Sharing My Cookbooks Part 2

If you haven't read Sharing my Cookbooks Part 1, you can go do that now or after, I'll leave it up to you...

Its hard to pick favourites…I just can’t do it! So I’m going to share what’s presently on my shelf. Part 1 is all cookbooks, Part 2 is baking/other. I’m adding Amazon links, more for the fact that you’ll be able to find it easier vs me making money off of this. As I’m in Canada and have Canadian readers/friends, I’m going to add both USA and CAD Amazon links. The USA one will be the main link and the Canadian one will be in brackets after it.

What makes a good cookbook for me? It needs to have personality. The author’s voice needs to shine through. I don’t just want to know that this dish would go well with a green salad. I want to know why they make it, how they came up with it, or why its a special family recipe.

You should also know I’m ruthless and if a book just doesn’t “do it” for me. It goes. Yep, it gets given away no matter how little or long time I’ve had it.

These are in no particular order other than how they were on the shelf, so grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy!

Cookbook buying tip- Look at the buying used option on Amazon. Quite often I can buy a book for under $6 with shipping that might cost me $20+ to buy from Amazon. You have to practice delayed gratification as it takes a couple weeks instead of a couple days...but that builds character.

p.s. after looking at all these amazon.com links its a good thing I’m not in the states cause your cookbooks are way cheaper!!

Modern Baker by Nick Malgieri (Canada)

Why/How did I get it?

Marius bought this for me, without any prompting! Maybe even before Mac was born?? It streamlines many fancier pastries with the use of new fangled things like "food processors" and "electric mixers". It's a gooder for baking!

Favourite Aspects?

This taught me to make things like pita bread and sticky buns, and make them amazing. How could one hate a recipe book that teaches you that?!

Least Favourite Aspects?

Its very white flour white sugar. Luckily I'm a ninja and adapting recipes.

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

The pita bread, blueberry pie and sticky buns are beloved in our house!

Beyond Basics with Natural Yeast by Melissa Richardson (Canada)

Why/How did I get it?

My BFF who I've not yet actually seen IRL, Kelsey from Simple Life by Kels blog, suggested it. And since we have similar taste, I snagged it up.

Favourite Aspects?

It's the best sourdough book I've found so far, for people who just want rock solid simple recipes. No weird steps or weighing ingredients. If I've suddenly lost street cred with you cause I don't weigh my ingredients for sourdough...I feel no shame. Mama ain't got time for that. You'll find all your basic recipes and some other fun ones too. She feels strongly about whole grains, so, #winning.

Least Favourite Aspects?

I actually can't tell you?

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

We love the challah, jalepeno cheddar bread, naan bread...any one I've tried has been great.

The Art of Natural Cheesemaking by David Asher (Canada)

Why/How did I get it?

This book is near and dear to my heart, because not only is the author a friend of ours, our cow (who is no longer) is the cow in the book, pretty much every cows milk cheese in the book is made from her milk. The cow AND Marius and I are thanked in the book! After it was published, he gave us a copy, signed! to thank us for everything we did. I cold called him one day asking if he would teach us a cheese making workshop after seeing he was teaching at a local farm but the ticket price was out of our league. He was more than happy to do so, spent a weekend at my Mom's farm and liberated us to how cheesemaking used to be. We had about ten people come to it and he also felt refreshed teaching such an intimate workshop where the milk cow and the classroom were just paces apart.

Favourite Aspects?

This book will rock your world if all you know is storebought cheese. If you're a cheesemaking used to using strict recipes with store-bought freeze dried cultures, it'll set you free. I mean, the fact that the foreword is by SANDOR KRAUT, should tell you wonders about how bad ass this book is.

Least Favourite Aspects?

There is a LOT of knowledge in here. It'll take you a long time to read because it's so jam packed. This is more than a cookbook, this is a textbook on REAL milk and how to use it to do it justice.

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

David's yogurt cheese or "dream cheese" changed our life!

Flour Power by Jana Roerick. Unfortunately I don't know where to find this book online. I bought it at a local book shop, Salt Spring Books

Why/How did I get it?

I had a gift certificate and went browsing one day, only to find this gem of a book in our local book store! Its written by a local bakery owner.

Favourite Aspects?

This book is basic goodness. No weird steps. Your basic butter, flour, sugar, chocolate, nuts type baking. I use whole grains in the recipes and sub for organic cane sugar and get amazing results. This isn't yeast breads, this is cookies, cakes, muffins, pie, squares.

Least Favourite Aspects?

I wish it was available online!

