Jump to content

Cookbooks


dogmatix

Recommended Posts

I'm on a cokbook jag. Started collecting about a year ago. Have em' all lined up in the kitchen on the top shelf of the cabinets. I love a combination of gorgeous pictures (one for every recipe please!), fresh ingredients heavy on the veggies and grains, also some good food history. Plus I love to cook!!!!!

 

Right now my favs are the Naked Chef Series by Jamie Oliver but I also love Kitchen of Light by Andres Viestad.

 

 

I'm interested in Kylee Kwong's book Heart and Soul, but don't have it and my favorite chef is Alton Brown because he's just so nerdy and adorable.

 

 

Who else is into cookbooks and what are your favorites?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 58
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

It's funny I usualy don't follow the recipes as much as look at the photos and read the history/culture parts. Then look at the ingredients list and get a little seed of inspiration in my head. I carry that around with me when I go to the supermarket and I'm usually able to capture at least the theme of the recipe wihout knowing exactly what it was.

 

For example tenderloins encrusted in peppercons was soemthing new to me or "Oh you can saute brussel sprouts in butter and bacon yum-yums. You don't have to boil them until they taste like dirt"

 

It's more about the ideas and inspiration than the teaspoons of this and cups of that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

LOVE them too!! Have tons.....although I buy them with good intentions, I don't use them often....but I do love the Rachael Ray ones:)

Rachael Ray is a real gem.

 

Dogmatix (and anyone else), a cook book that I enjoy is "Biscuits, Spoonbread, and Sweet Potato Pie" by Bill Neal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's funny I usualy don't follow the recipes as much as look at the photos and read the history/culture parts. Then look at the ingredients list and get a little seed of inspiration in my head. I carry that around with me when I go to the supermarket and I'm usually able to capture at least the theme of the recipe wihout knowing exactly what it was.

 

For example tenderloins encrusted in peppercons was soemthing new to me or "Oh you can saute brussel sprouts in butter and bacon yum-yums. You don't have to boil them until they taste like dirt"

 

It's more about the ideas and inspiration than the teaspoons of this and cups of that.

 

No, I don't usually follow any set recipe either, even when I do look one up. For one thing, we don't eat beef, so substitutions are automatic there and I can't eat really really hot stuff, although I love Mexican seasonings.

 

But for future reference regarding brussel sprouts...we always just boiled them for about 5 minutes...do you cut the ends off and make incisions at the base? Two incisions that cross, maybe a bit more than an eighth of an inch deep. Makes them cook faster.

Not that I eat them, yuck, but others in the family do.

That and okra............ewwwwwww! and Yuck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brussel sprouts are beautiful if not boiled for too long. Soft over-cooked vegetables are a common fault in British cooking, which is probably why so many folk don't like them. I cook mine just as Pontalba does, with the incisions, but checking frequently so that they still have 'bite' when served. They saute well too. Yum yum!!

 

PP

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brussel sprouts are beautiful if not boiled for too long. Soft over-cooked vegetables are a common fault in British cooking, which is probably why so many folk don't like them. I cook mine just as Pontalba does, with the incisions, but checking frequently so that they still have 'bite' when served. They saute well too. Yum yum!!

 

PP

Not only British cooking, it's almost a ritual in the South! Every vegetable is overcooked and has bacon or ham added to it. Now I love bacon and ham, but not in veggies. If they are cooked properly they taste great, and they don't need much at all. Just a little butter and salt. Besides, if I want to add taste I melt cheese over it, cheese covers a multitude of sins. :018:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But the veggie situation is changing. I for one very rarely overcook my veg. To me, I feel that I have ruined the meal on the rare occassion that this happens :018:

 

I also use the condition of the veg. served up in restaurants as one of my criteria for judging the chef. For me, no matter how good the main meal, reflects how good they are. No excuses held for wilting veg!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm catering a seafood feast at the hospital on Tuesday. Lobster, shrimp, and clams. 20 people, cooking outside. Needless to say I'm a bit stressed. That's why I'm up at 3:00 in the morning.

 

As for vegetables, they are very "in" right now and you can get so much variety at the market. Thank God. I really think fresh and not overcooked is the way to go (as you've all said). My favorite for spinach is one of two ways: fresh baby spinach replacing lettuce on a sandwich, or spinach with feta in a puff pastry, MmmmmMmmm

 

My current favorite veg is fennell. Love that licorich (sp) taste. I eat it raw or roasted with some Gruyer and leeks. Then there's broccolini with just a knob of butter ohhh so good!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Early every spring I would plant lots and lots of spinach and we would have spinach salads every day with our meals. Fresh spinach, some craisins, and a few pine nuts sprinkled in and topped with a homemade raspberry vinagraitte (spelling). I don't know if I will have a garden this spring as I don't have the ground prepared at our new home. :018:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love my cookbooks and will often sit with a pile looking for ideas -especially as I look to cook seasonally and as ethically as I can. I tend to use Rick Stein, Gordon Ramsay or Delia. DH will often use Gary Rhodes. We also use Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall.

 

I'd also like to start a collection of Nigella.

 

I love getting out in the kitchen (when i have the time & ingredients) and learning new skills - not too much fazes me

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...