10 Best Cook-Books ...

Price: $10.17 at amazon.com
Part dating memoir, part cookbook, this absolutely belongs in my list of the best cook-books! I love the chocolate dump-it cake, so named because you just dump everything in the pan, but I loved learning the story behind it, too. The only problem is where to keep this book... do you keep it with the non-fiction biographies, or on the shelf with your other cookbooks?

Price: $12.91 at amazon.com
I love Tex-Mex cuisine, and even better is reading about the history of this delicious food, where it comes from, who cooks it, and why. The recipe for cheese enchiladas is fantastic, and so is the chili gravy you drizzle on top!

Price: $2.66 (average) at amazon.com
This is the cook-book my mother used when she baked bread when I was a child. I literally teared up when I found a copy, these thirty years later, in a thrift shop. The recipes are timeless classics, and all of the ones I've tried can't be beat... the banana nut bread is divine...

Price: $22.64 at amazon.com
This book belongs on the shelf on any and all aspiring or established cooks. I have never, ever looked for a recipe in this book I couldn't find. I also love the cooking tips and information, and the index is incredibly handy! This cook-book also makes a wonderful house-warming or wedding gift...

Price: $23.10 at amazon.com
I love Nigella Lawson, though I've heard she's not as admired overseas (she's like the Rachel Ray of the U.K., from what I've heard). Regardless, I love her recipes, especially the ones in this book!

Price: $17.68 at amazon.com
If you're single, this is most definitely a cook-book you must own! It teaches you the fine art of cooking for one person, and what a joy it can be! no more tinned food for you! Thumb through the book and choose whatever strikes your fancy. The author even tells you which dishes re-heat the best, and how long they can keep.

Price: $19.80 at amazon.com
Clean Food? As opposed to what, dirty food? Unfortunately, yes! This book teaches you how to eat more healthfully using food choices that are vegan but appealing in a non-preachy way. Buy and use this cook-book, if for no other reason that the OMG desserts section!

Price: $16.32 at amazon.com
Actress Sandra Bullock's sister, Gesine, grew tired of the hustle and bustle and airless, joyless Hollywood scene and moved to the east coast, where she opened her own bakery. This book is touching but funny, and the recipes are completely doable and delicious!

Price: $13.60 at amazon.com
Yes, this is the book that the movie was based on, and there are only a few recipes in it... but the story is fantastic, and so are the recipes! If you've never tried fried green tomatoes, then follow the recipes and make a batch to share with your best friends...

Price: $11.01 at amazon.com
Kids love to cook, too, especially when they get to make a meal, and a mess, with their favorite Nickelodeon cartoon characters! This cook-book is part science experiment, part recipe guide, all fun!

So many fantastic cook-books, so little time! It would be impossible to pick just one, but if I had to, it would be "Cooking for Mr. Latte," though all of them are wonderful. Do you have any of these cook-books? Which do you like best? Or is there another cook-book you love? Please let me know!

Top Photo Credit: JennKstep