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Reading Room:  What's your favorite cookbook?  |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 13 2010 : 05:02:14 AM
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With the holidays and colder weather coming, I'm spending more time in the kitchen. What is (are) your favorite cookbook(s)? I have a nice collection and especially love vintage ones. I have quite a few tried and true favorites. In addition to my vintage ones, one favorite is my copy of Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook from the early nineties when I got married. When I have a hankering for something, there is always a recipe (or a good place to start) there. Another favorite is an out of print, tiny one called "Recipes of the Bridges of Madison County". It came out with the timing of the movie and has recipes from the caterers (two women) that are all wonderful, homestyle recipes, with beautiful colored pencil illustrations. Anyone else have that cookbook? And, I love the recipes in MaryJane's three books.
What's your favorites?
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Nov 13 2010 : 06:33:43 AM
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I love cookbooks and have a large bookcase full of them. I have favorite recipes in a lot of them but I would say the book I go to most is my 50s era Betty Crocker Cookbook that my MIL got by saving some kind of stamps.
http://www.smallcityscenes.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4741 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4741 Posts |
Posted - Nov 13 2010 : 07:06:47 AM
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All of my "Barefoot Contessa" cookbooks by Ina Garten are my most used cookbooks. I too have tons of cookbooks, old and new, but Ina's are the ones I use over & over.
Dawn in IL |
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tea_lady_tammy
True Blue Farmgirl
1485 Posts
Tammy
NE
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - Nov 13 2010 : 09:08:43 AM
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I love my Barefoot Contessa books and Giada's cookbook as well. Love their shows on the food network too
blessings
Tammmy
Tea is like being in the stars with God.
http://butterflywings.wordpress.com
Farm Sister #1889 |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1503 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1503 Posts |
Posted - Nov 13 2010 : 12:01:41 PM
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My hand-me-down favorites are the 1950 and 1961 editions of the Betty Crocker Cookbook and Fannie Farmer Cook Book that belonged to my grandmother. And of course there is the vast collection of recipe cards that belonged to my great grandmothers and grandmother. For modern books I really like the Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook and The South Beach Diet Cookbook.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Nanniekim
True Blue Farmgirl
206 Posts
Kim
Arizona
206 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2010 : 2:28:01 PM
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I love cookbooks! I love the ones by Beverly Nye -Family Raised on Sunshine, Family Raised on Rainbows, Everyone's a Homemaker, Year Round Sunshine. Then of course the Amish and Mennonite ones, and Gooseberry Patch...I guess I have too many favorites! I also love the leaflets that used to come in flour that my grandmother gave me. They had some fun wartime recipes.
Kim |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2010 : 2:38:36 PM
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The original Laurels Kitchen and A Taste of Aloha, a cook book I got in Hawaii when we lived there. I also use that Deceptively Delicious a lot too.
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting them in a fruit salad!
Farmgirl #680! |
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DyaLynn53
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
Dianne
Roseburg
Oregon
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2010 : 3:06:01 PM
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I know what you mean, Kim, I love cookbooks too and have more than one favorite. Laurel's Kitchen has always been one of my favorites, More With Less, an old Good Housekeeping Illustrated one that my mom gave me years ago, my America's Test Kitchen Family Baking book is one of my newest, I love America's Test Kitchen because they really do test every recipe many times before they approve it. I love watching their Cooks Country tv show. Oh, my son gave me a copy of Paula Deen Celebrates for Christmas a couple years ago and I love that one too.
Farmgirl Sister #682
"Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint on it you can." Danny Kaye |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2010 : 4:59:02 PM
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I adore cookbooks! I think it's a sickness. ;) My favorite is the Fannie Farmer cookbook that I received when I got married. That, and The Yellow Farmhouse cookbook by Christopher Kimball are my go-to books when I need a good, basic recipe.
