Books. Food. Books about Food...

I talk about food a lot and I reference my favorite food-based books on a regular basis to my family. They sit on my desk, not in my kitchen, so I can quickly reference them. Some day, perhaps, I'll have a kitchen where I can sit at a desk-like station with all my books readily available or where they won't need to be cleared to clean up for a meal. For now, I keep them near. They are my go-to's for personal questions (what's the difference between insoluble and soluble fibers? what's the best gain for my family to eat?) menu questions for guests (what looks excellent but is cost effective, low hands on time, etc.) and a few books that remind me of the type of eating I'd like to be doing regularly.

Today, I'm going to go over these and link you to Amazon where you can purchase them for yourself. If you have books that you live by in the kitchen like me, please share them in the comments section of the blog. I'm always looking for new ideas and books to read (and educate myself with)!!!

1. The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth is currently my favorite book. It makes me feel so knowledgeably powerful in the kitchen. I sit there and read through the book with a sharpie and learn and note and learn and share...

This books has NO recipes. The information covered is informational only but it is SO FILLED with information that even reading about one or two types of foods makes you feel stronger! Jonny Bowden, the author, gives reasons for each food being on the list. There are some foods, like grains, that aren't listed but he explains that because they're not easily consumed in their raw form (we cook, grind, etc. them) that they aren't as super for us. It's all in the processing. He does acknowledge that our planet could not sustain life for the number of people on it if it weren't for grains. He knows they have a place. He choose two, oatmeal and quinoa but adds brown rice with a runner-up status - we all know that there are healthy choices but if you have to choose which ones to feed (or fight) your kids, these would be them!

When I pick up this book, I feel like I'm talking to a friend (someone I trust and that wants the best for my family) who is absolutely knowledgeable about nutrition at a basic level. I like that.

2. SuperFoods Rx is next! I have had this book for years. I had it sitting on my shelf but didn't understand it's power until a few years ago. This book is both educational and has recipes although I mainly use it for reference purposes. There is debate as to how many super foods there are, this book lists 14 (tomatoes, oats, blueberries, oranges, yogurt, tea, walnuts, beans, broccoli, pumpkin, wild salmon, soy, spinach and turkey).

On the SuperFoods Rx website, they list this as an explanation of what makes a food a super foods (which by the way, has gone up to 24 now), 

"These foods were chosen because they contain high concentrations of crucial nutrients, as well as the fact that many of them are low in calories. Foods containing these nutrients have been proven to help prevent and, in some cases, reverse the well-known effects of aging, including cardiovascular disease, Type II Diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers."

3. A book that goes hand in hand with SuperFoods Rx for me is Cooking with the 14 Super Foods. It's a really simple book (almost a pamphlet at 125 pages). When I looked up the images on Amazon, there were several poor reviews and I was frustrated that people would look at these books under such stringent eyes. Below is my review:

I love this book. It is a COOKbook and not an informational book. The authors of this book aren't trying to educate you on why each of these foods are considered super, they are just giving recipes to incorporate them into your life. (If you're looking for an educational book to go along with this, get SuperFoods Rx by Steven Pratt OR The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden - both books cover the scientific and medical aspects of WHY certain foods are good for us.) I have had this book, ordered with SuperFoodsRx for years and the fun of this book for me is that it's really easy for my kids to read through and pick things to try (sometimes, the bigger anthologies of cookbooks can be overwhelming to children).
This is compiled by food type and recipes are noted if they contain two or more super foods. These recipes are simple and use foods that the average, not so health conscious (and some that are, too), family may have on hand (boxed cake mix, canned fruit, cheese food, cool whip, etc.). If you are the type of person who cooks with all whole foods, this may not be right for you. However, if you are looking for ways to encourage more healthy eating for your family or just for yourself, give this a try.
There are several comments about how this does not have HEALTHY recipes in it but not everyone wants to eat raw grains or a handful of nuts all the time. My family eats pretty healthy - we eat a lot of whole grains, raw veggies and fruit, etc. We are considered, by health standards, as having a healthy diet. Sometimes, you want to enjoy or splurge a little because, let's be honest, it's really not that difficult to get these foods into your diet. Baking a cake that uses canned mandarin oranges instead of just a cake with icing is better for you and it shows your family that you can integrate better choices into your life at each turn and that not all desserts are just bad, some are (albeit only slightly) OK for you.
One last word, I only gave this book 4 stars because there are a few errors in the cookbook that someone new in the kitchen may not understand (example: page 100 Cream of Spinach Soup [one of my families favorites] - it's telling you to make a roux but doesn't explain it very well, also, it doesn't say to puree the spinach and broth mixture prior to adding the cream base and without the puree, it wouldn't be very smooth and creamy).

