The Ultimate Cookbook Guide For Families

The closer we get to Christmas, the more excited I get.

Yes, there are the obvious reasons that make me giddy; the celebration of the birth of Christ, the gift giving, the traditions, the FOOD, etc.  But every Christmas, without fail, I receive cookbooks.  I will proudly state that along with my husband and library shelves full of literature, cookbooks make my heart go pitty pat!

I am not very discriminatory when it comes to books about food, but more and more, I find myself reaching for those that are more suited to family meals rather than, say, a cocktail party or specialty meals.  People ask me every holiday season what kind of cookbooks to buy for their wife/sister/boss/best friend/mailman, and I decided to just create a master list of good ones.  These definitely veer toward the busy parents and children demographic, but nothing is on this list that I wouldn’t (or haven’t) used when I was single or married withOUT kids.  They are just good cookbooks.  And in a time when the internet (read: Allrecipes.com, Pinterest, etc) seem to have replaced our need for written recipes, these beautiful books welcome written notes in the margins and melted butter splatters across their pages.  Try doing THAT with your electronic of choice.

For ease of use, I have broken them down into categories based loosely on need.  I polled my friends, families, other professionals, major foodies, those who hate to cook, families with food allergies, and even cookbook authors.  I also include a section if you are looking for cookbooks for your young chef. This is the BEST I could throw together!  This is BY NO MEANS an all encompassing list and while I hope your find some of your favorites below, I also hope you see something new.  There are thousands of cookbooks out there (and I could not possibly review them all) so please please PLEASE, if you don’t see your go-to choice, contribute to the discussion and mention what you love in the comments below.

All-Purpose, GREAT Cookbooks For Families

Dinner: A Love Story
By Jenny RosenstrachIf you are familiar with Jenny’s blog by the same name, then it is no surprise that her book makes this list.  The recipes are straight from her family table and the cookbook is easy to use and easy to read.  Much like getting reliable recipes from a good friend while you chat over coffee.  The food is honest, practical, and incredibly delicious.  Yes, it contains tips and food advice, but its less about being a chef in the kitchen, and more about how to get dinner on the table and have it taste great, regardless of who is eating it. You can absolutely read this cover to cover like a novel, but you can cook it all the way through too. Start with the Lazy Bolognese and the Apricot Mustard Baked Chicken. Her second book, Dinner: The Playbook, is just as great.

Keepers
By Kathy Brennan & Caroline CampionDo you see that subheading at the top of the cookbook?  Yeah.  They aren’t kidding.  Every recipe in here is simple and easy and delicious. None of them take a ton of time (hallelujah) and the ingredient lists are small.  Think of it like a cookbook of staple recipes you will just rotate through over and over.  You learn one recipe and then they explain how to turn that a different meal with one little tweak.  They also cover the bases of good cooking, like why you should be roasting your veggies and how to make your own breadcrumbs.  The Sausage and White Bean Gratin sounds fancy but is simple and hearty so be sure to give it a try! The Farfalle (Bow Ties) With Gorgonzola, Ham & Peas is crazy good and ridiculously easy.  Weeknight cooking at its best. Or in my case, I will be making that after my Christmas ham has been picked over!

America’s Test Kitchen-Healthy Family Cookbook
By America’s Test Kitchen This book has it all. Healthy recipes that are easy to make and basically no-brainers for you and your family. With over 800 of them, you are bound to find foods in here for everyone. It covers main dishes, appetizers, etc, and is an easy, spiral bound book. Much like their other in this series, ATK has included tried, true, and simple dishes, making this a cookbook you will reach for again and again. The New Family Cookbook and the ATK Quick Family Cookbook are fantastic as well.

Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook
By BHG 
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this cookbook. If you don’t have some version of this on your shelves, PUT IT ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST! This inexpensive paperback would even make a great hostess gift if you knew someone who didn’t have it. Time and again, this book gets mentioned by every kind of cook I know-including those who don’t like to spend time in the kitchen. It gets reached for over and over as the go-to, all-purpose, reach for when you don’t know what to do, kind of book. Its a classic for a reason people.

Great For Young Families or New Parents

Parents Need To Eat Too
By Debbie Koenig
AMEN! This book is bursting with easy to read, easy to make recipes. The author shares a bit of her experiences as a new mom, as well as encouragement and support. Recipes include the slow cooker, food to eat while holding/nursing a baby, meals that can be made in stages, and even how to turn adult food into baby or toddler food. A useful resource for sure!!

The Homemade Pantry
By Alana Chernila This cookbook made quite a stir when it was released. With a theme of practicality and frugalness, this book covers basic food items that have become staples in many kitchens. Here, Alana shows you how to make them yourself, forgoing the chemicals and packaging, and boosting the flavor. The cover picture of her homemade pop tarts are quite popular, but with a recipe to make your own chai tea, pickles, and even an incredible hot sauce, you won’t want to limit yourself. Don’t misunderstand-these are easy and straightforward. In addition, it makes a great resource for homemade gifts.

Good Cheap Eats
Jessica FisherWhen I started polling friends and family about their favorite and most used cookbooks, this author was mentioned again and again.  I don’t personally have any of her books, but they are now on my Christmas list! This one is a favorite I have flagged and from the research I have done, I can’t wait to start cooking from it! Users shouted praise from the rooftops, claiming ease of use and no-nonsense ingredients. Great photos and recipes with limited steps (bonus!) make this a cookbook that can be navigated easily. And with chapter heading such as Meals On The Run, Stretching It, and Breakfast For Dinner, she already seems to pinpoint exactly how a busy family operates. I’m going to start with her Potato and Corn Chowder!

