10 Classic Cookbooks For Foodies

This is the book that I pick up and actually use the most. So many of my recipes like my Mini Lemon Cake, Muscovado Chocolate Cake and Sesame Bagels started out life as recipes in Domestic Goddess.

Nigella’s superlative and simile filled writing has become a little bit of a joke at times but in reality it remains a joy to read. This is the book that I go out and order for any new friends if I find they don’t have a copy.

This little book which is falling apart and forever covered in flour is the first place I look for baking basics. My scone recipe started life in this book and my Dad swears by the rubbed-in-method chocolate cake.

You can still buy the latest version of the book directly for £2.99 inc p&p and some of the recipes can be found online.

I love Mexican food and Wahaca was one of my favourite restaurants for a long time. It was the first time I felt that I was eating actual Mexican food and not Tex-Mex. So being able to recreate that sort of food at home was a boon.

Between this and the sequel; Mexican Food at Home, my at home Mexican cooking improved 10 fold. Keep an eye out for the churros, green rice and warm corn salad recipes.

NIgel Slater and I share the same intuitive and relaxed cooking style. Throw a bit of this and that in and see what happens. This is one of his early books which I return to time and time again. not so much for specific recipes but for his foodporn prose and the photography.

While we’re talking about Nigel, I should tell you about my drinking game. Watch a Nigel Slater TV program with an alcoholic beverage. Drink everytime he says anything suggestive or a possible euphmism, take a drink. You’ll be hammered by the ad break. That man loves a sausage.

I bought myself this book when I was about 8 years old. Because thats the kind of kid I was. Its the kind of kid I still am to be honest.

This was a little before the Jamies, Nigels and Nigellas of the world came on the scene. And whilst Delia’s recipes could hardly be described as sexy, they are great standards to work from. Except the American Brownies recipes. Which is awful and just doesn’t work! Make the bacon and egg pie instead. That’s perfect.

Its easy to forget just how innovative and fresh young Jamie was back in 1999. This is his first ever cookbook and its packed with fairly simple and everyday recipes.

The homemade pasta and bread recipes were the first that I used. I open this book and remember a Jamie pre-highhorse. Its my favourite version of Jamie.

This is a gorgeous book to just sit and read. Its written diary style like many of Nigel’s best books. Obviously there is plenty in the way of festive inspiration too.

I like to start reading it at the beginning of November when the book starts and read along in time over the winter. It is very tempting to skip ahead though!

John Whaite has consistently produced the most absolutely stunning books since winning the Great British Bake Off in 2012.

The photography is dark and moody and simple. Its a feast for the eyes. The recipes are also very accessible, especially in Comfort. Food to warm the soul and eyes.

I’ve discovered Donna Hay rather late in life. Shes the Australian equivalent of Nigella Lawson but with less awkward licking of wooden spoons, domestic violence and drug use. She is a home cook rather than a chef and her recipes are just as doable as Nigellas.

Modenr Baking is the first Donna Hay book that I bought. It is a huge book and I’m not sure I’ll ever need to buy another baking book. (I will anyway!)

Despite the sexy hair and inability to ever see Nigella around a box of icing sugar without cracking a coke joke, she has still written some of the best cookbooks of all time.

Nigella Bites accompanied her first TV series and includes so many simple recipes, tips and techniques that its my go-to Nigella along with Domestic Goddess.