4. Skinny Bitch is a very informative book with a horrible title! While the root of this book is vegan based, there is a great deal of information about food in general. My favorite chapter about sugar. It's chocked full of information that makes you open your eyes to how intensely it is woven through our lives (it's in EVERYTHING!!!). I am not a vegan and don't see myself ever going that direction voluntarily but there is information worth learning about here. They also made a cookbook, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, which I also own but am not a fan of it. Eh...

5. Cooking with Herbs & Spices is one of those fun books to have in your kitchen if you really enjoy information about your food or like to explore spices. My mom turned me onto this book one day when we were debating about how a spice (cloves, I think) grew. She got this book out and I fell in love with the simple line drawings, brief information about the plant and the recipes that went along under that spices heading. I use this, more for information than for recipes but it has plenty to keep someone busy.

6. The Barefoot Contessa's books. So far, I haven't seen one that I didn't love. Part of it is the easy use of the books and part of it is her no-nonsense view of cooking and entertaining (life shouldn't be spent in the kitchen, even if your guests think you did!). Flipping through them, it feels like I think cooking with my mother and grandmother should feel. I just love her.

I don't know what to say about her, because it seems that everyone knows who she is and adores her as I do. I hope I can continue to grow as a chef and have her calm attitude and organization in the kitchen!

7. EatingWell In Season and Simply in Season are fun books that celebrate the bounty of each season. We are able to get any foods from, virtually anywhere due to our international commerce but I try to keep my footprint as local as I can. If not truly local (the Midwest only grows so much) then I like to keep it domestic (as hard as we try, Chicago isn't going to grow the same quality of oranges as they do in California or Florida and since they do it so well, I love to enjoy the fruits of their labors...pun intended).

EatingWell In Season is a book my mom bought for my sister and I a few years ago. It's from the editors of EatingWell magazine and it's a fun and health conscious take on the seasonal plan. Although some of the recipes aren't things I would necessarily cook for my family, it is inspiring.

Simply in Season is the one of these two season picks that I use the most. It's sections and pages are color coded so you know which season you're in and they try to mesh multiple flavors / ingredients together. Even though I'm not always successful at eating in season, when produce is inexpensive I jump on it and turn to my books for inspiration or expertise. One thing that's different about Simply in Season is that all the recipes were contributed through an organization that wanted to help people understand how their choices affected our lives and the farmers lives. There are comments or stories at the bottom of each recipe and where the person is from. It's another way to connect what sustains us.

I almost forgot a book because it's not officially mine. Wiliams-Sonoma's The Kids Cookbook belongs to my kids. I got it for them from a second-hand store and they adore it!!! It has fabulous illustrations on all the different ways to cut, chop, julienne, etc. We have made recipes from their pages countless times and I have even stolen one of the recipes to have in my files. It's an excellent book for my kids because I want them to explore cooking on their terms which means, sometimes, they don't want me there.

We've had some messes (cheez-it macaroni and cheese) which G & N made up themselves and when they couldn't get it to be the taste and texture they were looking for, they came to me to help straighten things out. Somehow we kept their base and added it to a cream sauce base for flavor. We've also had some successes (there are many but my favorite one is G's snack mountain - I think I'll ask her to guest post for me one day so you can hear her story about it). It's wonderful to listen to them bang and clang in the kitchen making omelets (with an herbed cream cheese filling - YUM!) for dinner. How many kids do you know that can tell you you're making a roux?!?

I also subscribe to Food Network Magazine and Country Living Magazine. I pull out pages upon pages each month and add it to my sectioned file system (that could be another post on its own). When I'm looking for something (specific or vague) I go there or to my 3-ring binder with sheet protectors of my favorite recipes. It's a nice way of sifting through what I like, what I don't and what I'm really intrigued by (how many different recipes for fritters can I pull out?!?).

I just noticed that I don't have one of the classic cookbooks listed. My mother gave me my copy of Joy of Cooking years ago. I do use it but it's not my favorite place to go for recipes or information. I don't know why but I suspect it has something to do with the internet and massive amounts of information I find there when I'm curious about some technique.

Food is medicine in my home and these books help me decipher what's right and what's tasty and right! I love trying new things and get bored with the same flavors over and over again. I'm not the biggest fan of leftovers (thank goodness for Bill), although I'll eat some things multiple times. What's most important to me is that the kids develop a love and respect for how well all the different foods benefit, nourish and impact our mental state (comfort foods, etc.) as well as our physical bodies.

I think it's fun to play with foods and my selection of books helps me do just that. I have a list of books I've gotten from the library and have on my wish list with hopes of them making it on my favorites or most used list.

Books and food...two of my favorite things. Bring them together and there you have it...my passion!