Favourite Cookbooks / Chefs?

Just wondering what your must-have cookbooks are... I've gathered a few and I would really love to have more! I just got Bake by Rachel Allen and I love it! Excellent information on sweet and savoury things, techniques, and general recipes for pastry and cookies, plus a few casserole recipes that look nice. Made two recipes out of there so far and both were good.

Also, I love Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food cookbook, great for basic things like Yorkshire puddings and other English classics.

The Joy of Cooking is an excellent reference, too, and there are lists of conversions and substitutes in the back, which come in handy.

I'm considering getting Delia's giant How to Cook because I have used several of her recipes I found online with great results.

We have tons of cookbooks (it's becoming a bit of a problem!) but my favourites/ones I use the most are:

-Anjum's New Indian and Indian Food Made Easy, both by Anjum Anand (I mentioned these in the curry thread the other day)

-Nigella Express (for really quick tasty meals, although generally not the healthiest)

-Feast by Nigella for holidays and special occasions

-Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day (this is my husband's domain--he's the baker)

-Modern Classics vol 1 and 2 by Donna Hay for the basics (both cooking and baking)

-The River Cottage Meat Book by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall for anything to do with, well...meat.

Oh, I have Nigella's Christmas book from last year. Haven't really used it yet, though. Planning on making her scrummy ham for Christmas... I've been thinking about it all year long since I got that book for Christmas last year... you would think I would've broken down and made it sooner! I might try the whole menu she has organised in there, actually, since it follows a schedule and that might help keep me from running around the kitchen like a loonie trying to decide what to cook next. 

I have so many favourites and will come back with a longer list later but, for now, I'll just say: anything by Nigel Slater! 

My most used would be my Rose Elliot books and Margaret Shaida's Legendary Cuisine of  Persia but I love most cookbooks although these days if I'm looking for a new recipe, I tend to look online.

The book man at my office had a Williams and Sonoma Slow Cooker cookbook and I love it beyond reason.  I have actually made 5 recipes from it so far and I have only had it for about 6 weeks.  

I can't quite figure out why they had a W&S cookbook in the UK though, so they have the shops here, because I had an unhealthy love of them, but too small of a bank account to buy things.

Although I am still buying bloody cookbooks, I find I look for recipes on the internet far more than I use my cookbooks!!!

Although I am still buying bloody cookbooks, I find I look for recipes on the internet far more than I use my cookbooks!!!

Me too.  That is why I was so shocked that I used the W&S, as opposed to just looking at it.   

anything by Nigel Slater! 

could not agree more!!

I love cookbooks, but I also tend to look for recipes online. I don't have anymore room to buy any right now. I do love my Cooking Light cookbook. I also use those little BBC GoodFood cookbooks quite a bit. If I try a new recipe, I'll rate it out of 10 and make notes about it. That way I don't waste my time trying it again!

Does anyone have any Ina Garten cookbooks? I might need to get one. I like her show the most of all the American tv chefs. She's low key and doesn't try too hard - just makes lovely food that isn't overly complicated.

Does anyone have any Ina Garten cookbooks? I might need to get one. I like her show the most of all the American tv chefs. She's low key and doesn't try too hard - just makes lovely food that isn't overly complicated.

I seem to be able to find most of her recipes online. I love her cooking...so calm and lovely!

I love cookbooks, but I also tend to look for recipes online. I don't have anymore room to buy any right now. I do love my Cooking Light cookbook. I also use those little BBC GoodFood cookbooks quite a bit. If I try a new recipe, I'll rate it out of 10 and make notes about it. That way I don't waste my time trying it again!

I also get a lot of inspiration online. I either think of something I'm craving and go looking for a recipe, or I go to tastespotting.com for inspiration. I used to get Olive Magazine but had to stop my subscription as I wanted to make everything, and it was getting overwhelming!

I have a long-term project to make a recipe database, and am still trying to decide how I want to do it.

I've had to start a 'one in one out' policy with our cookbooks, as I refuse to go beyond the two shelves that are already overflowing.

I have so many cookbooks - food porn!!

I do find that I go back to my Good Housekeeping book time and time again though for good quality, basic recipes.

I also get a lot of inspiration online. I either think of something I'm craving and go looking for a recipe, or I go to tastespotting.com for inspiration. I used to get Olive Magazine but had to stop my subscription as I wanted to make everything, and it was getting overwhelming!

I have a long-term project to make a recipe database, and am still trying to decide how I want to do it.

I've had to start a 'one in one out' policy with our cookbooks, as I refuse to go beyond the two shelves that are already overflowing.

My sister has a ring binder which is pretty nice. I've thought about doing it on the computer, but then you have to have your computer in the kitchen with you while you cook! I definitely don't have room for that. Her binder is nice because you can easily take the page out that you need to use, and they're in a plastic sleeve so they don't get ruined.