A Few of Our Favorite Cookbooks
Me and my husband have been collecting cookbooks for years now, and here are a few of our favorite cookbooks. In that time, we have gathered, bought, and accumulated a mass of cookbooks. With each recipe we have tried or recreated, it has turned out great, holds special memories, and has a meaningful story behind it. We always try to cook together because it’s something we both enjoy doing. Many of them are old family recipes, ones we have purchased at thrift stores, and numerous ones that have been gifted to us. Most all of the ones that we have here on the blog are ones that we have created ourselves.
We have put together some of our favorite cookbooks that we always seem to have great success!
A Man A Can A Plan
While unpacking our boxes once we got married, I discovered this cookbook that my husband had for years. While in college this is how he cooked. They are simple, easy, and quick meals that only require a few ingredients. It’s actually a really good cookbook for when you need to make something last minute. Most recipes have less than 5 ingredients and contain items that you would typically have in your pantry.
The Farmer’s Daughter
This was such a special gift given to me when we got married. A co-worker that I use to work with gave this to me. It was given to her as a wedding gift when she got married and had made special memories with her family using some of the recipes out of it. She wanted me to have this same cookbook so me and my husband could start creating our own memories.
Nashville Eats
Nashville holds a special place in me and my husband’s hearts. This city is where we got engaged and fell in love with the culture. While at my wedding shower before the wedding a very special friend gave me this cookbook. She had written a sweet note in it to remind us of where our journey started. This cookbook has some great recipes in it like Hot Fried Chicken, the best Cornbread recipe, and biscuits! Who doesn’t love a good biscuit recipe!
Keep Calm and Bake Cupcakes
This cookbook was given to me when I graduated college. If you know anything about me it\’s that I cant pass up the opportunity to bake a cupcake. My husband knows that when we go out of town we have to stop at the local bakeries to see what kind of desserts and cupcakes they sell. This recipe book has a great recipe for pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and a to die for chocolate cupcake recipe! At this time in my life, I knew that I wanted to try to make something my own. This is when I created Nance Co. Sweets! This company allows me to bake sweet treats and cupcakes for friends and family. Although, I don’t get to do it fulltime I hope that in the future I can make this dream a full-time job!
First Prize Pies – Allison Kave
I bought this cookbook shortly after we got married in my favorite little kitchen shop! It was right before we hosted our very first Thanksgiving as a married couple. If you are looking for a go to pecan pie head to page 170 for her Bourbon Ginger Pecan Pie! Talk about delicious! The leftover Bourbon doesn’t hurt anything at all either.
Magnolia Table – Joanna Gaines
Me and my husband purchased this cookbook while in Waco. The Magnolia Table restaurant and cookbook came out just weeks of us visiting so we knew this was a must see and do! On our way back home to Arkansas from this trip we read and thought about the recipes we were going to cook. The Sausage and Hash Brown casserole on page 33 was our first thing to make. It was so good and is great for family breakfast, brunch, or when you just want breakfast! Another go to that we make is on page 49 the Bacon and Gruyere Drop Biscuits. We are still trying to find the perfect biscuit recipe because sometimes we struggle to make good biscuits.
Come and Get It – The Pioneer Woman
In our family we love everything about The Pioneer Woman. It’s a tradition that every weekend we watch her show and try to learn new recipes and techniques. When she was first becoming popular, she came to Northwest Arkansas at our local Wal-Mart. I thought I would be able to wait in line for an hour or so and get her newest cookbook and have her sign it. Well soon after getting there I realized that I was not the only person that loved her. After waiting for 9 hours I finally got to meet her and her husband Ladd. They were so sweet, and I even got my picture with them. Still to this day this was one of my favorite days. In her latest cookbook we have made several recipes and just love them. Some of our favorites are Parmesan Panko Chicken (because we love chicken), Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce (a great item to freeze for later), and Veggietastic Sheet Pan Supper (our go to for lunches and for 2 people). Of course, at the current time, I’m pretty sure we have all of her cookbooks that she has published.
Love Welcome Serve – Amy Hannon
Boy oh boy do I just love this lady. She is the role model for southern hospitality and serving other people. She has her own kitchen shop in Springdale Arkansas that I frequent often (Euna Mae\’s). At one time she also had her own cooking show on a local TV station in the area. Since being on air she has written a cookbook and now travels the United States talking to groups of women about her Love, Welcome, Serve message. If you don’t know who she is than you are missing out. We just love her in our family.
This is the be all end all to Chicken Pot Pies!!! I have never in my life had a better Chicken Pot Pie than the one in her cookbook. I couldn’t tell you how many times we have made it over the past year. This is a great recipe that you can freeze or make ahead to take to someone that just had a baby or might just need dinner. It feeds a crowd! We know that when we have company this is one that we always have to make because everyone raves about. So go buy the cookbook! Now! You can find her at Amy Hannon, learn all about her and can also buy her cookbook!
