Cookbook collection

I read at least a hundred cookbooks a year, thanks to the local library. I end up buying my favorites that I know I'll frequently reference.

My cookbook collection is comprised mostly of two distinct styles: ones with detailed explanations and the others are highly inspirational.

Detailed cookbooks

This is a short list of detailed cookbooks I currently own. The authors thoroughly explain everything and include a lot of scientific information that helps to understand the cooking process (like how yeast works, etc).

• Several Cook's Illustrated editions
• Chasing Flavor
• King Arthur Flour
• Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
• The Food Lab by Kenji Lopez
• Chocolates & Confections
• The Joy of Pizza

Inspirational cookbooks

These cookbooks present unique ways to use produce or recipes that look so mouthwatering it makes me excited to cook. Sometimes, a cookbook on a single topic offers up new twists I hadn't thought of before.

• Half Baked Harvest's books
• East Bay Cooks
• Mother Grains
• The Cocktail Garden
• Love Soup

I also like Smitten Kitchen's cookbooks. The recipes aren't all that unique per se, but they are incredibly reliable. I've found Deb's recipes consistently turn out as promised thanks to her rigorous testing efforts. I'd say they are even more reliable than the recipes from big name magazines and websites.