Cookbooks are almost an addiction for me. I can’t resist rummaging through boxes of books in second-hand bookshops or charity shops, and quite often come home with something new-to-me.

In an effort to find balance, I have also taken to having a periodic clear-out of my bookshelves, and have waved goodbye to several cookbooks recently. This is almost unheard of for me!

My cookbook collection is gradually slimming down to what I consider to the the best of the best.

PS Where I’ve written about a recipe from a cookbook, I’ve linked to the relevant entry. Enjoy!

A

• Ainsley Harriott’s Gourmet Express by Ainsley Harriott
• Amaretto, Apple Cake and Artichokes: The Best of Anna Del Conte
• An Omelette and a Glass of Wine by Elizabeth David
• Aphrodite by Isabel Allende
• Appetite: So What Do You Want To Eat Today? by Nigel Slater
• Apricots On The Nile: A Memoir with Recipes by Collette Rossant
• Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon by Claudia Roden
• The Art of the Tart by Tamasin Day-Lewis
• The Art of Eating by M. F. K. Fisher

B

• The Bread Baker’s Apprentice
• Baking By Flavour by Lisa Yockelson
• Blanc Vite by Raymond Blanc
• Book of Yogurt by Sonia Uvezian
• The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Berenbaum
• The Bread Book by Linda Collister
• Bread: Baking by Hand or Machine by Eric Treuille & Ursula Ferrigno
• Bread: From Ciabatta to Rye by Linda Collister
• Brit Spice by Manju Malhi and Tara Fisher
  

C

• Cafe @ Home by Julie Le Clerc
• The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Berenbaum
• Canyon Ranch Cooking: Bringing the Spa Home by Jeanne Jones
• Champneys Cookbook by Adam Palmer
• A Chef For All Seasons by Roz Denny
• Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer by Jane Brocket
• Chinese Food Made Easy by Ching-He Huang
• Chocolate and the art of low fat desserts by Alice Medrich
• Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Herme
• The Complete Cooking Light Cookbook by Cathy A. Wesler
• The Cook’s Book
• The Cook’s Companion by Stephanie Alexander
• Cook Yourself Thin by various
• Cooking For Friends by Raymond Blanc
• Cooking With Friends by Amy Lyles Wilson

D

• Dear Francesca: An Italian Journey of Recipes Recounted with Love by Mary Contini
• Dolce Italiano by Gina DePalma
• Dough: Simple Contemporary Bread by Richard Bertinet

E

• English Food by Jane Grigson
• The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

F

• Falling Cloudberries: A World of Family Recipes by Tessa Kiros
• Fantastico!: Modern Italian Food by Gino D’Acampo
• Feast by Nigella Lawson
• Food by Clarissa Dickson-Wright
• Food of Japan by Shirley Booth
• Food To Die For by Patricia Cornwell
• Formulas For Flavour by John Campbell
• Forever Summer by Nigella Lawson
• Further Adventures In Pursuit of Perfection by Heston Blumenthal

G

• The Gastronomy of Italy by Anna del Conte
• Gennaro’s Italian Year by Gennaro Contaldo
• Good Cooking: The New Essentials by Jill Dupleix
• Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy Appetite by Gordon Ramsay
• Gordon Ramsay’s Just Desserts by Gordon Ramsay and Roz Denny
• Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy by Gordon Ramsay
• Gordon Ramsay’s Passion for Flavour by Gordon Ramsay
• Gorgeous Cakes by Annie Bell
• Gorgeous Desserts by Annie Bell
• The Great Scandinavian Baking Book by Beatrice Ojakangas

H

• The Harry’s Bar Cookbook by Arrigo Cipriani
• Healthy Cooking for Two (or Just You): Low-Fat Recipes with Half the Fuss and Double the Taste by Frances Price
• Home Baking: Sweet and Savoury Traditions from Around the World by Jeffrey Alford
• Home Cook by Alastair Hendy
• Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin
• How To Eat by Nigella Lawson
• How To Be A Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson

I

• In the Mood for Food by Jo Pratt
• Indian Low Fat Cooking by Roshi Razzaq
• Italian Food by Elizabeth David
• Italian Regional Cooking by Ada Boni

J

• James Martin Desserts by James Martin
• Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life by Jamie Oliver
• Jill Dupleix’s Fast Food by Jill Dupleix

L

• Larousse Gastronomique: The World’s Greatest Cookery Encyclopedia by Prosper Montagne
• The Little House Cook Book
• Living and Eating by Annie Bell
• Low Fat, No Fat Cookbook (Readers Digest) by Reader’s Digest
• Luscious Lemon Desserts by Lori Longbotham

M

• Made in Italy: Food and Stories by Giorgio Locatelli
• Maze by Jason Atherton
• Mediterranean Cookery by Claudia Roden
• The Moro Cookbook by Samantha Clark
• Mrs.Beeton’s Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton
• Muffins: Fast and Fantastic by Susan Reimer
• My Favourite Ingredients by Skye Gyngell

N

• Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook by Terry Pratchett
• A New Way To Cook by Sally Schneider
• Nigella Bites by Nigella Lawson
• Nigella Christmas
• Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson

O

• An Omelette and a Glass of Wine by Elizabeth David
• On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee
• One-Pot Luxury Preserves From The Microwave by Sonia Allison
• One Smart Cookie by Julie Van Rosenthal
• Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi

R

• Rachel’s Favourite Food by Rachel Allan
• Rachel’s Favourite Food At Home by Rachel Allan
• Rachel’s Food For Living by Rachel Allan
• Recipes from a 3-Star Chef by Gordon Ramsay
• Recipes from Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons by Raymond Blanc
• Risotto! Risotto! by Valentina Harris
• The River Cafe Cookbook by Rose Gray
• Roman Cookery by Mark Grant
• The Roux Brothers on Patisserie by Albert Roux

S

• Sally Clarke’s Book by Sally Clarke
• Secrets of Fat-free Baking by Sandra Woodruff
• Secrets of Fat-free Italian Cooking: Over 130 Low-fat and Fat-free Traditional and Contemporary Recipes – From Antipasto to Ziti by Sandra Woodruff
• Sichuan Cookery by Fuchsia Dunlop
• The Silver Spoon
• Simple Food by Jill Dupleix
• Sue Kreitzman’s Low-Fat Desserts by Sue Kreitzman
• Sweet Seasons: Fabulous Restaurant Desserts Made Simple by Richard Leach
• Sweet Sicily by Victoria Grantof
• Sydney Food by Bill Granger

T

• The Handmade Loaf by Dan Lepard
• Twelve: A Tuscan Cookbook by Tessa Kiros

V

• Valentina Harris’s Complete Italian Cookery Course by Valentina Harris
• Very Simple Food by Jill Dupleix

Y

• A Year In My Kitchen by Skye Gyngell