Karin
www.perfectlittlemiracle.blogspot.com
www.athreadofred.blogspot.com |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2010 : 6:08:11 PM
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I actually just got a copy of the Fannie Farmer cookbook at the flea market for fifty cents! I love vintage cookbooks, too.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE |
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Cindy Lou
True Blue Farmgirl
2325 Posts
Susan
Lonsdale
MN
USA
2325 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2010 : 6:24:05 PM
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I think cookbooks are my addiction. But even though I enjoy new ones I've got to say my Betty Crocker cookbook that was a wedding present back in 1971 has been my favorite over the years for basic recipes. It was written before so many recipes turned into just putting together processed packages of this and that. Now for special recipes we have a couple of America's Test Kitchen cookbooks that are a lot of fun.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
Posted - Nov 17 2010 : 7:10:09 PM
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Fanni8e Farmer. I have my mother's old copy, my aunt's even older edition and two more recent ones, one given to me by my mother and one given to me by my brother because he thought i'd really taken a tool on the one my mom gave me. It is a great basic cookbook, and lots of great canning tips and recipes for relishes and chutney. I have many, many other cook books, but Fannie Farmer is my tried and true kitchen helper.
Karin
Farmgirl Sister #153
"Give me shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan
http://moodranch.blogspot.com
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SarahJ
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Shreveport
Louisiana
198 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2010 : 06:34:49 AM
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I love the gooseberry patch cookbooks, but as well as the yearly Southern Living Christmas books.
SarahJ
Farmgirl Sister #116
http://bayoumama.wordpress.com/ |
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textilelover
True Blue Farmgirl
557 Posts
Dianne
Middletown
NY
USA
557 Posts |
Posted - Nov 19 2010 : 2:20:41 PM
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I read cookbooks like other people read novels--cover to cover! My favorites are those by Susan Branch. Every recipe turns out great and the art and quotes and stories add so much. Check out her website at susanbranch.com. The Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook sounds intriguing. Never heard of it. Dianne in the Hudson Valley
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
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barnagainkristin
True Blue Farmgirl
465 Posts
Kristin
Utah
USA
465 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2010 : 6:24:21 PM
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Dianne,
I too love Susan Branch. Her cheesecake recipe is my all time favorite cheesecake and her books are so fun to look at. Happy to see there is another Susan Branch fan. The first time I saw her artwork I felt like I had found someone just like me. My garden is in no way as beautiful as her pictures are but so much of the way she arranges and decorates are the style I have always loved. Back to the cookbooks... her corn pudding in the Autumn book is an all time favorite at my house.
I guess the cookbook I turn to the most is my falling apart Betty Crocker like many other farm girls. My girls and I are hooked on the spice blends from Mary Jane's Outpost book too.
barnagainkristin
"Others Before Self" |
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Sitnalta
True Blue Farmgirl
4208 Posts
Jessica
NJ
USA
4208 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2010 : 7:31:37 PM
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I have two. My Betty Crocker cookbook and I love using my My Family Living Favorite Cookies cookbook. Some of the yummiest recipes. :)
hugs
Jessie
"Wonder Woman hasn't got a cape, she just turned her apron around"
Farmgirl Sister #235 |
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ramonaj
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
rhonda
gibsons
british columbia
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2010 : 8:01:38 PM
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I love cookbooks and believe i may have a minor addicton to them. There's one called the settlement cookbook that i've had since i first got married. My latest favorite is Jamie Oliver's America cookbook. I had one from WWII that my grandmother passed to me. it got lost in our big move from Texas and i really miss it. there were some excellent recipes in there and the pictures were beautiful. Best of all it had my grandmother's hand written recipes in it.
happiness to all sentient beings |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2010 : 12:23:20 AM
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I bought 2 of the Susan Branch cookbooks when I visited the USA and also received one from a very dear friend while visiting her then. I love those. They are just lovely to read, all the funny stories about cooking and decorating. But alas they are not here and too expensive. But they , and the Gooseberry Patch (have one yay) are among my favorites. To be honest I own quite a few cookbooks haha. Love browsing through them once in a while :) The Susan Branch and Gooseberry ones are on a shelf in my kitchen the rest in the cupboard ;)
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
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Almost daily updates on me, my home and my crafts
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Mommyswanson
True Blue Farmgirl
463 Posts
Laura
Waukegan
IL
USA
463 Posts |
Posted - Dec 05 2010 : 7:11:17 PM
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I love my Susan Branch books as well! I also have a collection of Gooseberry Patch books & they all have wonderful recipes. One of my new favorites is Ree Drummond The Pioneer Woman's cookbook.
