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Essential Cookbooks

Ranked #10,484 in Food & Cooking, #188,142 overall | Donates to Food for Everyone Foundation

From the Basics to Cooking Like a Chef, I've cherry-picked 5 Cookbooks for each category that will guide you along in your own culinary adventures,
whether you are looking for your first cookbook or to expand your collection.

I'd love to hear about your own Essential Cookbooks.  How they changed how you cook, how you see food, maybe even how you live.

Cookbook Essentials - The Basics

Get rolling, or complete your collection, with these cookbooks that teach the basics in cooking. From how to boil an egg to sauces, it's always good to have the basics on hand.
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Cookbooks Essential - Recipe References

These cookbooks are the Go-To titles. The cookbooks include more recipes that most people will ever try in a life time. Classic comfort food to dinner party dishes.

Want to have Eggs Benedict for brunch? It's in here.
Kids need chocolate cupcakes for the bake sale? No problem.

Beef Bourganion? Fettucine with Clam Sauce? Cinnamon Rolls? Lemon Merangue Pie? You'll find it between these covers.
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Cookbook Essentials - Tips & Techniques

You've covered the basics. You've got the recipes. You've invested in the knifes, pans and picked up the freshest ingredients.

It's time to work on your technique. Remember, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
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Cookbook Essentials - Cook Like A Chef

Cooking is one thing, cooking like a chef is another. If you want to be able to stand in a professional kitchen and hold your own, you want to start with these.
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Your Essential Cookbooks

I've told you the books that I think are essential, but what do you think? Have I missed the keystone of your cookbook shelf?
Whether you are whipping up brunch or an anniversary dinner, what are your go-to cookbooks? The ones you'd buy for someone on their own for the first time? The cookbook you know won't let you down when you need to impress?
Please take a second to rate these cookbooks and suggest your own additions.

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Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 by Irma S. Rombauer

Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 by Irma S. Rombauer

My first cookbook, (not this edition), and still a more...2 points

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New York Times Cookbook by Craig Claiborne

New York Times Cookbook by Craig Claiborne

This is my current "go to" cookbook. It' more...1 point

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The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman

The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman

Rapidly moving into the Go-To category, this cookb more...1 point

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San Francisco a la Carte

San Francisco a la Carte

I picked this cookbook up on one of my first trips more...1 point

5

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The Cook Book by Terence and Caroline Conran

The Cook Book by Terence and Caroline Conran

The Cook Book taught me to shop and continues to b more...1 point

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The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

The Barefoot Contessa brings simple ingredients to more...0 points

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The Complete Hot & Spicy Cookbook

The Complete Hot & Spicy Cookbook

Focused on China, Mexico, Japan, Thailand and Indi more...0 points

Regional Cooking - American

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Regional Cooking - French

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Regional Cooking - Chinese

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Regional Cooking - Indian

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Regional Cooking - Middle Eastern

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  • Oct 19, 2011 @ 1:01 pm | delete
    The food of Israel is a great read. I was able to get through the whole thing while my husband installed a hydromatic sump pump in our basement. I then cooked a classic Israeli meal.
  • kottke Sep 5, 2011 @ 8:45 pm | delete
    This is a great lens about cooking. Thanks for your effort. I hope to learn something by going back over it a few times.
  • blogturd2623 Jul 24, 2011 @ 5:03 am | delete
    Its good to read this lense.Thanks for sharing it.

    Complaints
  • blogturd2623 Jul 17, 2011 @ 6:50 am | delete
    Its good to read this lense.Thanks for sharing it.

    Jay Discount
    Review JK
  • detectivepi Mar 22, 2011 @ 4:43 am | delete
    Nice list I really want to get into cooking more for sure. I love to cook recently and listen to my best pair of best earbuds to get me motivated.
  • youngward Jan 28, 2011 @ 12:32 pm | delete
    well written. good and detailed. love this lenz
    Cash Cookbook
  • Apr 1, 2010 @ 1:33 pm | delete
    This lens is awesome. I love it. I am going to tell my editors on my Thai News website to write something about this lens and probably feature it.

    I will comment here again once we do.

    Great Work
  • iLoveCheese Jul 9, 2007 @ 3:58 pm | delete
    Hi there, Fantastic lense with some really great books! Check out my Weight Watching> lense for even more cooking ideas!
  • Margaret_Schaut Feb 7, 2007 @ 12:55 pm | delete
    Yummy selection. Welcome to the Mall on Squidoo.
  • Paul Feb 1, 2007 @ 4:13 am | delete
    My own indispensible reference is the "Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book" (preferably the ring-bound version so I can add pages to it). It includes useful reference material, like how long to cook a roast per pound, as well as nutritional information for all the recipes.
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An avid foodie, Lex's Cookbook collection currently rings in at well over 400 titles. When she's travelling, Lex buys cookbooks like other people buy postcards. ... more »

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