Confession: despite writing recipes for this blog, I almost never follow one myself! I cook without recipes 99% of the time simply because I’ve become so comfortable in the kitchen, and it’s a fun way to always put my own spin on a dish.
This might seem like an strange guide to find on a recipe blog – but the truth is, I hope each and every single one of you becomes so confident in the kitchen that you look at recipes for inspiration, not as an everyday necessity.
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Still looking for even more guidance, or want to get into the nitty-gritty nerdy details? Me too!
Three Essential Books to Become a Better Cook
There are a million cookbooks out there, and I’ve read as many as I can get my hands on! Here are three non-cookbook books about cooking that guided the way I think about food and made me a bolder cook.
The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science
J. Kenji López-Alt is the managing editor of Serious Eats and also a straight-up kitchen magician. I really mean it: Kenji has a magic touch for breaking down the hows and whys of cooking, explaining the science behind our favorite foods, and teaching us to make them perfectly at home. Learn from the best!
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
If I had three wishes, one might be to have Samin Nosrat come teach me everything she knows about the wonderful art of cooking. Her beautifully illustrated, lighthearted textbook covering every detail of the kitchen is the next best thing. She teaches us to master the four essential elements so we can create delicious meals with any ingredients.
The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America’s Most Imaginative Chefs
Over and over, professional chefs tell us that our biggest mistake as home cooks is underseasoning. The Flavor Bible makes it easy to punch up a bland dish with long lists of compatible seasonings for every flavor. This will guide you towards intuitively knowing how to balance a dish or create new & exciting flavor pairings!
Above all, remember that we’re Kitchen Fearless! Tell me about your kitchen adventures so we can celebrate the successes and commiserate over failures – because believe me, no matter how bad it seems, I’ve been there. Don’t forget to tag #mountaincravings in your pictures!