The Mom 100
By Katie Workman
The title says it all. With a solution for nearly every dilemma, Katie Workman gives you easy to make meals that are perfect when kids (or life in general) has you busy. Basic recipes with tons of room for variety will guarantee that you will be able to adapt meals to suit your families tastes and dietary needs while still expanding their horizons. Largely broken down by specific family food issues, this book is an incredible resource to plan your weekly meals and save you some time! Make-Ahead Parmesan Turkey Meatloaf? Yes please!!!

Specialty Cookbooks For Families W/Food Sensitivities

The Skinnytaste Cookbook
By Gina Homolka
Not a cookbook specific to any food issues, but definitely a great one if you are limited. This book includes vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy free, and  so much more. You can easily expand your taste buds while keeping within whatever guidelines you can. I love the recipes because they are good for you and it gives my family variety, making especially easy to incorporate them into the our weekly menus and cooking for company. Don’t worry. The recipes are familiar, like Double Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies and Chicken Alfredo W/Broccoli, but they just have a little healthy tweaking. Gina’s blog is an expansion of the book so be sure to search her out!

Gluten-Free On A Shoestring
By Nicole Hunn
Straight up, easy to make recipes that are gluten-free and won’t break the bank.  A fantastic staple cookbook for anyone new to celiac disease or a newly diagnosed gluten sensitivity. Tips and tricks to make the basics (Chicken Stock) and some specialty items (Apple Cake) along with strategies that help your bottom line-regardless of your menu choices.

Against All Grain
By Danielle WalkerA #1 bestseller, this cookbook includes grain-free and dairy-free recipes but keeps the emphasis on flavor. Focused on the foods that we all want to eat, regardless of dietary needs, this book is a paleo persons dream. There is even a special section dedicated to kids so that no one is left out. The recipes have fantastic pictures that will make you WANT to cook them, a detail my kids like when they page through books and request meals. 🙂 No refined sugars makes this a great book to use with kids, making sure to guide young tastebuds toward whole, natural foods. It is simple and healthy. Period.

The Forest Feast for Kids
By Erin Gleeson
I can’t even tell you how much fun it is to page through this book.  Vegetarian recipes that practically beg to be made and eaten. The food is simple and straightforward, while still exposing you to things you may not normally choose. Beautiful pictures and whimsical writing make this book a blast for anyone who excludes meat, or just wants to expand menus a bit. Great for adults or kids alike. I could have put this below in the Kid section, but I love it as much as my kids, so here it stays. Strawberry Salsa anyone?

Cookbooks For Kids

Betty Crocker Kids Cook!
By Betty Crocker
My family received this book years ago and it has been through a lot. My kids love it and often page through to find something to surprise me with. Easy to read and with extra silly illustrations over the pages, my kids KNOW that it is designed for them. Lunchbox Chocolate Chip Cookies are a staple in our house and Mouthwatering Cinnamon Muffins are pretty darn fantastic. All with paired down ingredients and streamlined steps. A great cookbook that will grow with your kids and their skills!

The Cookbook For Kids Who Love To Cook
By Lisa Atwood
This cookbook is fantastic for kids that are a bit more advanced in the kitchen, but still has a few easy ones for beginners. Straightforward recipes that are easy to follow but with grown up methods. Think yogurt and fruit parfaits instead of just a smoothie. Or Cinnamon Swirl French Toast. I love that it pushes kids to be creative and builds skills with food KIDS can make but ADULTS will want to eat too. Perfect to instill confidence and foster independence!

Mom and Me Cookbook
By Annabel KarmelYou will see this cookbook again and again for a lot of reasons. It is a fantastic book for introducing toddlers and preschoolers to the art of cooking and gets them interested in what they are eating. This definitely falls into the ‘cute’ category.  Fun recipes that are perfect for little fingers and would be a fantastic present for a little one, wrapped up in an apron!

Kitchen For Kids
By Jennifer LowThis is another cookbook on my ‘need to pick up’ list. Actually, it will be marked FAMILY and tucked under the tree! Sssshhhh.  Don’t tell. 🙂 My kids love to try new things and this book, which boasts no sharp knives and no flame cooking, is perfect for my children and I to cook from together. The recipe for Oven Baked Pad-Thai is at the top of my list to make. Perfect meals for after school prep and ready in time for dinner!

Of course, cookbooks and preferences are very personal and change from family to family. My hope is that you get some great ideas for the holidays and perhaps, make your shopping a bit easier! If you didn’t see your favorites above, please note that I tried to avoid the ever popular suggestions that were no brainers when it came to cookbooks. Here are a list of some of the cookbooks that are overwhelmingly loved.

Any Barefoot Contessa Cookbook that was ever written. Because Ina Garten is…well…Ina Garten

Any of the classic Pillsbury Cookbooks, especially this one

Pioneer Woman Cookbooks

Any of the How To Cook Everything series by Mark Bittman

The Joy Of Cooking by Irma Rombauer

I want to hear about YOUR favorites in the comments below! Hit me with the cookbooks you dog ear, splatter with stains, singe on the stove, and otherwise reach for in the kitchen! What do YOU cook from?

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