In a world of Pinterest recipe and YouTube videos, it might seem odd to talk about old fashioned cookbooks, especially on a book review website. But there is something about scanning the pages and pictures to find something you want to try for dinner! Cookbooks can open doors to new worlds and pass on legacies for generations.
My favorite long-time cookbook collection
I received my first cookbook when I moved out on my own in college and have carried it with me from home to home over the past 20+ years. It is a Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook – you know it…the one with the red checkered cover. I have used it’s recipes to learn to cook birthday cakes and cookies and Sunday dinners. It’s easy to follow and has plenty of pictures.
My first Christmas on my own, I wanted to make all kinds of new cookies to start new traditions without my family. I picked up the Chocolate Collection cookbook and discovered much more than cookies. My famous cheesecake recipe is a spin on a recipe I found in this book, as are my brownies. I can’t seem to find it in print anymore, but you can find copies on eBay from time to time.
But my favorite cookbook is a hand-me-down book I acquired after my grandmother’s death. As my mom and her sisters were clearing out their parents’ home, they came across a handful of old church and community cookbooks. I was gifted a few of these and one has quickly become my favorite. It includes recipes from my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother included, as well as several of their friends. While I know the recipes by heart mostly, I still pop open the small spiral-bound book when I decide to make my mom’s Crunch Pound Cake or my great-grandmother’s dinner rolls. It takes me back to my childhood every time!
Recently acquired cookbooks
I attended my first cookbook signing several years ago when Chef Anne Burrell released her first cookbook Cook Like a Rock Star. This was when Burrell was just becoming a big name on Food Network. Watching her on TV taught me about mise en place, seasoning at every step of cooking, and the proper way to chop vegetables. This cookbook took it to a whole new level with over 100 recipes meant to elevate the meal, but be simple enough for novice home cooks. My famous meatball recipe is based on a recipe I found in this book – you’ll love this book!
This was the first of two cookbook signings I attended in 2023 and it was very special for me. Bomb Biscuit Co is an Atlanta breakfast staple and was a common meetup location for me when I needed good eats and atmosphere for customer meetings. I have been in love with Erika Council’s biscuits from first sight – they look and taste so much like the ones I grew up with! Still We Rise offers home cooks several variations on biscuit recipes as well as the extras. Jams, meats, eggs, and biscuits with add ins are all included. These are amazing additions to the breakfast table and beyond.
The second cookbook signing I attended in 2023 was with Sandra Gutierrez for her latest book Latinisimo. Gutierrez is a food historian, instructor, chef, and so much more. I really enjoyed the discussion about Latin food origins and how food in general connects cultures around the world. It opened my eyes to how European influences really changed the course of the native culture in the lands they invaded, but also how it has brought us all together. My favorite recipe so far from this book has been the arepas! So good! The way this book is segmented based on ingredient has also been a game changer for me – I wanted a corn recipe and could scan an entire list of recipes to find one that would work!
One thing I noticed about all three of these books is the inclusion of stories and histories of the recipes, the food culture, and the authors. Food is a true connector, and these books facilitate that network. As Gutierrez stated in the author talk she held, so many cultures include corn meal-based items, potatoes, rice, and beans. We might prepare them a little differently, but our tables are all based in the same dishes. We plan on making a dish each week from one of these three books to help expand our food horizons.
What cookbooks do you refer to most? Did you know most of the books above are now available for eReaders, too? Check out the best sellers in your favorite cuisine – you might just find new favorite recipes to make for your family.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: TBD
- Current audio book: TBD
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
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