The Oldest Most Horrible Cookbook EVER

The White House Cookbook

By: Hugo Ziemann and Mrs. F. L. Gillette

Why it sucks?

Organization

The book starts out by telling in detail on how to carve different animals like venison, beef and veal. I mean really?? Do you really need to read a whole ten pages on how to carve meat? And the extension of how many meats they describe is disgusting! Also the instructions for the recipes are not arranged in a list. 

Descriptions

The recipes itself are not as straight forward as they are now. I mean you practically have to read 3 to 5 paragraphs just to know what your going to do. And even the title of the recipes sound repulsive! Potted fish, Oiled lobster I mean EW! But there are no pictures of the recipes, just random pictures of women and cuts of meat in black and white.

The Weird Contents

Not only does it have recipes "For the sick" or "Dinner Giving". But some of the recipes inside have lard for ingredients because back then they didn't care about being healthy, all they cared about was eating in general. This was also a time where women slaved all day over a hot stove or whatever just so they could make their man happy. And the book that I have is so old that even it smells bad.

Price

Why even bother? You can find this at goodwill! But I wouldn't recommend it

THE Best Book for a Culinary Student

101 Things I Learned in Culinary School

By: Louis Eguaras with Matthew Frederick

Who is it useful to?

Culinary Students!

I bought this book to help me when I get out of culinary school and find myself struggling to cook something they way I want too. Or even when my mom will randomly ask me some culinary question that I just cannot put my finger on the answer. But this book for sure I find is very helpful for after culinary school just as a reference to come back too.

Teachers?

I think that it's useful to high school cooking teachers and maybe even the chefs at my school because they could have something to base their curriculum on. I mean not to say that they do need to have something to base off of, but...I'm just saying.

Anyone who loves to cook

This book can be used by almost anyone as long as you understand culinary speak and your a beginner you can use this book!!

How I came to find it

I was wondering around the culinary book section of Powell's and my step mom hands me this book and I think, "Huh, this would be useful for after culinary school!" 

A little bit about the author

Louis Eguaras

A renowned chef at the Le Cordon Bleu Program at the California School of Culinary Arts, provides readers with a terrific overview of what is truly involved in the preparation, cooking, and presentation of meals. He also provides invaluable insights into just what is involved in making this one's chosen profession.

Price Range

Well I got it at powells book store for 16$

But I'm sure you can get it anywhere else from $10- 20

Just one more flavor book

The Flavor Thesaurus

By: Nicki Segnit

How this book differs from the others

Author's Style

She likes to explain why two ingredients go together in a funny way. She's a delight too read and she like to create a story around those ingredients. I especially like how she lists out a recipe using those ingredients and explains it without formatting it like a regular recipe.

Organization

She organized the book based on specific flavor. She has a whole chart that I displayed above that she follows throughout the book. For example she has chapters for roasted, citrusy, spicy and so on and so forth. And in those flavors there are certain food that taste like that flavor. I know pretty straightforward, but I know you wanted to hear it. But I really like how she arranges them into chapters based on their flavor so that it makes it easier for you to look up.

History/description

 This book is one of those books you can actually read; all of it if you wanted to, and I love it, just for that reason. Not only does she explain a time where she used these two ingredients together but how in history mankind have used them as well. She really like to go into specific details; sometimes a little too much to make me grimace. So far I haven't read the whole book, but if you just wanted to use it for a reference book you can do that too!

Why I like it

Like I said before I really like how she incorporates her personality into this book. Especially how she includes like blurbs of history that I didn't know before. Honestly this book both fascinates and intrigues me.

Other books you might like by her

Unfortunately there are none others, so she is a fairly new author. Which means for better reading! YAY!

Price Range

$15-20

Check This Out!

2 Inspirational Cooking Blogs

RecipeGirl.com

 Dishing out the Best Recipes for Entertaining and Everyday!

Oh no! It's already Summer and you've got nothing to do! What will you do with your time? Hiking? Camping? Sleeping? Or would you rather cook? Well I guarantee that if your look at this blog you aren't looking to do anything else but cook. If you check out this blog you can find daily ideas on something delicious to make. Need a good recipe for the best ribs in your neighborhood? Need a good recipe for Marconi salad? Not only does she has amazing pictures on her blog, she also has occasional giveaways. Then check this blog out! Here is just a few pictures from her website.

The Kitchn

Inspiring cooks, nourishing homes

On a budget? Craving something sweet? Or just searching for more recipes online? Then this is the place is to go! They have videos, lots of recipes for both food and drink and even kitchen advice! This website is very organized and is guaranteed to inspire even the boring people to get up and cook! They have a lot of articles/ recipes for how to ideas or something like how to cook tender and juicy pork chops. And if you not convinced to visit it yet here just a sneak peek. 

A little bit about me; And why I'm amazing!

Alyssa's Point of View

Why do I have so many culinary books?

Impulse buying 

Everyone likes to buy things on impulse! Remember that time when you just had to have something that you saw at the store? Ya... that's me with cook books. 

Recommendations from chefs

Culinary school means that you have a lot of chefs giving you their own two cents. (whether you like it or not!) And each one recommends some author or kind of cooking book you should read. Since I want the teachers to know I'm listening, I RUN to get them!

Usefulness/reference

The books that I buy help inspire me to cook. I can just pick up a spice in my cabinet and look up what goes with it, what I should use it, etc. They also provide an easy reference source for all kinds of food, for me to refer too.

  

To Display

They also look very pretty when on display. They're so colorful!  Everyone, who loves to cook, gawks at my COOL books!!!

Culinary School

Being in culinary school  means that you have to learn more and more about food everyday. Having books that I can utilize just for that purpose is that PERFECTLY PERFECT idea.

Why do I like cooking?

My childhood

As a kid I remember the first thing my mom taught me how to "cook" was boxed Marconi and Cheese. Technically it wasn't cooking like I'm used to now, but it was still fun....for my age at the time.

My Mom

She has always helped me when I'm down and pushed me to strive toward my dreams ever since I was a kid. And cooking was no exception!  

The ENDLESS possibilities

It's always amazing to me how many different dishes you can make with just two or even five ingredients. Just by changing it a little, I can alter the dish entirely.

Why am I recommending books?

Because I'm me

I like reading and you should too! But in all honesty......me being me, and I like to cook, and I love to read in my spare time) so why shouldn't you??

My Two Cents 

I'd like to think that people will read this blog and learn a little something, either about me or about the books I review and someday refer it to someone else...... and so on and so forth. 

To Inspire others

  in·spire:  to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create (definition from Webster)

I want others think they that can doing anything they can put their mind to. And writing this blog I hope will help with reminding myself that I can too!