Meal Planning The Old-Fashioned Way: My Favorite Cookbooks

I definitely have a book problem. I love them. I love hard copies of them. I love filling my bookcase shelves with books rather than succulents. A kindle just doesn’t do it for me.

This love of books doesn’t stop with the non-fiction titles that populate my desk and living room. It extends into the kitchen, where a collection of cookbooks stands proudly atop the fridge (a bookcase in my kitchen would be a dream).

COOKING FROM COOKBOOKS

In this day of Pinterest recipes and Skinnytaste (a site I love!), I still love to actually cook from a cookbook. Perhaps it’s a nod to the trend of slow eating, but when I stand at the kitchen counter with a book open to the recipe I’m tackling, the entire process of cooking feels more intentional.

 

 

SPENDING A SUNDAY FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES

In my collection, I have cookbooks dedicated to entertaining, to healthy eating, to Southern cooking, to cocktails. And, as I’m planning out our meals for the week on Sunday afternoon, I love to pull a few out and spend some time flipping through the pages choosing recipes and writing out grocery lists.

It’s a bit of slowing down that is a nice alternative to a quick google search while I’m in the Trader Joe’s aisle (not that I’m against the quick google search, it’s what I did for tonight’s dinner!).

MY FAVORITE COOKBOOKS

Of course, I have a few favorite cookbooks that I turn to again and again. I love those cookbooks with beautiful images and simple recipes that I would cook on any given weekday.

INA GARTEN: COOKING FOR JEFFREY

Who doesn’t love Ina and Jeffrey? Honestly, the food could have been terrible in this cookbook and I still would have bought it. Luckily, it’s all typical Barefoot Contessa – timeless, simple meals – interspersed with heartwarming stories. Buy it on Amazon here.

THE NEWLYWED COOKBOOK

I picked up this cookbook at a used bookstore in Dupont because I had a credit that was burning a hole in my pocket. We were getting married the next week and it seemed like a cute book to bring home. Well, the recipes in it lived up to the adorable theme. It has ideas for different at-home date nights and the menus to accompany them. Wouldn’t this make a perfect wedding or shower gift? Buy it on Amazon here.

CELEBRATING WITH UKROP’S GREAT FOOD

Anyone who is from Richmond will understand this one. Ukrop’s was the grocery store for most of my life, and while the store itself no longer exists, the prepared foods live on at Ukrop’s Kitchen. However, you don’t need to go to Richmond to make some of your favorites. This cookbook is a must-have for anyone from RVA. Also, I believe it’s out-of-print because there’s only one left on Amazon. Seriously, someone snag it now! Buy it on Amazon immediately.

MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING

Okay, so I admittedly haven’t really waded far into the pool of Mrs. Child’s cooking, but I had to include this one because Adam and I used this as the guestbook at our wedding. We (I) knew we wanted to do a cookbook, and I chose this one because it’s a. a classic, and b. we took a cooking class (okay, macaroon making) in France on our engagement-moon, so a French cookbook seemed like the right choice. Buy it on Amazon here.

SIMPLY REAL HEALTH COOKBOOK

I’m sure I’ve written about this cookbook before because it’s one I turn to again and again and again. The recipes are so, so simple, so fresh, and so easy. This is the book I refer to when I want to make something with whole, real foods. There are few ingredients in each recipe and a focus on eating food as close to its original state as possible. I like to think of it as a guide to healthy eating. Buy it on Amazon here.