9.25.2008

Today's Special: A Heaping Plate of Thursday Thirteen

I love to cook. Plain and simple. And amongst my overflowing cookbook shelves, these thirteen texts are the ones I am particularly partial to. At least at the moment.

Thirteen of My Favorite Cookbooks

The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook
You cannot go wrong in the world of Southern cooking with anything from the Southern Living family. Period.

The French Chef Cookbook
The second cookbook I ever owned -- a Christmas gift for me when I was 13. The French Onion Soup recipe is one that I've been preparing literally for 30 years. (Oh good lord, that's a damn long time. Oy.)

The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook

Say what you will about Miss Paula -- her recipes for barbecue sauce and beer biscuits cannot be beat and are amongst the most requested by the loved ones I often cook for.

The New Basics Cookbook
A “basics” cookbook from the creative minds behind the Silver Palette: Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins. A terrific reference for just about anything. Sure -- it might be a little dated (it did, after all, come out in the late ‘80s) but it still holds a prominent dog-eared spot on my cookbook rack.

The Gasparilla Cookbook
A classic. Published by the Junior League of Tampa, it melds the different flavors of my community perfectly. The Arroz con Pollo recipe is my personal comfort food favorite.

Roasting: A Simple Art
Great instruction on perfecting the most simple and satisfying of cooking techniques. Don't be put off by the high temperature that's recommended -- trust me, it's worth it.

Memories of a Cuban Kitchen
I am Cuban by osmosis and this is a wonderful handbook for Cuban comfort food. Fantastic.

Marcella Hazan’s Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

The quintessential primer on quality Italian fare. The osso buco recipe is perfection.

Rick Bayless’ Mexican Kitchen
A new favorite. I took a Mexican cooking “class” as an excursion on our New Year’s cruise -- not too challenging technically, but it whet my appetite to learn more about authentic Mexican food and what makes it tick, so to speak. I’ll keep you posted on my progress with this book.

Smith and Hawken’s Gardener’s Community Cookbook
The perfect guide to help you prepare nature’s bounty. Fresh and flavorful and inspiring, even to a self-proclaimed “black thumb” as myself.

A Little Something
My go-to for quick and easy appetizers and nibbles for entertaining.

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Gorgeous book, great recipes. The Maple Oatmeal Scones are totally delish (and if I, a non-baker, can handle them, you know the recipe’s good.)

Molly Stevens’ All About Braising
My most recent acquisition. I love the succulence of braised meat and as soon as the weather gets a little bit cooler, I'll be diving into this one.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the list, CJ. Not that it will do me any good - my kitchen has been declared a DMZ. Have seen the Barefoot Contessa on TV, her stuff looks yummy. Must be quite a time in the Cocina de CJ.

Cinnamon Girl said...

Southern food is so damn good and so damn bad for you! Fried pickles! Miss Paula can cook for me whenever. Happy TT!

Donna said...

Yummy, yummy, yummy.... I love to read cookbooks. That is a great list!

My list is up here. Stop by if you get a chance.

Unknown said...

Ewwwwie, I love me some Paula Deen!

I loved your list. I might have to go check some of those out. I have a huge collection of cookbooks myself. Lord knows why since I don't cook a whole lot. I guess it just makes it look like I do.

Anonymous said...

I have a huge cookbook collection and now you have given me some great new ones to add to my list!!!

Happy Cooking!

XOXOXO