Jamily's Top 5 Favorite Cookbooks ( + Food Blogs)

There’s nothing like holding a cookbook in your hands. I love turning the pages and settling in on the couch with a new book. As I turn each page I read the recipe stories and funny anecdotes about how a particular recipe came to be and inevitably start creating a mental food map – basically routing how and when to make each and every recipe that calls to me. Reading recipes is something I do for fun believe it or not! These are my top 5 favorite cookbooks (+ food blogs), in no particular order. I hope I can inspire you to either get one of these books or follow some of these amazing recipe creators! You’ll be so glad you did! 

1.     Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines – If you know anything about Joanna & Chip Gaines you know they don’t cut corners, they give their all and it’s always 100%. I totally feel this is reflected in this cookbook! I’ve had it for over a year and I find myself reaching for it just as much as I did when I first got it. In my mind it’s the top breakfast cookbook. The stories Joanna adds and history behind the recipes are as beautiful as the book itself and it was such a success that she recently released volume 2! It will definitely be my next cookbook purchase. 

Favorite Recipes: Jojo’s Biscuits, The Best Ever Fluffy Pancakes, Three-Cheese Quiche, Chicken Spaghetti!

2.     Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard – Have you heard of her? She the super talented brains behind food blog “Half Baked Harvest”. I’ve been following her for so long I’d be surprised if you hadn’t made one of her recipes! She’s a total kitchen sensation – her ideas and flavor pairings are incredible and I find myself thinking “why didn’t I think of that combo?” a whole lot more.  You will find incredible recipes on her blog and recipe videos on Instagram but this book is just a treat for the eyes you have to have. The colors and recipes will inspire the chef in all of us!

Favorite Recipes: Crispy Chicjen Khao Soi Noodle Soup, The Meanest Greenest Pizza, Spinach And Artichoke Mac-And-Cheese Bake, Chocolate Mousse!

3.     Seriously Delish by Jessica Merchant – Another amazing food blogger turned cookbook author! Jessica is famous for “trashing things up” which basically means taking a classic staple and turning it on its head with something crazy and amazing. For example: adding grilled pineapple to guacamole! I mean, come on! She’s behind the blog How Sweet Eats which I’ve been following for almost 10 years.  Her love for glitter, Lisa Frank, neon colors and the word “totally” is so fun and I feel like you could never be in a bad mood cooking up one of her fab recipes! At the end of every year she posts recipes fails for the year and that’s just hilarious and reminds us all that it’s okay to mess up in the kitchen! Don’t take yourself too seriously. 

Favorite Recipes: Doing A Cheese Board Like Whoa, Vanilla Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Garlic Butter Roasted Chicken!

4.     Mastering The Art of French Cooking – Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle & Simone Beck. Oh Julia. Her passion for cooking is unmatched. She was brave and committed to the kitchen! I didn’t grow up watching Julia Child on TV unfortunately but I certainly learned about her in culinary school and as my culinary adventures grew. Did you ever see the movies Julie & Julia? I was completely mesmerized by it and Meryl Streep’s performance. I need to cook immediately after watching that movie, it never fails. This book is a classic, when my husband surprised me with it I spent hours reading and re-reading cooking methods and traditions. If you’re not well versed in the kitchen I recommend this book because it has so much knowledge and direction on every page. It’s such a joy each time I open the book!

Favorite Recipes: Coq Au Vin (chicken in red wine with mushrooms, onions and bacon), Fonds D’Artichauts Au Beurre (Buttered Artichoke Bottoms), Boeuf Bourguignon (beef stew), Bavarois Au Chocolat (Chocolate Bavarian Cream)!

5.     All The Healthy Things by Ashlea Carver Adams – Okay, I’m cheating a little on this one. Technically not a cookbook but a food blog and it is incredible! I feel like cookbooks aren’t as popular as they used to be as technology pulls us farther away from paper. As I said before, I absolutely love a cookbook in my hands but if for some reason you haven’t published one I will follow you and cheer you on and make your recipes as best I can! This is new-to-me blog has sucked me in big time! Ashlea is a gorgeous lawyer turned food blogger, how incredible is that? Her recipes are colorful, healthy and delicious. I am planning on making one of Ashlea’s recipes tonight for dinner and I can’t wait.

Favorite Recipes: Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls with Spicy Lime Tahini, Crispy Baked Ranch Chicken Wings, Greek Chickpea Salad, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Muffins, Honey Sriracha Salmon!

Let me know which recipes you try in the comments!