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

The apple pie was the first time I made a pie I was proud of. The pecan caramel shortbread are SO SIMPLE but look like you put a LOT of effort into them. I love it all.

Cake Stand by Quinn Veon (Canada)

Why/How did I get it?

I've had a Mom/Blogger crush on Quinn from Reformation Acres...well...so long I can't remember when I didn't. Basically the day she put up a blog post saying she published a book, I ordered it!

Favourite Aspects?

I LOVE the flavour combos. Quinn's a mom of many on a budget, so these recipes won't take you all day and they won't break the bank. They're so fresh, and use many fruits/vegetables I never thought to use. No, they're not health food, they're cakes people. 80/20, and put a little bit of farm fresh in there where you can.

Least Favourite Aspects?

That all these cakes aren't on my counter right now.

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

The one on the cover! Strawberry Chamomile cake. I lovedddd Blackberry Apple Wooden Spoon Cake. I want to make the one with beets, and the Caramel Pear Upside Down Cake. I just could keep going on and on here.

Alaska Sourdough by Ruth Allman (Canada)

Why/How did I get it?

I can't remember if someone suggested it or amazon suggested that I might like it? I got it last winter.

Favourite Aspects?

The stories! This book is full of sourdough history.

Least Favourite Aspects?

You need to have a solid bread baking and sourdough baking knowledge to use this book. The recipes often need a bit of tweaking such as liquid amount or timelines. One time I needed to add a cup more water than it said...

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

I've been working with the muffin recipe to get it just how I want it. I want to try the chocolate cake recipe. The french bread is good and super simple!

Bernardin Guide to Home Preserving  (Canada) (This is the newer version)

Why/How did I get it?

My Mom and Sister gave this to me for a bridal shower present

Favourite Aspects?

Its plain jane basic canning recipes. It's my go to when I need to find a salsa, jam etc. They've all been yummy and flavourful and came out how I thought they would.

Least Favourite Aspects?

I have none?

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

We love the Zesty Bread and Butter Pickles. I want to try the grilled salsa.

Sourdough by Sarah Owens (Canada)

Why/How did I get it?

An instagram account I follow was always posting amazing breads so I asked what her favourite cookbook was and she said this one! That was earlier this spring.

Favourite Aspects?

The combo's are mind blowing. There is non "bread" recipes I would have never thought to use sourdough for. But mostly, its bread porn. The flavour profiles and add-ins she use will amaze you.

Least Favourite Aspects?

Okay guys. This book is super technical and finicky and my first thought was she must not have kids...I don't mean that as an insult. I mean that as a...I've got three kids to my name and more under my wings on the daily. I need throw and go. I can't be doing a bazillion steps over two days, using five different flours...to get two loaves. So I really appreciate her creativity, and I streamline recipes. While they aren't the same as hers, they're still amazing.

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

All of them, hah! Coconut Tahini Bars and Nettle Ale bread I want to try. I love the biscuits! I've used the flavour combos to inspire my baking without using exact recipes as well.

Power of Pulses by Dan Jason, Hilary Malone and Alison Malone Eathorne (Canada)

Why/How did I get it?

This is a local author, and my Mom, Karen Mouat, took many of the photos in the book! The first half where he discusses growing and such. My Mom also takes photos of his other things for his seed business. So he gave her a stack of books when this book came out and she gave one to me!

Favourite Aspects?

This book is a lot about how to grow/save the seeds of pulses. It's half textbook/how to and half recipes. If you're a gardener who likes pulses, it's probably for you! It's got a lot of fresh yummy looking recipes.  I honestly somewhat overlooked the recipes until now. Then I thumbed through when writing this post and I was like huh...maybe I should be looking here some more...

Least Favourite Aspects?

I'll be honest that beans love bacon in our house. This book is vegetarian, but I won't hold it against them.

Recipes I love/Want to Try?

Theres some yummy looking salads, dressings, fritters and brownies!

Better Home and Gardens New Cookbook. I don't know what version mine is, it's about 10-15 years old, and I don't see it on amazon. Here's their newest one.

How/Why did I get it?

My Mom bought this for me when I was 12? I think? I think I need to find another copy.

Favourite Aspects?

I'm not a big joy of cooking fan, I know, shoot me. But this book seems to have a recipe for everything. And no weird ingredients.

Least Favourite Aspects?

Well...I wish the binding held up better. This book is almost a write off its so hard to use but darn it guys the chocolate chip cookies are the best.

Recipes I love/want to try?

Chocolate chip cookies and biscuits are always made from this book!