5 After 5, Favorite Cookbooks

Are you a recipe-follower, or more of "a pinch of this and that" kitchen expert?

Regardless, it's often helpful to have a few good cookbooks on hand to reference - this week's list shares our favorites!



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It's time for another round of 5 After 5!  In case you missed it, last week's list was ways to spruce up the outside of your house and if you're new to this series, you can read more about it here - then catch up on all the old editions here.


Today I've got my list of 5 to share, as well as next week's topic for you to stew about over the upcoming days.


And this series is a link party, so be sure to scroll down and join in all the fun with us this week!




List 5 of your favorite cookbooks


My mom is a big cookbook collector. She especially enjoyed getting unique titles during trips -- think collections of women's auxiliary groups or junior leagues of Any City, U.S.A.

I've spent a good chunk of my adult life evolving as a cook, but I've never been into cookbook collecting. Oh, I'll follow a good recipe to the letter the first time I make it, but after that I'm more interested in making a dish my own.

These days, I usually skip the recipe part altogether and just jot down a few notes on the idea of a dish before heading into the kitchen to tailor it to our way of eating.

Despite all that, there are still a few cookbooks that I really love:


1. The Professional Chef


This hefty book took my cooking to another level -- it's the next best thing to attending the Culinary Institute of America in person and guided me through the two-day process of making a Napoleon completely from scratch!



2. I'm Just Here for the Food & I'm Just Here for More Food



Alton Brown explains the science behind cooking and baking in these humorous, yet practical, cookbooks filled with plenty of jazzy illustrations and recipes for you to try.


3. The Looneyspoons Collection


I've owned this cookbook for what seems like a zillion years, yet I've actually never made a single thing from it, despite the fact that I'd requested it for Christmas one year.

Whenever I'm in a weeding-out mood, I tell myself I need to get rid of this crazy thing, but I can never bring myself to do it because it's just so darned fun.

With recipe names like Forever in Blue Cheese & Name that Tuna Salad, you'll be cracking up as you turn every page -- and if the titles don't get you, the hilarious cartoons festooning every available blank surface will, too.


4. What to Drink with What You Eat


Okay, okay, this isn't exactly a cookbook -- but it has provided me with years of foodstuff fun as I experiment with all sorts of libation options for my many meals!


5. What Would Jesus Eat & The Frugal Gourmet Keeps the Feast



These two books changed the way I ate and thought about food forever -- with a little dose of biblical history thrown in!


Bonus: Make the Bread, Buy the Butter


(As if I haven't already cheated by sneaking two books into one entry on numbers 2 & 5!)

What I love about this book is that the author has done all the work for me. She's made all sorts of pantry ingredients herself, then breaks down whether it's cheaper, easier, or better to make or buy them.

It was a fun book to work through -- some things are just enjoyable to make for the challenge, even if they're not practical to make all the time!




For next week:


List 5 books that have changed you



Oh, geez. If it's another list about books, you know it's going to be hard for me to narrow down my list, but I'll try to pick 5 of my top titles to share with you next week -- I can't wait to see yours!


And now, here's this week's link party!  Another fabulous blogger has teamed up with me to create a list of five each week and we hope that you'll join us, too!



That's right, every post will be read, pinned and tweeted!  

Every Saturday, just stop by one of our blogs to add your own list of five, then pop over and read as many other posts as you're able to each week - treat it like a true party and really mix it up and mingle with our fun little community!

The rules are simple:  just write your own list following the prompt each week (feel free to interpret it loosely - or in a unique way!), follow both of the hosts on the social media channel of your choice, and then get into the spirit of the party by grabbing your favorite beverage or snack and reading the lists of the other party-goers.



Your Hosts:

Lisa, at Syncopated MamaFacebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ // Bloglovin'
Samantha, at Motivated DaysTwitter // Pinterest // Google+ 



What's your list?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

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1 comment:

  1. Alton Brown is the best! I've been a fan of his since the Good Eats days. I really want to jump in one of these weeks into 5 After 5. The topics are always so fun. Xx

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