Wanting cooking suggestions

We have been watching Top Chef, and it has been inspiring me as to how bad my cooking is. Well, Top Chef, along with some really not so hot dishes. Some even for company. :(

While I enjoy watching their creations on Top Chef, I would never really cook like that at home from day to day. First of all, my palette isn't sophisticated enough to enjoy a good 1/2 or more of their dishes. Second, it would be way too expensive. And last, I don't have that much time.

So I'm starting the search for a magazine or cookbook, or series of cookbooks that contain fresh ingredients with tasty results that don't take a ridiculous amount of time to make. I'd like breakfast ideas, too, not just supper. The breakfast ones can't take longer than 20 minutes or so, though.

Any suggestions?

Comments

Rebekah said…
my favorites are still William Sonoma recipes! You can get a ton of them for free on their website under "recipes". And you'll never see cream of mushroom soup in their ingredient list! :) i'd be happy to e-mail ya some of my favorites!

ps. your meal was just fine when we were your company!! And your breakfast was AWESOME!
J Gutwein said…
Hello Sharlin,

First, Congrats on your baby boy!! Second, a book with thoughts and recipes that has changed my cooking is French Women for all Seasons. I think the recipes are mostly easy with very fresh ingredients.. at times she suggests raw pancetta or prosscuitto (sp?)... but I slightly saute it in olive oil so a couple of changes like that, but over all fantastic stuff!! Have fun! Love, Jenny
arlan and katie said…
Shar-my suggestion for easy, inexpensive family/kid friendly meals are from Kraftrecipes.com or their magazine, Food & Family. They have easy, no-brainer recipes that are as healthy or unhealthy as you make them. They most likely won't challenge you but will add seasonal dishes to your recipe repertoire. Nothing fancy but easy & straight-forward.

Katie

PS-I still LOVE your Mom's cinnamon roll recipe you gave me this past August...I've used it several times & get lots of compliments!
Christen Leigh said…
Hmm I just like to get recipes online usually. Not too much help, am I?

Speaking of recipes, could you email me that corn cakes one that we were talking about yesterday?

Fun being with you this weekend. :)
T and M said…
I tried a library book recently called "10 healthy things you should be eating" or something like that, & we liked it! Helped me figure out what to do with my stockpile of lentils in the cupboard, plus the recipes that we tried were all really good (with the exception of one involving beets!). I also like "Saving Dinner" that was recommended to me. Basic yummy dishes but probably healthier than the much-loved church cook book.

this is a great question. i find myself wondering what to make for supper a lot...
Tami said…
Hey there Shar! I'm pretty sure no one can make rice with cheese like you do...oh good childhood memories. :)
Well, now I'm a complete novice of cooking compared to you, so don't be insulted when you read my suggestion, but it is seriously the BEST cookbook for basic tips and I LOVE the graphics in it!!! Just the look of it inspires me to cook...a ton of pictures, really bright and colorful pictures, fun diagrams. Anyway, it's called "How to Boil Water"...I adore that cookbook. Not sure on the "freshness" aspect of it.
Also, I LOVE watching Top Chef...even better is Top Chef Masters!!! Um, I'm a complete nerd and bought the first season of it. We may have to get together and watch a couple episodes!
smw said…
thanks for all the great ideas, everyone!! i'll be heading to the library to see what i can find!
Sara Huber said…
Hey Shar...just saw this but wanted to add a website I found about six months ago and have used almost every day since! Pretty much every recipe I have made has been great. If you're interested, I can send you my faves. The recipes are all "from scratch" (no canned soups!) but most are not horribly time-consuming.
http://www.melskitchencafe.com/
Daish said…
this is so exciting!
shelley said…
Just wanted to contact you and tell you thanks for your blog comment on my post...hope your family is well.
Janell said…
oh cooking. the worst of my motherly duties. i'm not good at it and i don't enjoy it. if i could hire something done, it'd be taking care of meals! congrats on the boy! :)

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