8 Essential Cookbooks Everyone Needs in Their Kitchen
By: By Sarah Kim (Mental Floss)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
8 Essential Cookbooks Everyone Needs in Their Kitchen
From the classic work of Julia Child to more modern fusion cuisine, these eight cookbooks are essential must-haves in your kitchen.
Cooking is a lifelong learning process. No matter how talented you may be in the kitchen, chances are there's always one dish in your repertoire that could use a little work. That's why having a dependable cookbook on hand is so important. Whether you're looking for a time-tested classic or something that offers a glimpse at new cultures and flavors, here are eight cookbooks that kitchen maestros of every level can appreciate.
1. New Complete Techniques by Jacques Pepin
Jacques Pepin is the master of technique and method. Coincidentally, this book is a combination of two of his previous books, La Methode and La Technique . It demonstrates 600 techniques and 160 recipes with step-by-step photos featuring Pepin. The book contains cooking basics like how to sharpen a knife and how to properly debone a chicken, as well as more complex techniques like how to make decorative swans and flowers out of fruits and vegetables. New Complete Techniques is a great cookbook for anyone just starting out in the kitchen, but even seasoned cooks can learn a few things here.
2. Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Two-Volume Set) by Julia Child
If you love to cook, it's impossible not to know who Julia Child is. The culinary icon (and shark repellent inventor) is best known for introducing French cuisine and techniques to American audiences. And this two-volume set of her perennially popular Mastering the Art of French Cooking contains more than 700 recipes with step-by-step instructions, including classics like Quiche Lorraine, beef Burgundy, and a trademark French baguette.
3. My Pantry: Homemade Ingredients That Make Simple Meals Your Own by Alice Waters
My Pantry is a great addition for home cooks as chef Alice Waters shares how she "shops, stores, and prepares pantry staples and preserves that form the core of her daily meals." From homemade chicken stock to pickles and even cheese, Waters teaches how to pull various pantry ingredients together for a great, homemade, nutritious meal.
4. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat— the book that inspired the Netflix series of the same name—teaches both novices and experienced pros alike how to put the basic elements of cooking together to create great flavors in every dish. The book contains 100 recipes, with dozens of variations, and features 150 illustrations and infographics by illustrator Wendy MacNaughton that help guide you through the process. It's simple, timeless, and more than worthy of a spot on anyone's cookbook shelf.
5. Small Victories by Julia Turshen
A cookbook that may double as a motivational speech, Small Victories pushes readers to make great food with confidence. Writer and recipe-developer Julia Turshen compiles her years of experience for a collection of simple and delicious recipes to encourage readers in their home cooking journey. This book contains more than 400 simple recipes and variations with fun and encouraging notes to help you through. At the end, there's even a list of seven things you can do with staples like chicken, pizza dough, and more, in order to get the most out of the basics.
6. How to Cook Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Food by Mark Bittman
Maybe one of the best-known cooking reference books in recent memory, this updated 20th anniversary version of Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything showcases a broader palate with new ingredients. In addition to its simple recipes, the book features tips for grilling vegetables and roasting seafood, pointers for making homemade condiments, guides for improvising soups and stir-fries, and more easy life hacks. Plus, you'll learn how to make elevated classics like fried chicken, chili, and more from this James Beard Award-winning writer.
7. A Common Table by Cynthia Chen McTernan
Lawyer and food blogger Cynthia Chen McTernan shares more than 80 recipes inspired by her unique background growing up in a Chinese family from the southern United States. That mix of cultures further blends with her husband's Korean-Irish background, leading to a cookbook that champions diversity in the pursuit of one-of-a-kind flavors (think wontons filled with collard greens and you'll get the idea). Best of all, McTernan's recipes are both approachable and personal, making it simple to bring classic Asian flavors into your favorite dishes.
8. In Pursuit of Flavor by Edna Lewis
"The Grande Dame of Southern Cooking" Edna Lewis's In Pursuit of Flavor is a cornerstone of Southern cooking and was inducted into the James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame. With memories of fresh ingredients from growing up in a farming community and generations of cooking knowledge under her belt, Lewis teaches readers how to use seasonal ingredients to maximize the flavor of any dish. In this book, you'll learn to make timeless Southern dishes like braised spare ribs, raspberry pie, okra, and more.
