Cookbooks, Etc.

[cantienne]

Oh, there's also a recipe for goat cheese and corn? (I think) enchiladas with homemade mole sauce.

That sounds really good. I love making enchiladas in winter - so warm and filling, plus they freeze well.

heyalice, if you have more dessert cookbook recs, lay 'em on me. I have a few (and now that I look at them, most of them are associated with either Dorie Greenspan or Pierre Herme), but I loves me some pastry.

[heyalice]

BAKING by Dorie Greenspan is my current favourite.
I like Tish Boyle and Alice Medrich (I've made a couple of things from her new book PURE DESSERTS).
I love TARTINE. It's a bakery out in San Francisco and I've made a few things out of it (although, I wasn't impressed with the lemon bars. I am on a never-ending quest for the perfect lemon bar recipe).
The PASTRY QUEEN is another cookbook from a bakery/cafe in Texas and the cookbook is a condition that good cookbooks should be in.
I love chocolate recipes and I found a little gem by Lori Longbotham called LUSCIOUS CHOCOLATE DESSERTS.
I also love the KING ARTHUR BAKING series books, particularly the COOKIE COMPANION.
I could go on and on..

[cantienne]

Thanks! I have Baking and will have to look into the others, especially the King Arthur Flour ones.
I, too, would love a perfect lemon bar recipe. My grandmother used to make these great ones: shortbread crust, not too thick, and a tart lemon topping that was a little chewier than the usual lemon curd variety (the top of the bars would have a nice crinkly pattern). Even with her recipe, I can't make them like her.

[heyalice]

Is that always the way? It always tastes better when your mom/aunt/grandma makes a recipe. Your recipe sounds great though, I like chewy.
I've also been referring a lot to my copy of JOY OF COOKING. It really is a gem.

[SGleason]

Yep, I'm having a Joy Thanksgiving here. Made the pan of cornbread for the stuffing last night.

My other go-to cookbook was put out by the employees at San Diego Gas & Electric about 20 years ago. For some reason it has nearly everything I ever look for: Snickerdoodles, spinach dip, hot wings . . .

and I have my grandma's Better Homes & Gardens cookbook but honestly? The old one from the 50s? Not so good. Everything comes out greasy and salty for me.

[cleangenie]

Julia Childs just confirmed for me that I can freeze the turkey gravy I made in advance. I just love that woman.

[Daisy Pusher]

I don't know how I missed this one before, but I recently picked up Amy Sedaris' "I Like You: A Guide to Hospitality Under the Influence, " which is a combination of cook/kitchsy craft/entertaining/humor book.

It would make a great hostess gift--where else could you get recipes for her famous cupcakes, random party ideas, and how to make things out of old pantyhose?

[mariposalabrown]

Oh yeah, I bought that book for almost everyone last Christmas. I have never made any of the recipes, though.

[Smee]

kokopelli said:

I don't know how I missed this one before, but I recently picked up Amy Sedaris' "I Like You: A Guide to Hospitality Under the Influence, " which is a combination of cook/kitchsy craft/entertaining/humor book.

It would make a great hostess gift--where else could you get recipes for her famous cupcakes, random party ideas, and how to make things out of old pantyhose?

I bought that for my Secret Santa this year, and she already had it.

[Ripley]

kokopelli said:

I don't know how I missed this one before, but I recently picked up Amy Sedaris' "I Like You: A Guide to Hospitality Under the Influence, " which is a combination of cook/kitchsy craft/entertaining/humor book.

It would make a great hostess gift--where else could you get recipes for her famous cupcakes, random party ideas, and how to make things out of old pantyhose?

I bought this for my friend for her birthday this month. She loves to throw parties and the humor is totally her style.

Personally, I loved the Kids' Party Games (Junior Cat Burglar - lock the kids out of the house and tell them they have to break in).