My Favourite Cookbooks

I have a bit of an obsession with cook books which I am trying to curb with varying degrees of success! I have about 150 or so at the moment as well as stacks of folders and note books containing recipes cut and torn from a variety of magazines, newspapers and other sources.

Most of my cookery book collection!

 I read them a bit like novels at bedtime or browse them when I am looking for ideas. I like the fact that they are there - it provides a certain degree of comfort that I can find a recipe for almost anything in one of these tomes quickly and easily. I also like cook books that aren't just a collection of recipes; I like them to present a lifestyle, an idea or a style of eating and entertaining that appeals to me.

I suppose I started with Delia Smith's books at quite a young age. I have always liked Nigella Lawson and think her 'Nigella Express' book is just brilliant. Rachel Allen and Donna Hay feature heavily alongside a bit of Jamie Oliver, Mary Berry and Nigel Slater. But my absolute favourites are my American cookery books. I find a lot of UK cookery books very samey. Just popping across the Atlantic provides a fresh new perspective with recipes that have never let me down. Martha Stewart, Ina Garten and Anna Pump are three authors that I encourage you to investigate further.

Probably my current desert island cookery book is 'Martha's Entertaining' by Martha Stewart.

Probably my favourite - at the moment!

A massive book, it really is inspirational. Martha takes us through a year of her lavish parties and celebrations featuring amazing table settings and ideas for truly memorable occasions. All of the recipes are in the back so you can replicate her dishes for your guests. We may not have a team of staff and chefs like her but we can learn something from every picture and recipe to enhance our home cooking and entertaining. Strongly recommended but hard to find. You will need to shop online I expect.

So, on to Ina Garten (the Barefoot Contessa) who has written 8 hugely successful books. They are all great but I do like her most recent, 'Foolproof'.

Everything by Ina is brilliant!

It is packed with mouthwatering recipes, all with superb colour photographs. You really can't fail with Ina as she writes recipes for things you really want to eat with a focus on simple techniques and great flavours. Salted Caramel Brownie anyone? Or how about a delicious Fig and Fennel Caponata at your next cocktail party? Her books are appearing more frequently on the high street now or, of course, you can go online.

And finally Anna Pump. She runs the famous Loaves and Fishes speciality food shop in the Hampstons. Relatively unknown over here, she has written a few books which are very hard to get hold of. I ended up phoning her shop in America and getting them sent over as some of them were going for silly money on Ebay! The one book you can find online easily and at a sensible price is 'Summer on a Plate'.

A great book. We can at least imagine we are having a summer!

Very well written and filled with delicious summer recipes this really does offer something different. The basic recipes for salad dressings are superb and her guidance on how to stock a pantry and the essential items to have on hand for impromptu visitors is very good. Worth tracking down.

I hope there's something new here for you to try. I would love to hear about your favourite cookbooks as my collection is never complete!

Happy reading!