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Ask the Expert: Maggie Gilbert
How to Choose a Cookbook – UHC TV
I got a question about what my favorite cookbooks are, and I think it’s a great question because, as you all know, you can all get recipes everywhere. They’re all over the Internet. They’re in magazines, and certainly they’re in cookbooks.
I want to start by saying, why do we even like cookbooks? I have quite a few of them, and I buy them carefully. I really think through before I buy them right now.
This is what I start to look for. The first thing I want to know is, am I going to learn something? Is there something in this book that teaches me a new skill? I cook a lot. I’ve been cooking for many years, but I’m always looking to learn new things. So, that’s kind of an important piece.
Then I look to see, are there photographs or illustrations that I think are going to help me? It’s not sort of a criteria that’s a deal breaker. I certainly have books that don’t have those, but it’s nice if they do, and again, if it helps me understand what the recipe looks like, what the dish looks like, or maybe learning a new technique, that’s helpful.
Then I want to know, is this book coming from a source I trust? Is it a person I think has tested the recipes, has really thought through what’s going on? I don’t want something that’s sort of slapped together. I want it from a source that’s tested. That’s really important to me.
The other thing about cookbooks is they are collections of recipes that have been edited. I think there is something really valuable about that. You can get recipes everywhere individually, but when someone has actually collected them, I think there’s real value. I actually like to page through and read them and get inspired. That’s another thing.
Finally, I like to know that there’s maybe some sidebars, and tips for substitutions, for where you can buy an ingredient, and that kind of thing. I think that’s really helpful.
What are my favorites? One of very favorites is one that’s quite old and has been out for many years, and it’s called “The Silver Palate.” You might be familiar with it. It’s been out for a long time. I think it was a real groundbreaking book when it first came out.
It has really good recipes. They still feel modern and fresh. There’s a chicken recipe I have been making for years. This version is dog-eared because I use it so much. I love those books because they teach me something, they have classic recipes that make sense, that are easy, and they kind of work with the way I like to cook.
This is another point I want to make. Find books that actually work with the way you like to cook. If you entertain a lot, you’ll obviously want books that go more toward that. Most of my books tend to be for entertaining. If you like an everyday book, there’s a lot for that too – for just a regular Tuesday night recipe.
The second book I’m going to show is the “Barefoot Contessa.” I think she does a fabulous job of really testing recipes, of paying a lot of attention to detail, making sure that every version of anything she has – from a roast chicken to a lasagna – really works. I appreciate that, and I rarely change the things she does because I think they’re really well tested.
It’s kind of a combination of what can you learn, what inspires you when you look at the book, is there something that speaks to you, and does the book match with how you cook? Go out and look for some fun cookbooks, and be inspired.
Ask the Expert
How to Choose a Cookbook
Question: Which cookbooks do you recommend? What are your favorites?
Answer from: Maggie Gilbert, cooking expert
Cooking expert Maggie Gilbert explains how to pick a cookbook you'll actually use, and reveals her favorites.
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