It's always difficult to choose my favorites, especially since I want to keep the list short. All of these were published in the past year and are the ones most likely to stay in my library. Some have been listed on many such lists while others are relatively unknown. Each author has made me want to cook their food. Maybe they will do the same for you.
You wouldn't think that there was anything left to say about Southern cooking, but chef Sean Brock writes with conviction and erudition about his family's legacy of the cooking of southwestern Virginia in Heritage. He has traveled extensively and has been able to apply what he has learned to the cooking he now does in his restaurants in Charleston and Nashville. Heritage is a beautiful tribute to a family,a region and a way of life. Reading his recipes makes my mouth water. ( I don't think I will be waiting until next New Year's to try his "Lowcountry Hoppin' John.") His passion inspires mine. I think his creativity will spark yours.
At the opposite end of the spectrum from Heritage is Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty More. This book continues his collection of vegetarian recipes begun in Plenty. Using the ingredients and flavors of the Middle East, Turkey and Greece, he makes it possible for omnivores to visit the vegetarian world. Some may even decide to take up permanent residence. The recipes offer foods that are full of flavor and so substantial that you won't miss the meat. You won't be asking "Where's the beef?"
I am a huge fan of David Lebovitz's dessert cookbooks and I love his latest offering, My Paris Kitchen. Partly because I like the way he writes and partly because I adore Paris, this book is a joy to read. An armchair trip through Paris with recipes. It doesn't get much better than that. Unless, of course,one is actually in Paris. I should add that his recipes really do work should you be inclined to try some of them. I recommend the "Chicken with Mustard." Excellent!
You knew there had to be a book on preserving in the list, didn't you? Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Practical Pantry grew out of Cathy Barrows blog, Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Kitchen. This is a great book for any home canner,i.e., one who is obsessed with keeping the larder well-stocked. My mother was the one who lived through the depression, but I think I must have had a previous life of deprivation. I'm not happy unless the pantry is full of jars of this and that, preferably jars that I've filled with top-notch ingredients . I thought I knew a lot about home preservation, but this book has added to my education in a big way. I have learned something new on almost every page. You not only learn the basic technique, you also get a recipe that uses your creation. If you have ever thought you wanted to make your own jams or pickles, this book will tell you what you need to know.It's almost as if Cathy Barrow were in the kitchen with you, guiding you through the process.
I've been an admirer of Eugenia Bone ever since I found her book Well-Preserved in 2009. This year she published The Kitchen Ecosystem which is a fascinating tour of the kitchen. As she paid attention to the patterns of her own cooking, she observed that each ingredient she used could be used to make more than one meal and with a bit of planning she could produce delicious meals without starting from scratch each time. Each ingredient has recipes for some basic dishes, recipes for preserving some of it, recipes for using the preserves and when possible, recipes for using the scraps. Once you get the idea, you can use her template with the ingredients that you use most often. It's obvious once you start thinking about it and,at the same time, it's a genius idea.
That's it for 2014. Any one of these books could keep you very busy and happy in the kitchen for a long time.
What were your favorites?
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