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A list of my favorite cookbooks!

Jul 4, 2018 · 22 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my privacy policy for details.

I absolutely LOVE cookbooks. I have an ever growing collection, and I always get asked about my favorite cookbooks, so I thought I’d make list to share with you, so I present to you: a list of my favorite cookbooks, a list of the best cookbooks if you will.

My all time favorite cookbooks

I will be adding to this list, and referencing it in the future.

Cookbooks are such a source of inspiration for me. I love reading them from cover to cover and trying new recipes in the kitchen. After having written a cookbook, they’re even more special to me. I know first hand what an act of love it is to put a book together and put it out there in the world.

Fast & Easy Five-Ingredient Recipes: A Cookbook For Busy People – by yours truly. I tell everyone this, but it’s so true: ever since becoming a mom, I use my cookbook more than ever. It sits on my kitchen counter and it contains so many of my go-to recipes (like my yogurt chicken, omg so good, or the sloppy joes, or even the recipe for taco seasoning, because I never have those packets when I need them, so I can make it by following my recipe in the book). It’s also a great starting point if you’re looking for inspiration, because so many of the recipes can be modified or be used as a starting point and then varied depending on your tastes.

Fast and Easy Five-ingredient recipes cookbook

The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook – by Susan Westmoreland. One of my best friends gave me this cookbook she picked up at a garage sale for 10 cents. It’s such a good cookbook. It is the first cookbook I can remember ever really using repeatedly. It has followed me through college, graduate school, newlywed life and now beyond. It has recipes for just about everything under the sun, and they all turn out great. I definitely need to make something and share it on the blog here for you guys (it’s where I learned how to make pot roast, polenta and apple pie!)

100% Real Cookbook by Sam Talbot

100% Real: 100 Insanely Good Recipes For Clean Food Made Fresh – by Sam Talbot. When I first got this cookbook I dismissed it as ‘healthy food’ and asked my husband to pick a recipe he thought sounded good. He handed me back a list, which was basically every page of the book. I took another look, and sure enough, there were tons of good-sounding recipes. I since have made several recipes (including these almond butter pepita date granola bars) and omg, so good. Everything I make from this book is insanely delicious! Don’t let the healthy title throw you off! I made these insane ham and brie toasts with apricot jam that I’m going to be sharing soon from this book.

A list of the best cookbooks you need

Cooking That Counts: 1,200- to 1,500-Calorie Meal Plans to Lose Weight Deliciously – by the editors of cooking light. Even though this book is a ‘healthy’ cookbook, the recipes are SO GOOD! I have made at least 1/2 if not more of the recipes in this cookbook and have not been disappointed my any of them. Really good healthier recipes and inspiration. 

Feeding the Whole Family– by Cynthia Liar. There are over 200 recipes for feeding babies, kids and their parents. I love this cookbook and have been using it since I started feeding Ben. I love that there are variations for all the recipes on how to make them perfect for everyone. This book is in its 4th edition, so you know it’s good!

The best cookbooks you need in your kitchen

Skinnytaste Fast and Slow: Knockout Quick-Fix and Slow Cooker Recipes– by Gina Homolka. I love making healthy recipes from this book. Gina’s recipes always turn out great, and this is one of my favorite cookbooks. The book itself is beautiful, and is perfect for those set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker days! I shared this recipe for the best ground turkey tacos from this book and I make them ALL the time, they truly are the best.

Skinnytaste Fast and Slow cookbook

Martha American Food – by Martha Stewart. This cookbook was given to me as a gift, and I love not only reading it and learning food history tidbits, but the recipes are super good. The chicken and dumplings, farmhouse chowder, and so many others are favorites are from this book. Every time I open this book it makes me want to travel to a different part of the US to try new food!

The best cookbooks that are my favorite to use

Seriously Delish – by Jessica Merchant. My all-time favorite banana bread (it uses coconut milk) and my favorite whole wheat chocolate chip cookies come from this book. That says a lot. It’s a really fun book that I actually use! Jessica also happens to be coming out with another book (The Pretty Dish) soon which I cannot wait to get my hands on, I promise I’ll share a recipe from it!

Eating In The Middle: A Mostly Wholesome Cookbook– by Andie Mitchell. I love this book, which has both healthy and no-so-healthy recipes in it. I’ve made a bunch of recipes from this book, my fave faves are the cashew chicken lettuce cups, the meatballs, and the chicken curry with ginger and yogurt.

Food Swings Cookbook

Food Swings: 125+ Recipes to Enjoy Your Life of Virtue and Vice – by Jessica Seinfeld. If you’re thinking the name ‘Seinfeld’ is familiar, you’d be right. This is Jerry Seinfeld’s wife. She is a really great cook, and this is my second cookbook of hers I’ve loved. Years ago (before kids) I got Deceptively Delicious: Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food and really enjoyed the book. Her latest cookbook though, this Food Swings one is a winner. So many amazing recipes, including the best ever chocolate layer cake!

