Cookbooks recomendation?

Question

Good afternoon,

I am thinkingabout buying my brother a collection of cookbooks. Willing to spend up to $100. What is a good collection? Thinking of getting some ingredient specifed-fish, chicken, vegetable, breakfast/bruch, soups as well as some ethnic cooking books-italian, greek, mexican, middle eastern, asian.

Would it be better to get 1 large book that has various chapters specializing in type of food or a seperate book for each type of cuisine?

specific titles would be helpful. thank you.

Answer 1

One book is all you need Dehlia Smiths "complete cookery course" covers everything you need to know.

Available at http://www.amazon.co.uk

Answer 2

The best, most interesting and most entertaining cookbook I have ever owned was "The New York Times Cookbook", Claiborne, Craig
Published:4/1/1990, 751 pages, Hardcover. Another one I would be willing to wager is as good as this book and seafood specific as requested might be; "New York Times Seafood Cookbook", Fabricant, Florence, Published:6/4/2003, 342 pages, Paperback.

Answer 3

I think a set of books speaking to chicken, pasta, soups, etc. would not be that great. If he's a "foodie", he'd probably prefer a collection of books that are not necessarily in a set, but are awesome cookbooks. I own these below, and can recommend them. (they are all cheapest on Amazon and you usually get free S&H).

Any title by Ina Garten, but especially "Barefoot Contessa Family Syle" and "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook." Her other 2, "Parties!" and "Barefoot in Paris" are good but the first 2 are pretty complete. I've NEVER had an Ina recipe fail!

If he likes to bake, "Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook" can't be beat. A complete encyclopedia of all things baked, from simple drop and bar cookies to cakes and pies and pastires, this one covers all the bases. I usually steer clear of MS desserts, b/c they are not as sweet as I like. (Often not even as sweet as Eurpean pastries,either). But I think this was written while she was in jail, so it has awesome recies and they plopped her name and face on it. It's a good thing.

Your local Junior League cookbook. Usually, these kind of cookboks can't be beat for local flavor and good, solid recipes for every day or parties. The JL's test the recipes, too, so they are all good, not just what folks submitted and re-printed in there. Dpending upon where you are, good JL cities include New Orleans, Baton Rouge, LA, Augusta, GA, Natchez MS, Memphis, TN, Charleston, SC.....

Rachael Ray's "30-Minute Get Real Meals: Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes" is also a good all-around cookbook. Quick cook, fresh ingredients, and a healthy twist. I've made a few of these and they are good.

You may also find some Paula Dean cookbooks on sale at Sam's or Costco. I like her bundled pack of 2 books w/ "Lady & Sons" in the title, b/c they were before she got too big for her britches. Plenty of variety in her books as well.

And you can't go wrong w/ the latest "Betty Crocker Cookbook." From soup to nuts, it tells you how to make it. Good, basic scratch recipes. A classic.

HTH

Answer 4

If you want maximum bang for your bucks.....Hit the used bookstores or rummage/jumble sales! Books are hideously expensive, and you're going to be shocked at how much a decent cookbook can cost.

But at a second-hand setting, you'll find a "pre-used" cookbook often has extra bonuses, like clipped newspaper recipes or a nicely worn page that indicates a well-loved "favorite".

Assuming he's got NOTHING----get him one or more good "general purpose" cookbooks, with good "how-to-do" illustrations and reference charts. (You might want to go new for these, but be prepared to spend on the order of $25-30 or more, US$.) He doesn't need pretty pictures of finished cooked goods as much as a decent series of line drawings on "how to cut up a chicken".

Ringbounds are better than small paperbacks; easier to handle, IMO. You're simply not going to go wrong with one or more of the following basics:
Joy of Cooking (covers everything, fair for novices, great for experienced--biggest gap is the lack of good clear diagrams)
Better Homes and Gardens
Betty Crocker Cookbook

And if you want some more feedback, whether new or used bookstore....simply ask a fellow shopper who's digging through the shelves for recommends. Most foodie folks will be delighted to help.

Answer 5

I would go to a good sized bookstore, like a Barnes and Noble, and take a look in the cooking section. You will find a huge variety of cookbooks, including some series that sound like what you're looking for. I'd go with individual books, because they're easier to handle in the kitchen and more likely to get used.

This is a great gift idea!

Answer 6

I would reccomend a cookbook called "The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook" I think it has something like 2,000 recipes in it. They are all tested by regular people and the test the recipes a lot until it's just right. It also gives you cooking tips, information, good equipment suggestions, how-tos, and equivalants. IT'S AWESOME!

Answer 7

the best cookbooks for general cooking would be

Betty Crocker (My personal favorite)
Better Homes and Gardens
The Joy of cooking
Pilsbury

Try an author like "the barefoot contessa, graham kerr, julia childs, Emeril or mario Betalli"

Go to barnes and Noble and just sit and thumb thru different cookbooks. Find one YOU like and I'm sure your brother would like it too!

Answer 8

The better homes cookbook is awesome. It's in a red and white flannel-looking cover, though they recently made another edition in pink for breast cancer.They've been in my family for two generations. It has various chapters of fish, breads, cakes, desserts, salads. When I move out I'm getting my own.

Answer 9

One book that pretty much has it all is The New Basics Cookbook.

Answer 10

I love my Betty Crocker cookbook. Mom gave it to me when I first moved out and I still use it. That was over 17 years ago.

Answer 11

Another vote here for the Betty Crocker one. In our house, we call it the Great Big Book of Everything.