27 Comments
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Lesley Sykes's avatar

World Vegetarian! That book meant so much to me in my twenties

Mallory Inman's avatar

Those sparkling ginger cookies are incredible, also a staple recipe of mine. And World Vegetarian is my #1 go-to when I get too much of one vegetable from my CSA.

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

Clearly you’ve got great taste

Mel Boultbee's avatar

What a great post. I haven't heard of a few of these but I do have a number is Isa's books. Vegan with a Vengeance is always a go to one for me.I also go to Veganomicon often as well.

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

Veganomicon is a very close second. Love that book

Dan's avatar

Great post today, Michelle! I love cookbooks and I have a big collection. Formative for me were Isa Does It (by Isa), Vegan on the Cheap (Robin Robertson) and Thug Kitchen (you). In my house we call Isa by her first name (though I have never met her). Robin too (I actually know Robin a bit) and since you started Stir the Pot my household has been calling you Michelle. It helps that your books, and to a lesser extent Isa's, are hilarious.

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

Hahaha, I do the same thing with my books and definitely think of the authors as old friends, even if we’ve never met. Your bud Michelle here approves!

Karen R Connelly's avatar

I understand the fascination with cookbooks, and it's one of the sections of the library I love going to, too see all the cool new books out (yes, I do borrow Christmas cookbooks in July. Why do you ask)?

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

Yesssss! I never pass up the cookbooks at the library. I always fall in love with something new… and maybe take pictures every time I find my own books.

Marian Allen's avatar

Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook is one I buy, gift, rebuy, gift, rinse and repeat. The recipes are quick and easy, the ingredients are in most people's pantry, and the recipes are introduced by real teens. It's a great way to introduce people to the radical idea that vegetarian or vegan cooking is not weird and difficult. I've given it to friends with a teenager who wants to go vegetarian or vegan and the friends are baffled as to "what can they eat?" EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD EXCEPT MEAT, EGGS, AND DAIRY.

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

I’m going to have to hunt this one down. It sounds like a great resource. People always ask me for recs like that. Thanks!

Carolyn's avatar

So excited for the updates next week! Should we try to get a Zoom together?

Carolyn's avatar

On it. 🫡

SueJ's avatar

Moosewood was the first cookbook I ever bought, back in the late '70s! Love it still!

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

It is truly a classic. I can’t overstate what a huge impact that book had on my life both in and out of the kitchen.

Patrick Mueller's avatar

Great post! I love looking through old cookbooks every bit as much as looking through an old school yearbook. I have such great memories associated with food! Side note: I couldn't get the survey from last week to work. Lo siento.

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

Yes! That’s such a great comparison.

I still haven’t heard back from Substack on how to fix the survey so there’s that lol

MaryJane's avatar

Madhur Jaffrey!!! 🔥🔥🔥

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

Right?! She led like 7 different, amazing lives.

Lucy's avatar

I love this! As a cookbook collector myself, I just love all that you mentioned, Michelle. I didn’t know about Laurel! I also want to recommend to all of you Deborah Madison if you don’t already know her. I also credit her with making vegetarian cooking delicious and memorable. My first vegetarian cookbook was “The Complete Vegetarian Cuisine” from Rose Elliot. I still have it, but I think it falls into the “bland” department lol. Your books are my go-to’s, Michelle. Not just saying that.

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

Vegetable Literacy by Deborah Madison is so so wonderful. She definitely deserves a place on this list.

Peter Wills's avatar

Thanks for the book recommendations Michelle I’ve never heard of any of them.

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

I think you’d love Isa’s books a lot

Peter Wills's avatar

Thanks Michelle I’m gonna go look for it

thalea's avatar

Laurel Bread Book taught me how to make bread. I have at least four Moosewood books and one by Madhur Jaffrey. All of those are so old and have been used so much the bindings are taped to keep the books from falling apart.

Michelle Albanes-Davis's avatar

That’s exactly how all our favorite cookbooks should look!