Anyone ever cook through a cookbook?

[Anonymous]

Like the movie Julie & Julia. I need a new hobby and thought this would be fun for my DH and I to do together. I'm vegetarian and DH is meat eater. I'm thinking of cooking Indian or some other mostly plant-based meals. Is this realistic? Any ideas for a good cookbook to try?

[Anonymous]

If it appeals to you, it’s realistic. Let us know how it goes!

[Anonymous]

This is one of my goals as well, and a fun project idea. The cookbook I’ve come closest to achieving this (around 50% of the recipes) is Madhur Jaffrey’s Quick & Easy Indian Cooking, a paperback released in 2007. It’s out of print but easy to find on the second-hand market. Everything I’ve made from it has been fantastic, and it has both vegetarian recipes and meat/poultry/fish ones.

Another short, great cookbook is Roberto Santibañez’s Tacos, Tortas, and Tamales.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Yes! DH and I cooked our way through The French Menu Cookbook. Sometimes together, sometimes solo

Then DH, DS, and I cooked our way through The Real Japanese Izakaya Cookbook.

We are looking for a new one to start at the beginning of the school year. DS wants something that has a lot of different cuisines.

[Anonymous]

Once you learn to cook you won't even need to use cook books or recepies.

You can make your own cookbook then.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard of people doing this with Ina Garten cookbooks. It seems like a fun idea but I’ve never done it because I’m a little picky and my kids even more so. Even with my favorite cookbooks, there are probably only 50% of the recipes that would be eaten.

[Anonymous]

I have cooked almost every item in Martha Stewart's Hors D'oeuvres book from 1984. It is old but is still my go to when cooking for parties. I just looked, and it's only $7 on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like the movie Julie & Julia. I need a new hobby and thought this would be fun for my DH and I to do together. I'm vegetarian and DH is meat eater. I'm thinking of cooking Indian or some other mostly plant-based meals. Is this realistic? Any ideas for a good cookbook to try?

For vegetarian meals, I love Deborah Madison's The Savory Way. I could see myself cooking my way through that. I've always meant to buy her Greens cookbook but haven't ever gotten around to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once you learn to cook you won't even need to use cook books or recepies.

You can make your own cookbook then.

Sure, if you’re the sort of person who dislikes learning interesting new things.

[Anonymous]

I have. I have done over 20 years: Around My French Table, Dorie Greenspan; How to Eat, Nigella Lawson; How to be a Domestic Goddess, Nigella Lawson; The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, Claudia Roden; Mes Tartes: The Sweet and Savory Tarts of Christine Ferber, Christine Ferber; My Paris Kitchen, David Lebovitz just to name a few of my most favourites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once you learn to cook you won't even need to use cook books or recepies.

You can make your own cookbook then.

Sure, if you’re the sort of person who dislikes learning interesting new things.

Ha that was my thought when I read that PP too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like the movie Julie & Julia. I need a new hobby and thought this would be fun for my DH and I to do together. I'm vegetarian and DH is meat eater. I'm thinking of cooking Indian or some other mostly plant-based meals. Is this realistic? Any ideas for a good cookbook to try?

For vegetarian meals, I love Deborah Madison's The Savory Way. I could see myself cooking my way through that. I've always meant to buy her Greens cookbook but haven't ever gotten around to it.

Yes, I was going to suggest her Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, my absolute favorite cookbook.

I'm not even vegetarian, but everything I've tried has been a hit.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like fun!

The tricky part will be making sure you have all the ingredients.

I’ve never done it but check back in with an update. I’d love it if my spouse did this!

[Anonymous]

I've started this project several times, twice with cookbooks and once with a bread baking book. Never finished for a variety of reasons, but it's a fun way to try a bunch of new recipes, and force yourself to try cooking techniques you might otherwise avoid for time or other practical reasons.

Each time I do it, I find a level up my cooking skills and knowledge too.

But I always start to lose interest about halfway through, and find myself cheating and just making other recipes. Still worthwhile though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have. I have done over 20 years: Around My French Table, Dorie Greenspan; How to Eat, Nigella Lawson; How to be a Domestic Goddess, Nigella Lawson; The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, Claudia Roden; Mes Tartes: The Sweet and Savory Tarts of Christine Ferber, Christine Ferber; My Paris Kitchen, David Lebovitz just to name a few of my most favourites.

Not OP, but I love David Lebovitz recipes so may have to try this.