As I recently confessed over on Three years, one stone then home, I do have a fairly major obsession with cookbooks. I love them. I love reading them, looking through them and buying them. So much so, that I have over eighty of them. Yes eighty. So now you see why this week’s Listography was a must for me.
I have considered long and hard about which ones I would put into my top five, so here goes:
Number one is the latest offering from Nigella. I do have quite a few Nigella cookbooks and I love them all. Her books are always full of a range of recipes, with the most beautiful photos and this particular book is brilliant. It also has a brilliant section at the front with lots of useful information and tips which makes for interesting reading. I love looking through it for inspiration and I have used lots of the recipes, some of them so often that the book usually opens at the right page!
Number two has to come from the other heavyweight in my vast collection; Jamie Oliver. I do also have most of his books too, but my favourite one is this which is one of the earlier books. Again, it is one that contains recipes that I return to regularly and there are some real family favourites in there.
Number three is the gorgeous book by Rachel Allen. This book is my baking and pudding inspiration. From the basics to the more advanced, this is a fantastic book. Any sweet things that I make using this are always warmly welcomed by my starving hoards.
Number four and yes, sorry another Nigella. I think Nigella’s infatuation with ‘comfort cooking’ is the reason why I love her books so much and this definitely ticks all the boxes for me. There are some lovely puddings and cakes and biscuit recipes in here with lovely photos to inspire you along the way.
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| Image courtesy of Amazon |
The last book in my Listography is a classic. Now I had to borrow a picture of this one as if I’d taken a photo of mine, you wouldn’t have a clue what it was. I have had the book for about thirteen years, the glossy dust cover is long gone and it is very well-used and loved. This book has so much information and is great for the novice cook. It tells you how long to cook joints of meat for and vegetables along with classic dishes and more complex recipes. I dip into this one all the time, it is a bit like my cookery bible.
Great choices. I love that Naked Chef book too. Completely agree about a top 5 Jamie Oliver books. I think we’ve got nearly all of them!
Me too! But I am a bit obsessed!
love Kitchen especially the chorizo and chicken wack in the oven dish – and rachel allen is great. I would have put tana ramsey in and not a big fan of Jamie just his mockney accent and all! Oh love feast too by nigella in fact I’m a nigella groupie!
I don’t particularly enjoy watching Jamie on TV but I love his recipes! Yes I would be a Nigella groupie too!
Nigella!!!! She beats Delia any day (apart from the Winter Collection 😉
I think so, but Delia is a good book for basics and classic dishes!
I have Nigella, how to be a domestic goddess too! I still can’t quite believe you have that may books. Just amazing, where the devil do you keep them all?
Everywhere! I drive my husband crazy!
Happy to help! And yes I could have easily done a top 10, maybe even a top 20!
Same here or a top five Nigella!
I think they are on everyone’s!
I love Nigella and Jamie! I got Kitchen for my Christmas but I haven’t had the time to try anything. I’ve seen the how to be a domestic goddess book now twice so I think I’ll have to get it just to try those brownies!
The brownies are very lovely x
I think I have all the books on your list bar the Delia one although I do have her summer and winter books. Love reading cookbooks too.
Yes, I have seen my cookbooks on most people’s shelves!
I was quite surprised when I finally counted them all, not sure if that makes me an expert though!