I have enjoyed cooking ever since I was a little girl, but my skills were put to the test in my first year of marriage. My goal as a new wife was to try and put a healthy, homecooked meal on the table seven nights a week. Shawn's goal was to eat. We both accomplished what we set out to in that first year and now, six and a half years later, here are the tried-and-true everyday cookbooks, blogs and websites that helped both of us along the way.
Background: Our eating philosophy in a nutshell is the 80/20 rule: truly healthy meals 80 percent of the time and anything that tastes good- whether healthy or not particularly so--20 percent of the time. Also, I have quite a few more cookbooks in my arsenal than those mentioned below, but they are my so-called "pretty books" and are either referenced for a recipe or two here and there or are primarily for reading pleasure. The books on this list are the ones that have broth splashes and butter smears on the pages. The blogs listed would too, if cooking smudges showed up in cyberspace.
BOOKS
The best cookbook for someone who wants to know the back story/chemistry behind a recipe. What makes a great macaroni and cheese? Why do I need to brown meat before braising it? How do I get my corn muffins to have a perfect, moist crumb? When I was first learning to cook, this book was my life line. Now I use it more as a reference for solid, basic recipes. For example, if you have never made a pot roast before and want to know how to make an awesome one the first time around, this is your book.
This cookbook helped me learn how to cook using alternative ingredients. Cybele Pascal, a food historian and professed lover of all food, wrote this book in response to her two sons' struggles with food allergies. The recipes in this book are free of all major food allergens including wheat, gluten, beef, fish, soy, dairy and nuts. Sounds like fun, right? Actually, even though the recipes in this book are on the lighter side, flavor is never sacrificed. The vegetarian section is extensive and many of the recipes are in our regular rotation--the Lady of Naples red sauce, Black Bean and Spinach Burritos, Four Bean Stew and Falafel--to name a few.
I am just going to say it, Gwyneth Paltrow is an awesome cook and I wish we were friends. Think what you will, she has got chops when it comes to cooking and entertaining. Her first book, My Father's Daughter, includes basic recipes that are yummy first, healthy second. The pizza dough comes out perfect every time and I make the white bean and fennel soup at least once a month. Her second book, It's All Good, will transform the way you think about clean eating. Similar to The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook, It's All Good excludes all major food allergens (with the exception of animal proteins). I would say, however, that Paltrow's book actually elevates the concept of clean eating from "only for health nuts" to "fit for the foodiest of foodies"--which is something at which Pascal's book does not quite succeed.
An aside- here's an interview with the co-author of It's All Good, Julia Turshen, on my new favorite food blog, The Yellow Table.
BLOGS/WEBSITES
Smitten Kitchen is where I go for variations on a theme. When I don't want to make plain risotto, I go to Smitten Kitchen and discover a recipe like Tomato and Sausage Risotto. Which you should will make tomorrow night for dinner, by the way.
The Pioneer Woman (which I am certain many, many of you are familiar with) is the blog to visit for filling and flavorful recipes that will please any hungry husband. One of our favorites? The Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas. When I say "our favorites" I am including Baby Two in the party. He seems to really like quesadillas.
Epicurious is an online library of recipes from Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines. I go to this site to browse for inspiration and also to read recipe reviews. Often reviewers leave really helpful tips or adjustments that they made to the recipes.
Happy cooking...and eating!