I read cookbooks the way other people read novels and I love every word on every page. It is a fun journey to see what others cook, how they celebrate, and what someone else finds delicious. Food is truly a universal language that we all share in so many exciting ways from the simple scrambled egg to delicacies found around the world.
A few of my most favorite cookbooks include anything written by Alex Guarnaschelli, Ina Garten, or Ree Drummond but I also love Tyler Capp’s Cooking Comically (yes, it is very funny). Of course, there’s always The Joy of Cooking which is a must-have for anyone learning to cook and Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Both are excellent choices as gifts for a bride and groom or for anyone wanting to learn more about food.
My absolute favorite cookbook is one my mom gave to me many years ago called The Wise Encyclopedia of Cookery: An Encyclopedia Handbook for the Homemaker Covering Foods and Beverages - their Purchase, Preparation, and Service, copyright 1954. This cookbook is a delightful throwback to a more innocent time that was filled with Jello molds, fancy cocktail parties, and “unusual or foreign dishes.” It is still available today from Amazon!
It also contains many recipes that I find delightfully disgusting, like Casserole of Squirrel, Prune Cheesecake, Old Fashioned Bag Pudding (which has 1 cup of lard in it!!), and Raisin Cream Pie. Different times, for sure!
This book is a treasure because my mom gave it to me when I was a kid and I still use it today even though I hope I’m never desperate enough to have to make anything with squirrels!
Here’s some pictures of my cookbook stash (a mostly jumbled mess :-). Which cookbooks do you return to often? Why are they your favorites?
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