The Code of Conduct and Terms of Service must be complied with.
Any comment posted about politics or religion not relevant to the seeds/articles that are posted will be deleted.
The administrator reserves the right to delete any comment he considers to be offensive, off topic or of no value.
Videos or images or links to sources that the Administrator cannot open must be described or explained when requested or they will be deleted.
Tags
Who is online
129 visitors
I got hungry just from posting this article.
Julia but no Paula?.....
Bullshit
LOL. Okay, in case anyone else is unhappy that Paula has been left out...
Paula Deen's Fame: Recipes, TV Shows & Controversy
LINK -> What Is Paula Deen Famous For? The Full Story (2026)
I remember, as a kid, that my mother loved cooking. She had few cookbooks, but IIRC she hardly ever looked at them.
But the one she did look at was Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
IIRC, for a long time there was only the one book-- the second one came much later.
According to the movie her early failed attempts to get it published were because there were so many recipes it would need 2 voliumes, and it wasn't until Knopf put it into a single volume that it was first published. At least that info is from the movie which may or may not be accurate.
Did you ever watch the movie Julie and Julia? It's the story of Julia Child's creation of her cookbook.
No I haven't.
But it sounds interesting...
And In addition to her cooking skills, apparently she contributed to the Allied war effort during WWII . . .
I didn't know that, but I think she was deservedly famous, and I won't be surprised if she will continue to be..
Overall a very talented lady!
Here's a brief summary about what she did re: WWII:
I don't know what sites you can't access so here's the info from another site:
Julia Child Was A 'Spook' Who Held Top Security Clearances During World War II
Julia Child —who would have been 100 years old today — did a lot more for the United States than write Mastering the Art of French Cooking .
While the cookbook forever changed the way Americans eat food, Child was also one of the 4,500 women who served in the Office of Strategic Services during the Second World War.
Then Julia McWilliams, she started in Washington working for OSS leader William J. Donovan in the Secret Intelligence division as a research assistant.
She later moved to the Sea Rescue Equipment Section, cooking up a recipe for shark repellent.
The chemicals were coated on torpedoes to fight against the strangely significant problem of sharks investigating and bumping up against the weapons fired at German U-boats, prematurely detonating the torpedo.
(Cont'd HERE)
#JuliaChild #OSS #WWII #spy #cooking #sharks
And again you posted a link for "The Rest of the Story" (but not Paul Harvey) that I'm unable to open.
My apologies!
When Isee a link in most cases I don't know if you can open it. So probably the best approach would be to give you a few key words you could use in a search engine that works for you.
In this case you could probably find it easily using a few key words. Here is a way that might work for you-- search for: Julia Child + OSS + WWII or possibly "anti-Nazi".
Yes, usually, but not always, I can find an alternate source that works provided I have key words that lead to access.
I just checked-- she is no longer living, walked on in 2004, age 91. (Was a Leo, born August 1912).
Okay, I wasn't confused, I know she died around 2 decades ago. But she will be famous for many years to come.
Well her death info actually isn't really relevant. I do agree with you that she will be famous for a long time for her cookbooks and cooking ideas.
While we're on the topic of people who are famous for various reasons which are widely known, but who also contributed to the Allied war effort iduring WWII< here's another one. Audrey Hepburn!
Here's a link to the BBC article, but if you can't access that site try searching for something like:
Audrey Hepburn + anti-Nazi + WWII
or perhaps better: search for something like this:
How Audrey Hepburn became a secret spy during World War Two
Its a fascinating story!
For people who can access the BBC site-- here's the link for the story there:
How Audrey Hepburn became a secret spy during World War Two
The Canadian army liberated The Netherlands. That was where my uncle served with the Canadian Army. This was my mother's brother, my uncle Johnny.
He wasn't married then, and I was his favourite nephew, so he came back from the war with gifts for me - Dutch wartime coins and a German Officer's bayonette.
There are a few versions of her story. This is one I read:
How Audrey Hepburn Aided the Dutch Resistance During World War II
LINK -> How Audrey Hepburn Aided the Dutch Resistance During World War II | Military.com