topic Re: CookBook to Gift in Kitchen

CookBook to Gift

granddi — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:22:51 GMT

Do you have a recommendation of a cookbook to gift?

This would be NOT a beginner cook.

Re: CookBook to Gift

smoochy — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:32:46 GMT

@granddi wrote:
Do you have a recommendation of a cookbook to gift?
This would be NOT a beginner cook.

depends on the recipient. Does he or she enjoy a particular cuisine? Someone who loves cooking Italian food might like one of Giada's or Ina Garten's books. Are they grillers or bbq crazy? How about a cookbook specifically for that.
Joy of Cooking, can't go wrong.

Re: CookBook to Gift

sunshine45 — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:32:53 GMT

EVERYTHING that she has written by the barefoot contessa

Re: CookBook to Gift

sunshine45 — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:36:09 GMT

also great.....SOUTHERN LIVING ANNUAL RECIPES.....2023 is now available.

Re: CookBook to Gift

granddi — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:46:51 GMT

I'm looking for a general book for cooks. I found this:

The Food Lab by J. Kenji López-Alt

I've lost track of how many copies of this book I've given as gifts. It's great for beginners and even more-seasoned home cooks because it digs into the science of cooking and teaches readers why the recipes work. I always have an extra copy or two on hand to give out to friends who are just getting into cooking. – Jarrett Melendez, associate editor

Re: CookBook to Gift

SaveTheTurtles — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 01:19:49 GMT

Cooks Country and/or Americas Test Kitchen are decent books with a variety of skill levels plus a ton of other information related to their recommendations.

Re: CookBook to Gift

KingstonMom — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 01:38:29 GMT

I just bought the 100 Year Anniversay edition of Better Homes & Gardens, can't go wrong with one of the leaders in cookbooks!

Re: CookBook to Gift

Alsace Gal — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 02:00:38 GMT

@granddi

I love Madeleine Kamman.

Re: CookBook to Gift

simplyfriends — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 03:01:41 GMT

@granddi I purchased this cookbook for my daughter and she loves it. Amazon has it on sale.

Re: CookBook to Gift

granddi — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 03:07:27 GMT

Great ideas, good friends! I should have said books for people that cook.

Re: CookBook to Gift

Sooner — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:13:45 GMT

Jacques Pepin has some great books, some illustrated with his drawings.

New York Times books are a great choice.

What are the person's interestes? Mediterranean cookbooks appeal to me. Hoffman publications has some lovely cookbooks--many with great pictures of table settings or places. You might check there and see if something appeals. Some of the older Christmas books are great!

Re: CookBook to Gift

Lilysmom1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 10:11:36 GMT

Another vote for America's Test Kitchen or Cook's Country. My go to.

Re: CookBook to Gift

gardenman — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:40:20 GMT

Breaking the mold a bit, you could make them a cookbook featuring your favorite recipes that you've collected over your lifetime with any hints you've developed along the way. It's fairly easy to self-publish a book these days and there are lots of tools available to help you. It would be tricky getting it done in the time we have left before Christmas but could be a good project for next year. You could even include photos of your finished dishes. It would be quite the project and a labor of love, but a very impressive gift. And since you'd just be giving it to one person and not trying to sell it commercially, you could avoid most of the copyright issues.

You could even address the cook you're giving to it specifically in the instructions like, "I know you don't like paprika (assuming he/she doesn't like paprika) so you could withhold it here. It's not vital, but the dish is better with it." If you truly know them and their kitchen you can even address which specific cookware they have to use. "Your mother's old roasting pan would be great to use."

It could be one of those mind-blowing gifts to give to someone that they'd never forget. It could also drive you slightly crazy making it and take many, many hours of your life to produce it. I'd only do it for a close friend/family member, but it would blow their mind more than anything else you could give them. You could expect to hear them say, "I can't believe you did this!" about a thousand times. Good luck in topping that gift in future years though. It's a biggie to make and give, but if you want to blow them away, it would be hard to beat.

Re: CookBook to Gift

Carolina925 — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:45:30 GMT

I love the idea of getting cookbooks, or really any kind of book, as gifts. If the recipient is a cook, he/she may already have some of the basics mentioned here. I like going to the PBS site and ordering some of the cookbooks for specific areas of the world, always something exciting there. I really like my old Fannie Farmer cookbook but it's pretty basic. Also enjoy the Pat Conroy Cookbook. Anyone familiar with him as a writer would know he adds real stories into the recipes. Good luck, I'm sure the recipient will love anything you choose!

Re: CookBook to Gift

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:52:21 GMT

I'd be careful if gifting a cookbook unless I specifically knew how the recipient liked to cook and eat, which has nothing to do with skill level. Are they vegetarian, vegan, keto, low carb, paleo. pescatarians, carnivores?

Re: CookBook to Gift

Dusty1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 14:04:52 GMT

@granddi Snoop Dogg: From Crook To Cook.

It has some really good recipes in it, the Orange Chicken is my favorite, & it's fun.

Also, it's not a "cookbook" but Stanley Tucci's Taste: My Life Through Food is a really good book & he does do some recipes in it.

Re: CookBook to Gift

jackthebear — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 14:11:15 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
I'd be careful if gifting a cookbook unless I specifically knew how the recipient liked to cook and eat, which has nothing to do with skill level. Are they vegetarian, vegan, keto, low carb, paleo. pescatarians, carnivores?

unless u know who or what they like dont

Re: CookBook to Gift

CelticCrafter — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 14:49:23 GMT

Are you sure it would be a wanted gift?

Goodwill, the church thrift shop and the used book room at the library are overloaded with cook books for sale.

Re: CookBook to Gift

SouthernBee — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 15:37:59 GMT

@gardenman : Great idea.

Friends have requested several of my recipes with the family history of the recipe and any hints or suggestions. My DH keeps copies of the recipes so we can print them when needed. I always have at least two notebook binders that can be used and decorated for recipes. I also have a supply of recipe cards, the plastic document holders and kitchen item related stickers. Plus photos of the cooked recipe. Now it only takes a few minutes to put everything together.

Re: CookBook to Gift

candys mine — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 16:55:20 GMT

Maybe Nigella Lawson? I remember her TV show was pleasent enough and I enjoyed looking through her Christmas cookbook at the Library a few years ago.