Can you suggest a favorite cookbook for a "Julie and Julia" type challenge?

**ferhoodled** · 01-11-2012, 08:01 AM

I am not a very adventurous cook and would like to change that. Do you know of any good cookbooks that would be good to do a recipe a day like on the movie "Julie and Julia"? (Love that movie!)

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Julia-Meryl-Streep/dp/B002RSDW80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326383446&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Julie & Julia: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Linda Emond, Stephen Goldblatt, Alexandre Desplat, Nora Ephron, Richard Marks: Movies & TV@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HX9kZx9iL.@@AMEPARAM@@51HX9kZx9iL[/ame]

I'm thinking I would like something that isn't tooo adventurous (no live lobsters!) but is frugal and fairly healthy.

Would anyone else like to join me in this challenge once the cookbook is decided?

**Contrary Housewife** · 01-11-2012, 10:16 AM

I would go down to the book store and browse until I found something that sounded good. There's a billion cookbooks out there for every taste and occasion.

My favorites are by Jeff Smith, the Frugal Gourmet, but you seldom find them in stores any more.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Frugal-Gourmet-Cooks-American/dp/0688063470/ref=pd_sim_b_3"]Amazon.com: The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American (9780688063474): Jeff Smith, Chris Cart: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/319gKRy%2BczL.@@AMEPARAM@@319gKRy%2BczL[/ame]

**gapeach** · 01-11-2012, 10:29 AM

Martha Stewart has a one called Martha Stewart's Cooking School. It's very detailed with a lot of pictures on how to do different things.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewarts-Cooking-School-Lessons/dp/0307396444/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326383596&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook (9780307396440): Martha Stewart: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51exG70SwCL.@@AMEPARAM@@51exG70SwCL[/ame]

**Spirit Deer** · 01-11-2012, 10:57 AM

If you want simple, check out some Bisquick cookbooks. Bisquick They're usually pretty quick to make and don't require a lot of expensive ingredients.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crockers-Bisquick-Cookbook-Crocker/dp/B000SKZ520/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326383696&sr=1-2"]Amazon.com: Betty Crocker's Bisquick Cookbook: Betty Crocker: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21Ux8lMWfzL.@@AMEPARAM@@21Ux8lMWfzL[/ame]

I just posted a recipe for DIY Bisquick mix in the recipe forum, so if you want to make your own for a lot less, you can use it or find a different one online. There are lots of variations.

Have fun! Start a new thread when you start this and post a pic of the dish you prepare every day so we can follow along.

**SummersEnvy** · 01-11-2012, 03:07 PM

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Rays-Look-Cook-Ray/dp/030759050X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326383795&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Rachael Ray's Look + Cook (9780307590503): Rachael Ray: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51I1CUDwTQL.@@AMEPARAM@@51I1CUDwTQL[/ame]

Rachael Ray is a good one for simple cooking.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Cooking-75th-Anniversary-2006/dp/0743246268/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326383757&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 (9780743246262): Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ovtQ4OTVL.@@AMEPARAM@@51ovtQ4OTVL[/ame]

There are lots of editions of Joy of Cooking, each one is different, my suggestion is ask your G-ma if she has one and ask her what she thinks of it. That is a great one for more traditional recipes and is very informative. There are also lots of good web sites out there, two of my favorite are cdkitchen.com and allrecipes.com you can type in what ingredient you have, example, chicken and it will give you tons of chicken recipes. You can also be more specific and type in Chicken Parmesan and you will get lots of variations of that recipe. I love to cook and I hope this helps you. I am new to this website and not sure if we can add friends or not, if this has been helpful to you and you would like to chat more add me!

**Sara Noel** · 01-11-2012, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by SummersEnvy

I am new to this website and not sure if we can add friends or not, if this has been helpful to you and you would like to chat more add me!

Yes, we have an option on each member's profile to add friends and contacts. You can see it in your usercp.

