Cookbook Lovin'

I love cookbooks.  Don't you?

Well, maybe you don't.  And that's okay.  I love them enough for the both of us.

I have a few favorites in my collection.  Like, books I've carried around and read as if they were texts.  Plus there are a few finds that I've picked up in thrift stores just for the heck of it.

Where it all began! I was so happy to find this in the thrift store - I think I picked it up for 35 cents or something equally ridiculous.  I have loved looking through this so much - some recipes really take me back to a certain time and place, whereas others remind me of how timeless a good, simple recipe can be.

This is another amazing, amazing thrift store find - the ORIGINAL Weight Watchers cookbook! I just had to buy it! I can't say enough how amazing this is.  It features the original rules, including the utter absence of what we now refer to as 'healthy fats'.  It was a very strict guideline - eat this much of this, that and the other thing, and NONE of all of this...and you'll be thin! Hey, it must've worked for enough people - they're still around today! I had a blast looking through this one but have not cooked any of the recipes inside. 

This was an impulse buy on our last vacation.  I have yet to try any of the recipes, but I think it would make a certain husband of mine very happy if I did!

As much as I can't stand her overuse of cleavage (call me jealous - I don't care), some of Giada's recipes resonate with me.  Certainly not the 'pasta with butter and parmesan cheese' recipe (seriously, THAT'S in a cookbook??? Well slap a hat on me and call me Chef).  But many of the others are just great.  And she does make a good point - in order to eat pasta and still stay slim, just eat less of it.  Italians often eat pasta as a first course, not by the plateful.  What a strange concept for me.

I'm always looking for a reason to cook pasta or look at pictures of pasta or even THINK of pasta.  So this was a much-appreciate bridal shower gift!

Nigella.  My soul sister.  We are truly kindred spirits.

Drool.  The photography in this book is gorgeous.  Her Moonblush Tomatoes changed my life.  I love her.

And the granddaddy of 'em all...

Gosh I love this book.  I cannot express it clearly enough.  I'm serious when I say that Boeuf Bourguignon has changed my life.  (*Note to self: Make Boeuf Bourguignon very soon*) I was looking through this one earlier tonight for some inspiration - I think I'm going to try the Queen of Sheba cake this weekend.  Wish me luck!

So what about you? Do you have a favorite cookbook?