Influential Books

Can I choose only one influential book? Of course, there are SO many. I love to read, and read a variety of genres. I will avoid the obvious (The Bible) and choose a collection of books that changed my approach to food, which changed me both inside and out.

A few years ago, I became bogged down in the everyday routine of work and household. With teenage boys (one in college) and all that comes with, I  had lost interest in cooking. It had become dull and stressful. I then signed up for a personal chef service, someone who came up with exciting meals (based on our likes and dislikes), bought the food, prepared it in our home, cleaned up (yes, cleaned up) and put the meals either in the freezer or fridge. She prepared enough for 10 meals in one day. I came home to the smells of beef stew, turkey saltimbocca, and individual pizza turnovers.

We did this for over a year, then she started to change. She rented out a commercial kitchen, so she no longer cooked in my home. She delivered the food, but it just wasn't the same. But the biggest change was the summer I did not teach. With extra time on my hands (no papers to grade!), what could  I do? I started watching shows on Food Network, especially Rachael Ray and Giada de Laurentiis. They used fresh ingredients, made homemade sauces, they made me hungry and made me want to cook! I picked up a cookbook from each of them. I found a way to spend some of my "free" time and be productive. I found my passion for cooking again. Cooking real food with fresh ingredients.

With this new found passion, we "fired" the personal chef. My husband became by sous chef. We shopped at farmer's markets more. We felt healthier. We did not need packaged, processed food (like rice mixes and such). The meals were often made within 30-45 minutes (or used the Dutch over or slow cooker). Cooking well was not that difficult.

Thanks to Rachael and Giada for all they have inspired me to do! I know own most of Rachael's cookbooks and two of Giada's, plus two from the Barefoot Contessa. These are my favorite cookbooks, but I do have a collection of others, used less frequently. I just got Rachael's new Look and Cook book and tried the Chicken Cutlets with Orange and Arugula (but I used lettuce instead of arugula). What flavor the chicken had!!