The Gourmet Mama

I love the internet and I love being able to look up a recipe any old time I like. But there is still a special place for real life cookbooks in my heart, particularly those that are a little older and chock full of wisdom from the days before frozen pastry dough and microwavable soups.

Here in Guatemala, I don`t get a lot of chances to see English cookbooks, but occasionally one finds it’s way to me. Such was the case with this one:

I found this in the second hand market, spurned by the locals who wouldn`t have had any interest in an old book written in English. So it cost me about fifty cents to pick up and it was so worth it! There`s nothing like leafing through a cookbook, reading the recipes and information contained there and absorbing it all.

Here are some of my favorite cookbooks of all time:

Joy of Cooking: If you`re only going to buy one cookbook, this is the one you should have. It covers the basics of everything and has some of the best recipes for both beginners and advanced cooks. It`s not just about the recipes though. The Joy of Cooking is full of pages and pages of information on your food, from various fruits and vegetables to how to preserve them and even how to entertain formally. It`s just an info-packed cookbook and well worth the price.

Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats–A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners (A 30-Minute Meal Cookbook): Rachel Ray might grate on some people’s nerves, but her recipes are still amazing. This cookbook is full of great recipes that you can use for the whole family.

Mom and Me Cookbook: Cooking with your kids is a great way to teach them life skills while having some bonding time. This cookbook gives you lots of fun, easy recipes that your little ones can whip up with you.

The Kitchenless Cookbook: Technically for college students, this cookbook is perfect for anyone who a) has no time to cook or b) doesn`t know how to cook. It literally tells you how to boil water. BUT, the book is also full of recipes that whip up in the blender or microwave, making them fast and delicious.

Better Homes and Gardens Complete Book of Baking (Better Homes and Gardens): If you`re interested in learning to bake more, then this is the ideal cookbook. It`s got plenty of different baking recipes to try and you won`t run out of new ones to try for quite some time!

What are your favorite cookbooks?