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-11-2012, 04:38 PM

Mr. Food has a huge number of cookbooks and his recipes are simple.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Food-TV-Favorites-Recipes/dp/0615322379/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326383857&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Mr. Food TV Favorites: My Very Best Quick 'n' Easy TV Recipes (9780615322377): Arthur Ginsburg: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51s2Wl0AkAL.@@AMEPARAM@@51s2Wl0AkAL[/ame]

**gmarie** · 01-11-2012, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by ferhoodled

I am not a very adventurous cook and would like to change that. Do you know of any good cookbooks that would be good to do a recipe a day like on the movie "Julie and Julia"? (Love that movie!)

I'm thinking I would like something that isn't tooo adventurous (no live lobsters!) but is frugal and fairly healthy.

Would anyone else like to join me in this challenge once the cookbook is decided?

So the "Modernist Cuisine" is out??

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Modernist-Cuisine-Art-Science-Cooking/dp/0982761007/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326383881&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking (9780982761007): Nathan Myhrvold, Chris Young, Maxime Bilet: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51t4DB8UzTL.@@AMEPARAM@@51t4DB8UzTL[/ame]

If you really want learn how to cook, DH suggested going through a culinary text book like "The Professional Chef" by The Culinary Institute of America.

Good luck!

**ferhoodled** · 01-11-2012, 10:56 PM

Thank you all for the great suggestions! I can't wait to go to the library and check out a bunch of cookbooks and decide which one. Then I'll buy it on Amazon to get a cheap copy that I can write in. Told my family about my project and my kids are less than enthused.

Summersenvy, would be glad to be on your friends' list and anyone else who would like.

**bcolbyb** · 01-12-2012, 09:32 AM

I started this challenge on January 1st using the Betty Crocker Country Cooking cookbook. I found it at B&N for about $14. It has about 350 recipes. I figured I could probably finish it before the end of 2012.

So far, it's gone well. Some days, I do more than one recipe. Some days, none at all. I try to take photos of the ones that come out looking good.

I've scanned through most all the recipes, and the only problem I think I'll encounter is with the Venison recipe. You can't buy Venison in a store. Not sure where I'll get it.

I would be interested in comparing notes with you on your challenge.

**Gabe** · 01-12-2012, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by bcolbyb

I started this challenge on January 1st using the Betty Crocker Country Cooking cookbook. I found it at B&N for about $14. It has about 350 recipes. I figured I could probably finish it before the end of 2012.

It's available on Amazon for $3.47 + shipping.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crocker-Country-Favorites/dp/1594866678/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326384069&sr=1-3"]Amazon.com: Betty Crocker Country Favorites (9781594866678): Betty Crocker: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Jc0-ZOn0L.@@AMEPARAM@@51Jc0-ZOn0L[/ame]

**bcolbyb** · 01-12-2012, 11:30 AM

I'm not sure if they're the same, but the one I'm using is called Country Cooking and has a different cover. Not sure if I can add a link, but I'll try...

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crocker-Country-Cooking-Books/dp/0470194413"]Amazon.com: Betty Crocker Country Cooking (Betty Crocker Books) (9780470194416): Betty Crocker Editors: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BXqxkKTGL.@@AMEPARAM@@51%2BXqxkKTGL[/ame]

**lisaflex** · 01-12-2012, 08:03 PM

may i suggest a fave of mine? All About Braising by molly brown i think??
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/All-About-Braising-Uncomplicated-Cooking/dp/0393052303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326436100&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: All About Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cooking (9780393052305): Molly Stevens: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61NHF5X8KDL.@@AMEPARAM@@61NHF5X8KDL[/ame]

/ also, she has a new one out called All About Roasting....yummy reipes...i have made quite a few out of all about braising and never a miss..always a hit. the braised cabbage is awesome!

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/All-About-Roasting-Approach-Classic/dp/039306526X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b"]Amazon.com: All About Roasting: A New Approach to a Classic Art (9780393065268): Molly Stevens: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512vXIDN4rL.@@AMEPARAM@@512vXIDN4rL[/ame]