« Destination Wedding-Why Do We Bother? | Main | Ain't nothing going on but the rent... »
Rachael Ray: 30-Minute Meals 2
I think this is her best book. She has so many user-friendly recipes that taste great and are easy to prepare. Nothing fussy or weird either.
Hugo Arnold: Avoca Cafe Cookbook 2
I have such great memories of my many visits to the Avoca store in Dublin. I always felt like this store was made for me with their Anthropolgie-like knickknacks, foodie favors and dreamy upstairs cafe. This cookbook is eyecandy as well as my Irish souvenir.
Huang Su Huei: Chinese Cuisine (Wei-Chuan's Cookbook)
First published in 1972, this is a classic and has some very good recipes that are easy to follow and produce authentic results. I am a fan of the entire series.
Giada De Laurentiis: Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes
Recipes in this book are simple, surprisingly good and are foods I would eat everyday.
Nigella Lawson: How to Be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking
I don't bake much, but when I do it is usually from this book. No regrets about the poundage gained after eating these lush treats.
Mark Bittman: How to Cook Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Food
This has replaced The Good Housekeeping Cookbook and the Joy of Cooking as my go-to-reference cookbook when I can't remember how to cook roast beef or tilapia. It is a necessity in my kitchen.
Amy Besa: Memories of Philippine Kitchens
Reading this book makes me proud to be a Filipina and reminds me of my rich cultural heritage and the reason why I was (and still am) a chubby kid.
Rick Bayless: Mexican Everyday (Recipes Featured on Season 4 of the PBS-TV series "Mexico One Plate at a Time")
This book is so useful and once you try making his recipes, you gain a new appreciation for Mexican food and a realization that it's so much more than burritos, tacos and nachos. It's very exciting!
Nigella Lawson: Nigella Bites: From Family Meals to Elegant Dinners -- Easy, Delectable Recipes for Any Occasion
So many comfort foods and surprisingly good ethnic recipes. I am fascinated by this woman.
Mark Bittman: The Best Recipes in the World
This is probably my favorite cookbook evidenced by the fact that I use it so much. My favorite is the French-style roasted chicken which I make about once a week. Well researched and very useful.
Jeffrey Steingarten: The Man Who Ate Everything
This is such an inspirational book in that after you read a chapter, you feel like an expert in whatever you just read about and you also feel like a student eager to try to make things the right way and eat only the best possible foods you can get your hands on. I constantly quote this man.