The words. The pages. The pictures. There is something very spiritual to me about having a house filled with good books. While there are dozens of fantastic food blogs that I frequent for recipes and inspiration, there is nothing more exciting than breaking open a cookbook at your own kitchen table. What you see below is my current collection. They’ve held my hand through holiday dinners, pizza nights, care packages, and everyday meals throughout the year. Many of the recipes on this site are inspired by these pages. To quote Isaac Newton, “If I have seen (or cooked) further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Rebecca Katz is one author you’ll see me frequently citing. Renowned for her nutrition expertise in the world of oncology, her cookbooks feature nutrient-rich recipes that are easy to prepare and designed to give patients a much needed boost by stimulating appetite and addressing treatment side effects. These recipes go beyond their dedication to cancer healing though, and can be enjoyed by all seeking a healthful, wholesome life.
Heidi Swanson, Mark Bittman, Alice Waters, and Jamie Oliver are household names and need no introducing, really, but until you’ve seen their personalities come through on the page, you’re really missing out. Placer County Real Food is a book from my hometown in Northern California, Joanne Neft takes you through the markets week by week with recipes to prepare for what’s exactly in season.
Barbara Kingsolver and Michael Pollan are crusaders in the investigations of modern aspects of food-production science and industry. From two totally different perspectives, their writing on food is part memoir, part journalistic investigation. Pollan gets most of the press, but don’t neglect Kingsolver and her poignent wisdom.
If there is a cookbook or other literature that you think I need to add to my list (and I know there are), shoot me an email and I’d love to check it out. I’m constantly interested in finding new treasures, perspectives, and techniques. Find these books and more at my Amazon Store.
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