My Favourite Cookbooks: Part One
I think I've told you before how I love going to the library and checking out loads of different cookbooks.
Being self-taught, a lot of the tricks I've picked up along the way came from either somebody else's wisdom or learning as I go what works.
There is not a cuisine that you cannot find a cookbook for and libraries are such a wonderful way of expanding your knowledge and discovering new recipes. The library in the Ilac Centre and the Dun Laoghaire Lexicon have a particularly good selection. I often like to change recipes up a bit, to give my own little twist. I learn by trial and error whether that works or not and I've had a few disasters over the years! But whether the end result was good or bad, I always learned something.
I will happily sit down in the evening and read cookbooks the way other people read newspapers. I become excited planning all the meals and sides I'm going to make, full of inspiration.
Nowadays, there's so many cookbooks, it can be a bit overwhelming when trying to pick the right one for what you want to do. Which is why I thought I would share my experience and hours spent discovering to not only highlight my favourite cookbooks, but what kind of cooking each one is good for.
ROSIE SYKES, POLLY RUSSELL & ZOE HERON, The Kitchen Revolution
This is such a fantastic book, that I recommend it to both newbies and confident cooks. The entire book is based on seasonal eating; consuming and using the best of produce at each time of the year. I am so passionate about seasonal cooking, it makes sense. Not just in an environmental sense - where do you think fruit and veg comes from when it's not in season ? - but in a food enjoyment sense. Asparagus, lamb, strawberries, whatever it is, food always tastes better at the time of the year it's at its peak.
This book is also fantastic for helping plan meals in advance and has tons of ideas for using up leftovers. A must read.
NIGEL SLATER, Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food
I adore Nigel Slater, having been introduced to him via The Guardian. While his recipes encompass a range of ingredients, he is not a food snob. The way he writes about food is worth reading alone, but if you're looking for some relaxed recipes, this is your book.
MYRTLE ALLEN, The Ballymaloe Cookbook
Ballymaloe is world renowned for it's food and cookery teaching, with good reason. While there are now a multitude of cookbooks on offer from Ballymaloe or connected to it's alumni (which are fantastic), Myrtle Allen's original book is one of my favourites.
Ahead of it's time, it's straightforward, practical approach to food, utilising what's on offer is still fresh. Everything is very easy to follow and it's a great foundation book to explore cooking a bit more in depth.
ALYSA TOREY & JENNIFER APPEL, The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook
Before I ever even went to New York back in 2011, I dremaed of Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes. This was back when cupcakes were the new hot thing and they're colourful and tasty bakery in Greenwich Village was gaining international buzz. I devoured pieces about the bakery in food magezines and supplements and as soon as I knew I would be going to New York, I was giddy with the closeness of the bakery.
I was not disappointed and I will not even try to put into words the happiness I experienced as I took my first bite, with the relentless NY sun beating down on my back and the sounds of the city in my ears.
After I returned to Ireland, I ordered myself this book from Amazon and set about trying as many recipes as I could. As it's an American cookbook, don't worry if you don't recognise the terms for some ingredients (for example, confectioners sugar). A quick google seaarch will help you work out measurements and ingredients.
This book really covers the spectrum - from cupcakes and cookies to icebox treats and cheesecakes.
DAVID AND STEPHEN FLYNN, The Happy Pear
It's a testament to the lads that as a devout carnivore, this book is still one of my favourites. They encourage you to try vegetarian dishes - that are frankly delicious - rather than take a preachy approach that so many of the current clean eating crowd assume. It's packed full of tips about the wonderful things you can do with vegetables and how to make some favourite treats a bit less sinful.
Being self-taught, a lot of the tricks I've picked up along the way came from either somebody else's wisdom or learning as I go what works.
There is not a cuisine that you cannot find a cookbook for and libraries are such a wonderful way of expanding your knowledge and discovering new recipes. The library in the Ilac Centre and the Dun Laoghaire Lexicon have a particularly good selection. I often like to change recipes up a bit, to give my own little twist. I learn by trial and error whether that works or not and I've had a few disasters over the years! But whether the end result was good or bad, I always learned something.
I will happily sit down in the evening and read cookbooks the way other people read newspapers. I become excited planning all the meals and sides I'm going to make, full of inspiration.
Nowadays, there's so many cookbooks, it can be a bit overwhelming when trying to pick the right one for what you want to do. Which is why I thought I would share my experience and hours spent discovering to not only highlight my favourite cookbooks, but what kind of cooking each one is good for.
ROSIE SYKES, POLLY RUSSELL & ZOE HERON, The Kitchen Revolution
This is such a fantastic book, that I recommend it to both newbies and confident cooks. The entire book is based on seasonal eating; consuming and using the best of produce at each time of the year. I am so passionate about seasonal cooking, it makes sense. Not just in an environmental sense - where do you think fruit and veg comes from when it's not in season ? - but in a food enjoyment sense. Asparagus, lamb, strawberries, whatever it is, food always tastes better at the time of the year it's at its peak.
This book is also fantastic for helping plan meals in advance and has tons of ideas for using up leftovers. A must read.
NIGEL SLATER, Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food
I adore Nigel Slater, having been introduced to him via The Guardian. While his recipes encompass a range of ingredients, he is not a food snob. The way he writes about food is worth reading alone, but if you're looking for some relaxed recipes, this is your book.
MYRTLE ALLEN, The Ballymaloe Cookbook
Ballymaloe is world renowned for it's food and cookery teaching, with good reason. While there are now a multitude of cookbooks on offer from Ballymaloe or connected to it's alumni (which are fantastic), Myrtle Allen's original book is one of my favourites.
Ahead of it's time, it's straightforward, practical approach to food, utilising what's on offer is still fresh. Everything is very easy to follow and it's a great foundation book to explore cooking a bit more in depth.
ALYSA TOREY & JENNIFER APPEL, The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook
Before I ever even went to New York back in 2011, I dremaed of Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes. This was back when cupcakes were the new hot thing and they're colourful and tasty bakery in Greenwich Village was gaining international buzz. I devoured pieces about the bakery in food magezines and supplements and as soon as I knew I would be going to New York, I was giddy with the closeness of the bakery.
I was not disappointed and I will not even try to put into words the happiness I experienced as I took my first bite, with the relentless NY sun beating down on my back and the sounds of the city in my ears.
After I returned to Ireland, I ordered myself this book from Amazon and set about trying as many recipes as I could. As it's an American cookbook, don't worry if you don't recognise the terms for some ingredients (for example, confectioners sugar). A quick google seaarch will help you work out measurements and ingredients.
This book really covers the spectrum - from cupcakes and cookies to icebox treats and cheesecakes.
DAVID AND STEPHEN FLYNN, The Happy Pear
It's a testament to the lads that as a devout carnivore, this book is still one of my favourites. They encourage you to try vegetarian dishes - that are frankly delicious - rather than take a preachy approach that so many of the current clean eating crowd assume. It's packed full of tips about the wonderful things you can do with vegetables and how to make some favourite treats a bit less sinful.
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