I'll admit to often being a seat of the pants cook… I'm comfortable enough with a lot of techniques to make it up as I go along. And then, with the ease of finding recipes online these days too, I don't feel the need for an extensive cookbook library...
Amazing real life Italian recipes from real life grandmas. These are not necessarily fancy or fussy - just amazing home cooking.
In Nonna's Kitchen: Italian Grandmothers' Recipes
Soup - the ultimate comfort food and you'll find a bowl for every occasion in this book.
Soup: A Way of Life
Bread recipes that really work, explained so that you don't need a degree from the Cordon Blu to understand them.
The Bread Bible
OK - maybe not everything, but you'll find a lot to love in this book that makes recipes simple and approachable
How To Cook Everything―20th Anniversary Edition
The classic that everyone who wants to cook anything should have.
Joy of Cooking: Fully Revised and Updated
Great recipes plus an extensive glossary of ingredients and techniques.
Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art
Healthy recipes that still taste great!
A New Way to Cook
Indian recipes you'll never see in a restaurant, arranged by region. Truly wonderful food.
Madhur Jaffrey's Flavors Of India
Not a huge cookbook, but amazingly comprehensive - food that people really do cook at home.
Japanese Homestyle Cooking
Answer all those questions from how long to boil an egg to how long does it take to defrost a turkey!
Timing Is Everything: Complete Cooking Guide
I used this book so much the covers fell off… Wide ranging recipes from so many Asian countries.
The Complete Asian Cookbook
Some of the recipes in this book are complex BUT the food is amazing.. Making these recipes may ruin restaurant Thai forever. Worth it for the Tom Yum soup alone.
True Thai: The Modern Art of Thai Cooking
I actually struggled when someone in Great Britain asked me what is Amercian food… Struggle no more and discover some great recipes while you are at it.
Saveur Cooks Authentic American Recipes
Vegetarian cooking that you'll actually look forward to eating.
The Moosewood Cookbook: 40th Anniversary Edition
It's Alton - so you know you'll not only get tasty recipes, but also a healthy dose of science a little food history and clear, easy to follow instructions.
I'm Just Here for the Food: Food + Heat = Cooking
This handy little reference will teach you how to make all the classics.
Old Mr. Boston Deluxe Official Bartender's Guide
And last but not least - a good guide on using a knife safely.
