281569 Thu Dec 08 08:20:12 -0800 2005 15 31 Home Cooking 0 1498454 First let me say I love reading cookbooks and I cook a lot on the weekends. However, I can't get through the new Mark Bittman cookbook- nor his other popular book. The layout and the look and description leave me cold and unmotivated. Also the Zuni cook book did as well. Many cookbooks I have read cover to cover include to many to list, however all of Nigella's, the Joy of Cooking, anything by the team of Chris Schleshinger and partner (can't remember name), Peg Bracken, Joan Nathan, Batali, Jeremy Tower. Anyone else feel the same about some cookbooks- partiicularly Bittman's. What cookbook do you want to love, (like I want tolove Zuni Cafe (taken out of libary twice)), but can't. Thu Dec 08 08:20:12 -0800 2005 0 cocoagirl 1 1498456 Are you talking about "How to Cook Everything"? I can't disagree more. Perhaps its looks aren't great, but I cook out of this one all the time (mine's falling apart) and I'm always paging around the recipe I'm currently doing looking at other ideas. I really like Mark's approach to cooking-- if you don't have such-and-such, don't obsess about it, just leave it out, or "marinate overnight-- but if you don't have time, it will still be good". Just the opposite of Martha Stewart style-- "do it just so or don't bother." Thu Dec 08 08:33:57 -0800 2005 1498454 0 Donna Gresh 2 1498467 I never tried to read Bittman's HTCE - it's not that kind of cookbook. Still, it's the one I turn to for info and quick clever inspiration all the time. The one beef I have with him is that he is opposed to long marinading . . . I love reading the Zuni book . . . but you wanted to know what people hated, not a defense of what we like that you don't . . . hmmm, I guess I don't have the books I'm not interested in around! I mostly stay away from the celeb chefs with lots of books where it seems obviously the work of the book agent or marketing consultant cashing in on a name. That includes secondary books by my favorites Marcella and Bittman. But then I can't totally fault them, because there's lots of people that only want a more superficial version of the masters. To each her own. Thu Dec 08 09:09:58 -0800 2005 1498456 0 pitu 3 1498481 not hated- but want to love but can't. Thu Dec 08 10:14:12 -0800 2005 1498467 0 cocogirl 1 1498460 Maybe you should try Pam Anderson's "How to Cook Without a Book." Thu Dec 08 08:50:32 -0800 2005 1498454 0 ChiliDude 1 1498486 Personally I don't *read* the Bittman book for fun but cook from it, with great results. It's the cookbook I use the most, and it has never failed me. Nigella is great for reading but the recipes in Domestic Goddess are hit or miss, in my experience. Also, way many call for self-rising flour, which is a bit hard to find. Thu Dec 08 10:31:03 -0800 2005 1498454 0 Sir Gawain 2 1498496 Make your own self-rising flour if you want to get more use out of that cookbook. One version is linked below, or Google a recipe from the King Arthur website. They're all basically the same with slight variations in proportions. Link: http://southernfood.about.com/od/ingredientsubstitutions/r/bl40318o.htm Thu Dec 08 10:56:39 -0800 2005 1498486 0 nooodles 3 1498648 Hey, thanks! Didn't know that was all there was to it. Thu Dec 08 18:18:36 -0800 2005 1498496 0 Sir Gawain 1 1498499 Maybe you haven't yet found the kind of cooking that moves you. I get zillions of cookbooks (estate sales, thrift stores, etc.). It takes A LOT to move me to cook things from many cookbooks. The recipes that inspire me are usually comfort foods, and "Southern" cookbooks. Susan Hermann Loomis books inspire me. She goes to different regions of the US (and France, I think) and locates renound home cooks in the area, then features their recipes. She is my favorite cookbook author to date. Thu Dec 08 11:02:27 -0800 2005 1498454 0 Funwithfood 2 1498503 ...love Susan Loomis too. Thu Dec 08 11:17:39 -0800 2005 1498499 0 cocoagirl 1 1498526 I'm a huge fan of Mark's but here's stuff I also like: Marcella Hazan, Madeleine Kamman, Lorenza di Medici, I just started using this old Elizabeth David cook book and it works! beautifully for me, Julia of course, Craig Claiborne and I adore this regional cooking of France book I have by Jane Siegel (sp?). I just received 'The Silver Spoon' as a gift and have made 2 recipes, one a disaster the other ok. I was remembering when I made the ok one (spaghetti with tuna) that Mark had a version that was sooo much better in the NY Times a year or so ago. Thu Dec 08 12:45:26 -0800 2005 1498454 0 Kate 2 1498792 The braised shredded celery root in Mrs. David's French Provincial/Country Cooking (depending on what edition you have) is priceless, and something I make at least every other week all winter long. I love reading her cookbooks because she's so opinionated and firm about her ideas-- i.e., prosciutto is best served with "the best butter." Yes, Mrs. David! Fri Dec 09 14:10:37 -0800 2005 1498526 0 emdb 3 1498800 Can't remember which book it is off hand, it's paperback and has an intro by Julia Child I believe but I'm not sure it's the provincial cooking one - however, I'm thinking I may want more of her books based on the one I have (hope the others have bigger print!) and I'll certainly look for the braised celery root recipe. How about her desserts, do those work nicely too? Fri Dec 09 14:45:10 -0800 2005 1498792 0 Kate 4 1498853 I don't know about the desserts, sorry-- I don't eat flour or sugar most of the time, and have never tried them. The penguin editions of the cookbooks all have the same small print, but they are the only ones I tend to see at bookstores. I bought some used british versions off amazon UK, that are hardcover and better print size and quality. Fri Dec 09 19:19:23 -0800 2005 1498800 0 emdb 1 1498881 I admit to feeling similarly about Bittman...seems like a nice guy who knows what he's doing, but his books are just not for me. He made an appearance at an independent bookstore in town recently that would have been easy to get into, but I was too lazy/uninterested to go. It's ok if you didn't take to the Zuni book; I won't think any less of you. ;-) It's pretty narrowly focused but just so happens to contain all recipes that I would love to eat. Rodgers' writing style didn't grab me at first, but her level of detail and depth has won me over...I have picked up alot of good technique and a clarity to my cooking philosophy. The much lauded cookbook authors that still haven't really won me over...Julia Child (gasp!), Marcella Hazan (double gasp!), Nigella, James Peterson. I'm also not a Joy of Cooking or Fannie Farmer type gal. Oh well. I wonder if you'd like Nigel Slater's books? I have a friend who loves reading his cookbooks like novels and have heard good things about his autobiographical book. Sat Dec 10 01:08:50 -0800 2005 1498454 0 Carb Lover 2 1498958 Nigel Slater's memoir is Taste ... it's very good. Sat Dec 10 21:26:34 -0800 2005 1498881 0 Timowitz