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Wednesday, October 08, 2014

My Go-To Cookbooks


This is my cookbook shelf. It is full. Overfull.
This should stop me from buying new cookbooks but...


This post inspired me to write my own roundup of favorite cookbooks, because cookbooks are some of my favorite things. They have often been the perfect bedtime read for me and, when I'm in the right mood, I find them just as riveting as any novel.

I linked all of these to Amazon and was really surprised to find several of them (the more obscure local ones) available this way-- many of them used for rock bottom prices. If you can pick up a used copy, do yourself a favor and do so! These are the cookbooks I've relied on for years:



Gooseberry Patch cookbooks: Especially A Pinch of This A Dash of That, Come on Over and Superfast Slow Cooking. I also love their Christmas and Fall cookbooks. Spend some time on their website just perusing the goodness they have to offer!

Pioneer Woman cookbooks: I have them all! (But I linked to the first one as it's a good place to start.) I love all the photos and find they help me to know if I'm doing "it" right. Her cinnamon rolls and her ranch chicken sandwiches have become family favorites.


The Cake Mix Doctor: I can usually always find something to bake using this cookbook-- and it's not all cakes, though cake mixes are the basis for most every recipe. She's got some wonderful icings and glazes too. I find myself using this cookbook as a resource when I'm in the mood to bake.

Fix It and Forget It Recipes For Entertaining: With a family our size, it's like I'm throwing a small dinner party every night so I use this cookbook regularly. It's a wonderful slow cooker resource. I love the chicken cacciatore and white chicken chili recipes from this cookbook.

Cooking With Class: This is a classic cookbook in my neck of the woods, and it's the best kind because it's a collection of recipes collected from real mothers at a local private school. My beloved banana bread recipe is in here, as is beer bread and a lot of other delicious stuff.

Cooking With Class, A Second Helping: This is part deux of this collection. I have and use both of these. My banana pudding recipe is in here.

Granny's Drawers: This was put together by a member of a family we actually know so that makes this cookbook extra fun. But you don't have to know the family to enjoy this collection of distinctly southern recipes. There is a recipe for how to cook a turkey breast from frozen that makes the whole book worth buying. I also make the Consomme Rice again and again. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Supper's At Six And We're Not Waiting! This cookbook is chock full of good country recipes, with little stories about the author's family too. Favorites are her apple crisp and her chicken pie. She's Moravian, which is part of my heritage, so there's lots of good stuff for my family in this cookbook.

Southern Living Comfort Food: I'll include this one because Pat Conroy wrote the foreword. That should be all you need to know. And also the words "Comfort Food" and "Southern."

I hope this roundup has been fun for you!
What are your favorite cookbooks?
Which ones are you going to consider buying?

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6 comments:

bp said...

I love cookbooks too. My Mom usually gets me a new one for Christmas. I have the Cake Doctor and really like it. I enjoy the Taste of Home cookbooks and have many favorites in those.

Marybeth Whalen said...

Have loved Taste of Home for years!

Karin Katherine said...

I have two of the Pioneer Woman cookbooks but I don't think I've tried a single recipe. You have inspired me! Also discovered a new blog because of you- Modern Mrs. Darcy. Thanks!

amy said...

Cooking with class is one of my go to's as well!!!

Anonymous said...

I like The Desparation Dinners Cookbook and just about any church cookbook. I have a bunch of church cookbooks!

Pam said...

I love your cookbook roundup! My all time favorite cookbook is the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. It contains classics like Apple pie & meatloaf. My favorite salmon recipe is also in this one.