Cookbooks

I’ve been accumulating cookbooks for quite a few years and it occurred to me a while back that I have an affinity for culinary books that is probably far beyond that of the average person. I have not amassed as huge a collection as some, but I have managed to cache about 100 (give or take a couple) as of this writing. What can I say? I have a thing for cooking! When I walk into a bookstore, I instinctively head straight for the cooking section. And I rarely forego an opportunity to skim or at least sneak a peek into a cookbook or food magazine if one happens to be laying about.

As a source of inspiration, I find few things greater than the beautiful photography found in many books and magazines. Although I can get a pretty good feel for how a recipe will taste and determine whether or not it tickles my fancy from simply reading its ingredients, there’s something about a stylish, well done photograph of a dish that transports me to a euphoric place. Until about a year ago my main focus had been on comfort foods and books with great-tasting, home-style recipes. My taste in food is quite eclectic and while I will never abandon the good old, down-home recipes of my culture (well, not all of them), I am dedicated to continually expanding my culinary horizons.

Occasionally, someone questions my ever-expanding library, wondering why I have so many. The only response I have for such questions is, “If you have to ask why, you probably won’t understand the answer.”

The majority of the books in my collection were purchased long before I made the decision to transition to a mostly plant-based diet, but I still use most of them, since many have recipes that happen to be vegetarian (some are even vegan) and nearly all of them have recipes for fish and seafood. I’ve also successfully adapted a couple of recipes to vegetarian standards, something I plan to do more often. Since my collection is rather large, I will add the books as time permits. (Links open in a new window/tab.)

Raw/Living Foods

The 80/10/10 Diet
Douglas N. Graham

Ani’s Raw Food Essentials: Recipes and Techniques for Mastering the Art of Live Food
Ani Phyo

Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen: Easy, Delectable Living Foods Recipes
Ani Phyo

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw
Mark Reinfeld, Bo Rinaldi and Jennifer Murray

Everyday Raw
Matthew Kenney

Fresh: The Ultimate Live-Food Cookbook
Sergei Boutenko and Valya Boutenko

Green for Life
Victoria Boutenko

Green Smoothies Diet: The Natural Program for Extraordinary Health
Robyn Openshaw

Juicing for Life: A Guide to the Benefits of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Juicing
Cherie Calbom and Maureen B. Keane

Raw Food Cleanse: Restore Health and Lose Weight by Eating Delicious, All-Natural Foods – Instead of Starving Yourself
Penni Shelton

The Raw Food Detox Diet: The Five-Step Plan for Vibrant Health and Maximum Weight Loss
Natalia Rose

Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow
Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis

The Raw Gourmet
Nomi Shannon

Raw: The Uncook Book: New Vegetarian Food for Life
Juliano Brotman

Vegan & Vegetarian

The Coconut Oil Miracle
Bruce Fife and Jon J. Kabara

The Complete Encyclopedia of Vegetables & Vegetarian Cooking
Christine Ingram, Roz Denny and Katherine Richmond

The Complete Vegan Kitchen
Jannequin Bennett

Cooking for A Healthy Family – Inspired Vegetarian Meals
Simon Hope

The Ethnic Vegetarian – Traditional and Modern Recipes from Africa, America and the Caribbean
Angela Shelf Medearis

Great Chefs Cook Vegan
Linda Long

Healthy Teas: Green – Black – Herbal – Fruit
Tammy Safi

The Millennium Cookbook: Extraordinary Vegetarian Cuisine
Eric Tucker, John Westerdahl and Sascha Weiss

The Taste of Living Cookbook: Mike Milken’s Favorite Recipes for Fighting Cancer
Joshua Mills

Vegan Fire & Spice: 200 Sultry and Savory Global Recipes
Robin Robertson

Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine
Bryant Terry

Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook
Lucy Moll

Other

Asian Wraps
Nina Simonds

The Natural Health Cookbook
Dana Jacobi

The Professional Chef, Seventh Edition
Culinary Institute of America

Whole Grains Every Day, Every Way
Lorna Sass

More coming soon. I have over 100 cookbooks!