed getting cooking light pre-kid because i always felt inspired! perhaps that's something i need to put on my christmas list, because we are in a rut that is involving WAY to much take-out. *sigh* i'm a stay at home mommy, so take out is pretty ridiculous. i need to do better.

i also really like "the first and forever cookbook"...i've tired LOTS of the recipes and several of them are staples in our house. i roast chicken their way (or bittman's). i also LOVELOVELOVE "THE BEST RECIPE COOKBOOK"-- it's a great staples cookbook. i like the explanations behind the cooking methods. the scientific approach really jibes with me! i did get the american test kitchen family cookbook for my birthday but haven't had a lot of bonding time with it... maybe i should pull it out :)

[neeter]

thanks for all the links and the fantastic cookbook recs! i'm off to load up my amazon cart! :)