Happy Friday!
After dinner tonight I mentioned that I had yet to write a Top 5 Friday post. Big mistake. I was bombarded with you-name-it – everything from Top 5 Sports cars, Top 5 Mustaches, Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Have a Scooter, to Top 5 Reasons I’m Your Favorite Kid. Huh. Thanks everyone.
I ignored them all and decided to share with you my Top Five Cookbooks! (Disclaimer – I was not provided with these cookbooks from some kind benefactor who wanted a review. Though if someone decides to send me a batch of cookbooks, I’ll write them a handy dandy Top Five of their own. Ha.)
5. Baking Illustrated
This book is by the people who do Cook’s Illustrated. So you know everything in there has been tested and tried. It’s kind of my Bible for Baking. Love it.
4. Roy’s Fish and Seafood
This book is from the restaurant Roy’s. Really amazing Pacific Rim cooking. My favorite 2 recipes in here are the Pan Seared Butterfish with Coconut-Luau Leaf Sauce and Kalua Pork Miso. Sounds complicated. It was – but seriously yummy.
3. Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill
This is a cookbook with recipes from Bobby’s (we’re on a first name basis) Mesa Grill Restaurant – we got to eat at the one in Vegas. The beginning has tons of information about how to prepare all the different chilies that he uses. Super helpful stuff.
My favorites are the New Mexican Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon-Ancho Sauce paired with the Sweet Potato Tamales with Pecan Butter. For dessert have the Spicy Coconut Tapioca with Mango and Blackberries. But only put one Serrano in if you don’t want to blow the top of your head off.
2. From Emeril’s Kitchens – Favorite Recipes from Emeril’s Restaurants
Ok – here’s the deal. This book has great food. I mean – Emeril right?. But skip all that if you get the book and go to the back. Make the Banana Cream Pie. You will never make another type of Banana Cream Pie again. Do it right though – make the Graham Crackers yourself (the recipe is in there too) and drizzle the whole thing with the chocolate and caramel sauces.
You will weep. Or Eat The Whole Pie. Maybe Both.
1. Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day
This book is wonderful. The basic idea is this: you make a giant batch of dough and stick it in the fridge. No kneading, just mix it up. Then as you need it (no pun intended), you cut off a hunk and bake it. It works so great because you can set out a piece to rise a little before dinner, then pop it in the oven and you have fresh bread for dinner. And there’s lots of variety too. You can make bread bowls, baguettes, pretzels, and more. There’s nothing like the smell of bread baking – makes whatever else you’re having special.
So now it’s your turn. What’s your Go – To cookbook? What’s your favorite “Make You Weep” recipe in it?? I have to know.
Next week – who knows – maybe we’ll discuss Top 5 Mustaches.
Maria says
I just placed a hold at the library for the Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day book. :) I love baking bread – my favorite cookbooks are Peter Reinhart’s The Bread Baker’s Apprentice, and Crust and Crumb which has a great tortilla recipe.
Fun top 5!