Laura
"That which does not kill us makes us strong!" "I cast all my cares upon you Lord." |
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Mama Jewel
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Jewel
Sweet Peas Farmette,
Bend, OR
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Dec 05 2010 : 8:12:22 PM
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Ohhh, this is a fun topic! My all-time favorite is an old Betty Crocker book (super bright orange color from the 50's) that I got from my mom. It's all stained and the binding has duct tape (lol). Also the Betty Crocker International Cooking one that I asked for & got when I was in high school (many moons ago ;-) I like cookbooks that teach things from scratch. That's how I've learned to make everything from bread to eclairs to stroganoff. I have a wonderful collection of cookbooks from a great hippie one from The Farm (commune in TN) to Laurel's Kitchen & Tassajara bread book.
Farm Girl Sister #1683 Living Simply & Naturally on our lil Sweet Peas Farmette
"Do Everything in Love." 1 Cor 14
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
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KJD
True Blue Farmgirl
402 Posts
402 Posts |
Posted - Dec 06 2010 : 6:52:24 PM
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| I also read cookbooks like novels. Love Barefoot Contessa's books, Susan Branch - Autumn, especially - and the big yellow Gourmet cookbook from a few years ago. also love Jr. League cookbooks from anywhere, especially Houston - Stop and Smell the Rosemary. And, Fine Cooking recipes are always great! My collection is huge and I need MORE bookshelves... |
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textilelover
True Blue Farmgirl
557 Posts
Dianne
Middletown
NY
USA
557 Posts |
Posted - Dec 11 2010 : 04:28:24 AM
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Glad to hear I am not alone in my cookbook addiction. My favorite Christmas cookie recipe is for Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons from Susan Branch's Christmas From Heart of the Home (p.89). I make them every year and give them as gifts. Everyone loves them because they are so decadent and delicious, and I love them because they are so easy. I'm sure the recipe is on her website as well.
Dutchy, if you tell me which SB cookbooks you already have, I will keep my eyes open for the others. I often see them on clearance or sale and buy them to give as gifts. I could mail them to you. Dianne in the Hudson Valley
Sister #749
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
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MamaCrunch
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Nasvhille
TN
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Dec 11 2010 : 07:17:32 AM
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I tend to use my 1975 edition of the Joy of Cooking the most. I usually only use cookbooks for baking and use my memory and instincts for actual meals. I'm hoping Santa brings me some Julia Child books!
Farmgirl #2161
Just tryin' to homestead in the middle of a suburban neighborhood!
Blog~ http://thelittleboygreen.com <<I've been slackin' on the updates! |
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knittingmom
True Blue Farmgirl
665 Posts
AnneMarie
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
665 Posts |
Posted - Dec 31 2010 : 09:26:47 AM
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I use my Chatelain magazine cookbook the most, then my Company's Coming ones
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
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buggysmum
True Blue Farmgirl
110 Posts
Shelly
110 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2011 : 5:02:07 PM
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I love the Settlement Cookbook, and I was lucky enough to receive a vintage copy just like the one my mom has used for decades. The directions are simple, the results are delicious! The story behind the cookbook is interesting....it was originally written to help immigrant women in the midwest in the early 1900's cook American dishes...there have been many editions of it since then but it hasn't been published recently.
One thing is for sure..these recipes always work.
My second favorite is the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I received from my aunt. These, too, are recipes that never go wrong (well, unless I mess it up).
Shelly |
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Reading Room: What's your favorite cookbook? |
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What's your favorite cookbook?
