Raise your hand if you were ever victimized by trying to learn how to cook from parents who didn’t believe in measurements. Just me? I know I can’t be the only one. Maybe it’s my personality type (shout out to any Myers Briggs ENTJ’s or enneagram 3’s) but there’s something so thrilling about following a good recipe and enjoying the meal it produced. When I redecorated my kitchen, I developed a bit of a cookbook collection and I do enjoy spending some time whipping a plate or two up in the kitchen. Keep reading for a list of the cookbooks in my collection and my thoughts on them.
Ayesha Curry Full Plate Life
This cookbook gets the most use in my collection. It basically was made for the people who are short on time but need to please a crowd. For me, that just means having a decent amount of leftovers. The book is comprehensive and includes recipes for drinks, desserts, sandwiches and soups, meat, pasta, and more. My favorites and most made recipes from this book are the red pea soup and apple turnovers.
The Kitchen Envy Cookbook
This cookbook was the latest addition to my collection and I am so glad I got my hands on it. Jai Nice IG recipes always look so good and I had to have the cookbook that showed how she does it all. I’d describe this as a straight-to-the-point, no-frills cookbook. She gets straight to the recipe on each page. The cookbook is also comprehensive and includes beginner-friendly recipes for brunch, dessert, drinks, soul food, Jamaican food, and more. There is also a healthy food section as well. My favorite recipes thus far have been the Jamaican brown stew chicken and rice and peas as well as the creamy corn.
Melba’s American Comfort
I got this cookbook because I was on the hunt for a good soul food cookbook from a trustworthy source. Melba’s is a Harlem soul food restaurant that I had tried before and loved, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to be able to make the recipes on my own too. Spoiler alert: I haven’t really used this cookbook all that much because the restaurant is so close to me. This is the type of cookbook I’d pull out to impress your family at Sunday dinner. The recipes might be a little more time-consuming so I wouldn’t suggest this for quick meals, but it’s hard to say no to having the recipe for the famous Melba’s three-cheese mac and cheese.
Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings
You had to have guessed that there would be a Chrissy Teigen cookbook on this list and in my collection. This cookbook has the most interesting recipes I’ve seen. They’re pretty much creative remixes of more traditional dishes. For example, there’s a recipe for “french toast casserole with Salted Frosted Flakes.” I haven’t used it yet, and don’t recommend it as a beginner cookbook, but this could be a fun cookbook to use for a cooking date night with your friends or spouse!
Jubilee
This cookbook is great for the purpose of learning about history through recipes across the African diaspora. The recipes and the stories told in this cookbook are rich. This has the recipes for recipes that probably don’t have hand-written recipes because they’re just passed down or kept secret. I haven’t used this yet, but I imagine it makes both a great holiday gift and also a great book to use around the holidays. I might have to try out the okra gumbo recipe soon and very soon.
On Boards
This cookbook was a random find in Marshall’s that made sense because I figured it would come in handy once I embraced my identity as a dinner party host. Essentially it is a book of charcuterie board layouts. There are various themes and occasions and I think if you are a lover of charcuterie boards you should definitely have this book.
The Blogs
Even though I love the feeling of opening a physical book to get a recipe started, plenty of my go-to recipes exist online. So here’s a quick rundown of some of my tried and true recipes or food blogs.
- Sisi Jemimah: This woman is the one I have to thank for getting my Nigerian cooking skills all the way together. Truly a game-changer. My go-to jollof rice and meat pie recipes come from her, but I also love her lamb chop recipe as well. This blog is THE one. Thank me later for putting you on.
- Immaculate bites: This blog is the source of my puff puff recipe. There are a ton of other really good-looking recipes on the blog, but the puff puff has been what I’ve tried out so far.
- Divas can cook: A whole entire site of soul food recipes. I typically go here for dessert. My favorites are the sweet potato pie and red velvet cake recipes.
That’s it for all of my go-to cookbooks and recipes. Happy cooking!
“mmediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.” Mark 5: 42-43
