My three favorite cookbook authors

I love to read cookbooks. Although I never re-read books, I will read a cookbook that I love over and over. These are my three favorite authors to pick up.

Marion Cunningham
My number one favorite. Her recipes are delightfully simple, and are always delicious. When I want to make something particular, I will always look in her books first for a recipe. Of course you can find a recipe for anything under the sun on the internet now a days, but you never know whether the recipe will actually be any good. Marion is my trusted source. Her recipes ALWAYS work.
Favorites: Fanny Farmer, Lost Recipes, Cooking with Children

Nigella Lawson
Her recipes are wonderful, but it is her writing that makes me love her. I could read her recipe intros all day long. Absolutely decadent.
Favorites: How to be a domestic goddess, Nigella Express

Jamie Oliver
Jamie has a charming, child-like energy that is evident in all his books. He also wins for the most unexpected uses for simple, easy ingredients.
Favorites: Happy Days with the Naked Chef, The Naked Chef Takes Off

More Christmas cookies, a little late

I made these lovely little cookies for Christmas Eve and am just now getting around to putting up the recipe. Not to worry.  Swap out the red and green m&ms for just red (Valentine’s) or just green (St. Patty’s) or whatever colors you like best, and they’ll suit any holiday.

These are labor intensive, but delicious

This recipe comes from Nigella Lawson’s beautiful tome on baking, How to be a Domestic Goddess.

Italian Cookies

• 1 C unsalted butter
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/4 C all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• pinch of salt
• Enough m&ms to top each cookie (we used a one pound bag of the dark ones)

Preheat the oven to 350. Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixture until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Don’t overbeat. The dough will not be firm.

Fix a star tip to a pastry bag and fill the bag with dough. Pipe swirls onto your cookie sheet, and top the point of each swirl with an m&m. Bake for about 12 minutes, until the edges are just turning darker.

My four year old painstakingly placed every m&m on these (about 50 cookies) – it was an excellent way to keep her busy. Idle hands, you know.