Recommendations from the FoodStack Library community and those featured in Other People’s Bookshelves Q&A with …
Lisa Ekus Guinness World Record collection of Cookbooks. Image credit Eric Gove Photography. Read more > Sally Ekus Q&A
Our Other People’s Bookshelves Q&A with ... series gives us an insight into the many cookbooks people have, including their favourites and which they would recommend. Whenever a food writer invites us to learn more about their bookshelves, I ask them this question.
‘What cookbooks would you recommend and why?’
I will collate them onto one page and will add more whenever a Q&A post is published.
I have to recommend any of The Silver Palate cookbooks and Sarah Leah Chase’s cookbooks. But there are a couple of others.
I’m always looking for recipes that are really simple. I’m actually quite lazy in the kitchen and since I complain about baking A LOT, if I have to bake, it better be an easy recipe. Food for Friends by Fran Warde fits into that category. As does a regional cookbook I have, Finger Lakes Feast.
I think everyone should have a classic companion, like The Good Housekeeping Cookery Book. For anything traditional, whether it’s rice pudding or a rich fruit cake, it’s in there. In a world of Google, you might wonder why, but there’s something comforting about having an encyclopaedia-like guide at your side without worrying about a screen going blank.
For baking, Dan Lepard’s Short & Sweet is a must. It’s full of clear, approachable recipes that simply work.
For meat dishes, Stéphane Reynaud’s One Knife, One Pot, One Dish is a go-to. The recipes are simple, forgiving/adaptable. They are heavy on slow cooking which is perfect for my lifestyle, where I can throw something in the oven for a main meal and then enjoy leftovers the next night.
For a vibrant alternative to meat, Bold Beans by Amelia Christie-Miller is fantastic. It’s full of creative recipes that feel like an antidote to traditional meat-based meals and a step towards a more plant-forward world.
Finally, Annie Bell’s How to Cook is one I always recommend. With over 200 recipes, it’s the book I wish I’d been given when I left for university. It’s straightforward, practical, and perfect for building confidence in the kitchen.
Oh my, this is SO hard to answer because it depends. What you are looking for? A great collection of well-tested, timeless, and tasty recipes? Any Michael McLaughlin book! Want to bake? Hello Dorie or Rose (both of whom have known me since I was a little girl!). Or maybe you want an agency best-seller that busts countless myths and will keep you at the top of your outdoor cooking game. Easy: Meathead, and stay tuned for the follow up this May! Tried and true vegan recipes? Any Nava Atlas book! Then there’s Toni Tipton Martin’s Jubilee and, and, and…
