Great Cookbooks for Foodies

Even though I spend an unhealthy amount of time online looking through recipes and cooking ideas, nothing beats a good ole cookbook that I can hold in my hands. There is something about flipping the papers and actually reading a book that I can’t get enough of. I have a large collection of cookbooks that I use on a regular basis. Some of my favorite are ones that have been passed down to me from my grandma or books that have handwritten notes in them. One of my favorite presents to give (and get) are cookbooks. It’s passing down knowledge and happiness from one family to another.

I’ve gathered a list of some of my favorite cookbook that make for great giving or even great cookbooks to add to your collection. Even if you aren’t a big cook, think about your kids and being able to pass the books on in the future.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks Dinnertime: The #1 bestselling author and Food Network personality at last answers that age-old question—“What’s for Dinner?”—bringing together more than 125 simple, scrumptious, step-by-step recipes for delicious dinners the whole family will love.

Betty Crocker Cookbook 1500 Recipes for the Way You Cook Today: Representing its most thorough revision ever, the Betty Crocker Cookbook, 11th Edition includes hundreds of new recipes, three new chapters, and icons that showcase how we cook today—faster, healthier, and with many more flavors.

Happy Cooking Make Every Meal Count Without Stressing Out: Giada De Laurentiis, one of the most recognizable faces on the Food Network lineup, invites readers to get to know her as never before. The celebrity chef is back with nearly 200 new recipes and helpful advice on everything from hosting a potluck or open house to what to pack along for lunch every day.

Make It Ahead A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook: f you’ve ever found yourself stuck in front of the stove at your own party, scrambling to get everything to the table at just the right moment, Ina is here to let you in on her secrets! Thanks to twenty years of running a specialty food store and fifteen years writing cookbooks, she has learned exactly which dishes you can prep, assemble, or cook ahead of time. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply making dinner on a hectic weeknight, Ina gives you lots of amazing recipes that taste just as good—or even better!—when they’re made in advance.

Crock-Pot The Original Slow Cooker Recipe Collection: Learn how simple it can be to prepare great-tasting, family-pleasing meals with your CROCK-POT® slow cooker, the leader in slow cooking for more than 40 years. Inside you’ll discover more than 350 easy-to-make recipes—everything from practical party foods to savory main dishes; satisfying soups, stews, and chilies; spectacular side dishes; and even stunning sweets and desserts. More than 200 photographs of the finished dishes.

Crock-pot 5-ingredient Dump Meals Cookbook:  Each recipe in Crock Pot Dump Meals Cookbook uses no more than five simple ingredients and takes less than five minutes to prepare. Simply dump the ingredients into your crock pot and let your slow cooker do all the work! Choose from recipes like: Seasoned Pork Chops, Juicy Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes, Teriyaki Chicken With Rice, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and Cheesy Dump Dish Pizza. Each order comes with over 150 recipes that save time and money without sacrificing flavor.

Around the Table Recipes and Inspiration for Gatherings Throughout the Year: The widely acclaimed country music megastar Martina McBride invites fans into her home, her kitchen, and her family’s traditions in this, her first-ever book—a beautiful full-color illustrated collection of culinary celebrations, complete with cherished recipes and menus for cooking and entertaining at home.

Trisha’s Table My Feel-Good Favorites for a Balanced Life: Whether surprisingly virtuous or just a little bit sinful, the recipes in Trisha’s Table all bring that unmistakable authenticity you’ve come to love from Trisha. You’ll find brand-new dishes emblematic of the variety and balance Trisha champions. They skimp on anything but flavor, including dairy-free Angel Hair Pasta with Avocado Pesto, low-calorie Billie’s Houdini Chicken Salad, vegetarian Smashed Sweet Pea Burgers, and tasty, high-protein Edamame Parmesan, alongside too-good-to-give-up family favorites, such as Slow Cooker Georgia Pulled-Pork Barbecue, Chicken Tortilla Casserole, Snappy Pear-Cranberry Crumble, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls.

The Taste of Home Cookbook 4th Edition: Don’t have time to cook up a family dinner? Let Taste of Home help! Featuring 1,380 recipes, a bonus chapter of 30-minute entrees, and icons that highlight 5-ingredient dishes, slow cooker favorites and more, Taste of Home Cookbook: Busy Family Edition is a BRAND NEW must-have for today’s home cooks!

Do you own any of these cookbooks? Which is your favorite?