Baby Led Weaning Family Cookbook

Baby Led Weaning Cookbook: Enjoy the Convenience of One Meal for the Whole Family – by Tracey Murkett & Gill Rapley. At first glance I paged through this book and didn’t really think anything more. Then Ben started eating, and I re-opened this book. So amazing, the egg cups recipe, I make those once a week for us, there’s lots of recipes the whole family can eat and enjoy, so you’re not cooking separately for everyone.

In my home office, I have a bookshelf that holds cookbooks. What you don’t see is the stacks and stacks of cookbooks on the side of the room. It’s gotten to the point where my husband suggested we think about building some wall shelves to hold them (YES! love that idea!)

My home office with my cookbook shelfI have so many cookbooks I still haven’t gone through and given the proper ‘once over’ to, so I promise I will come back and update this list.

The best cookbooks for meal planning

Now I’d love to know – do you have a favorite cookbook? Or, what are some of your favorite cookbooks?!

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cassie says

    March 14, 2018 at 4:11 am

    I have a serious cookbook addiction! Of course, I love yours! Right now I can’t get enough of Healthyish!

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      March 14, 2018 at 7:15 am

      I have a cookbook addiction too Cassie!! Thank you so much for having mine, and I’m totally going to go check out Healthyish, sounds like just my type of book!

      Reply
      • Cassie says

        July 15, 2018 at 5:10 am

        Love the update! I have a bunch of the same ones! I just got Just Cook It! and I want Eat a Little Better by Sam Kass. Waiting for Prime Day for a possible coupon!

        Reply
        • Sweetphi says

          July 15, 2018 at 8:31 pm

          Oh, those sound great – your recommendations are always great so I’m totally going to add those to my prime day list!! Thank you for commenting!

          Reply
  2. shawnna Griffin says

    March 13, 2018 at 1:00 pm

    hey girl- I love cookbooks to! My favorites are Pioneer Woman’s ( so cool)! I can’t wait for Joanna Gaines to come out next month and also Siri Daly’s.

    Reply
    • Sweetphi says

      March 14, 2018 at 7:08 am

      Oh my goodness, thank you so much for your comment, I now am going to go purchase/preorder those ones right now, they all sound amazing, thank you for sharing!!!

      Reply

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Welcome to the SweetPhi blog, I’m Phi! I live in Milwaukee, WI. I’m a busy working mom (and cookbook author x2) to boy-girl twins and a toddler.

I am all about helping make mealtime a little easier and sharing inspiration for those with a busy lifestyle!

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UNTIL... I created THIS salad!
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I could eat this salad every single day!!
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It also packs really well for lunches, I just put the salad in one container and toppings in another!
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Plus, there’s candied pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and goat cheese and all sorts of awesome toppings and homemade salad dressing 🙌🏻
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Also, weekly love list is live 👉🏻 https://sweetphi.com/love-list-36-cookbooks-and-coffee-orders/
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US residents only. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with Instagram or anyone else, just me wanting to give you guys something cool.  Giveaway will be closed at 11:59 pm CST on 3/5. Good luck ❣️
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Here's a peak at this weeks’ meal plan menu whic Here's a peak at this weeks’ meal plan menu which I’m currently using like no other because it helps me get some meals on the table without too much thought 👀
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These free weekly meal plans include the flexibility to choose which recipes you'd like to make and to create a shopping list!
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Each week includes 5 days of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, as well as a snack or dessert.
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Do you meal plan or prep?
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Clickable link in profile 👉🏻 https://www.sweetphi.com/meal-plans
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This recipe is SO EASY to make! You simply melt c This recipe is SO EASY to make!  You simply melt chocolate and add toppings = chocolate coins. 
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Plus, you can use almost anything you like as a topping – even better!
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Clickable link in profile 👉🏻 https://sweetphi.com/chocolate-coins-recipe/
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The twins have been picking out their own outfits, The twins have been picking out their own outfits, weird pantry ingredients that turned into an amazing meal (ever heard of “knödel and more on this weeks’ Catching Up With The Kelnhofers
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P.s.- Frankie’s cute vegetable dress is from @blackbearboutique 
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Want to hear the horrible thing that happened in m Want to hear the horrible thing that happened in my house this week? 🎻 
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First, I ran out of coffee beans 😳😩😢
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Then, as I was washing dishes late at night, my French press slipped through my hands and shattered 🙀😭😫
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I just kept repeating a German phrase my mom used to say “sherben bringen Glück” which means “shards bring luck” (it’s usually applied to like porcelain- which is why plates and mugs are thrown on the ground ahead of weddings... but my mom would apply it to glass/plates/whatever broke) 
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So...I’m going to go ahead and make some sweet cream, bust out my old coffee machine until the new French press arrives <-because apparently now I’m someone who makes French press coffee every morning! 
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I’m going to drink my coffee and make my meal plan and shopping list for the week ahead (if you need some inspo the latest free meal plan and which has the ability to create a shooting list with the click of a button is live on the blog! 
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How are you spending your weekend?
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What would you dip in this pimento cheese spread f What would you dip in this pimento cheese spread first? 
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❤️ crackers
🧡 veggies 
💛 fries
💚 chips 
💙 pretzels
💜 a cheeseburger <- so good
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Recipe here: https://sweetphi.com/5-ingredient-pimento-cheese-spread/
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