It took me a while to actually get into cookbooks. I never saw the point of them in this day in age when you can just google any recipe you need or use Pinterest to collect your favorites. But then I started reading them like regular books. I'd take them to bed to read a "chapter" before I fell asleep and I realized how much effort is put into creating a collection of recipes that tell not only a story, but the story of the author. I'm a big fan of chefs who truly show their love of food - and the food they love - through their books cohesively and in an entertaining way. It's not too late (or too early?) to get those Christmas gifts, so I thought I'd help you out by suggesting my top 3 favorite cookbooks! Clicking on the titles will take you to each book's Amazon page:
One of my dearest friends sent me this cookbook for Christmas a few years ago. I was really starting to find my way with baking and testing new recipes so she wanted to send some inspiration. I learned a TON from this book. The author, Joanne Chang, is a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef, but she never comes off as pretentious or out of touch with normal bakers like you and me in her book. I learned how to make puff pastry from scratch through this book and it opened my eyes to the possibilities of desserts I never thought I'd be talented enough to even try. And it's not just sweet treats that are highlighted in this cookbook - there are some awesome breakfast recipes in here as well!
Because it was so close to Christmas when I received this cookbook, I made a few of its cookie recipies. My favorites were the melt-in-your-mouth pecan sandies. I don't know why I even bothered putting them in the cookie jar because all of them went straight into my stomach in about 24 hours and I hated myself for that...
The images are so beautiful and the directions are easy to follow and quite clear. Joanne understands that patience is key to beginning bakers so she really thinks about the audience she's writing for. She even included a handful of gluten-free and vegan recipes. This book radiates a sense of nostalgia, with many of these treats likely to be shared with your family for many years to come while providing you with the basis for many of your own creations. She has a whole section that teaches you basic fundamentals of baking like how to make piping bags out of parchment paper and how to properly whip egg whites into stiff peaks.
I'm a Top Chef mega fan and although opening my own bakery is up there, I think my true career aspiration is to be a judge on that show. Mainly to eat all the amazing food that gets produced, but also to meet Padma Lakshmi who is one of my food idols. When I die, I want to eat my first meal in heaven (or hell, let's be realistic) with the Grandmother I never met, Juliette Gordon Low, George Washington, and Taylor Swift, but I want the food to be made and served by Padma.
The way Padma talks about food is like listening to a crackling fire on a snowy day snuggled in blankets while sipping hot chocolate - it makes you feel cozy, calm, and relaxed, but you are totally down for the experience. Cole surprised me with her cookbook after I binged 3 or 4 seasons of Top Chef (again) in quarantine and I nearly cried when I opened the box. With this book, she does exactly what the title says - she provides recipies that anyone can tackle that give you a taste of other cultures and flavor profiles from around the world. Some of the recipies are a little more labor intensive and require ingriedients that you might not find at every grocery store, but there's something for all skill levels in this book and she offers suggestions for substitutions throughout if you can't find some of those specialized ingredients.
If you're more of an adventurous eater like myself, this is a great buy to try out some new and creative ideas. The pictures are inviting and you'll learn a little about each dish in the well thought out intros as you go along. I love me a good soup, and the curry butternut squash soup Padma shares is a great substitute if you run out of hot chocolate for your next cozy night in with your fuzzy blankets and crackling fireplace.
This. Was. One. Of. My. Best. Amazon. Purchases. EVER.
First of all, like his music or not, Snoop Dogg is an icon. An icon would never change their personality, style, or approach to the culinary world to fit into a mold. In this cookbook, Snoop never hides his roots, his past, or the fact that he really likes herbs you may not always see in a typical kitchen (if you know what I mean). His bestie, the queen of domesticality herself Ms. Martha Stewart, wrote the forward and Snoop hypes up every recipe with a little story of that dish's significance to him. The pictures are incredibly graphic and bright, so much so that the food seems to jump right off the page. Honestly, I originally bought this cookbook for the kitsch factor, but everything about this book exceeds every expectation!
Aside from recipes, the cookbook also gives you a glimpse into Snoop's kitchen and guilty pleasures. He shares his pantry staples, his favorite foods to eat when he has the "munchies," and his favorite places to chow down when he doesn't feel like cooking. Also, his OG Gin & Juice recipe makes an appearance, obviously.
Cole and I made Snoop's Billionare's Bacon a couple weeks after getting the book and oh Lord was it legit! We made almost 2 pounds of it knowing we wouldn't be able to eat all of them right away while warm, but once the slices cooled, they turned into spicy candied bacon and it was the greatest discovery!
Seriously. I promise - even if you don't think so - this cookbook needs a special place on your shelf, fo shizzle.
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