Weekend Cooking; Chef Love.

I've made several interesting recipes in the midst of our busy week.  I had my heart set on re-making these amazing sweet potato black bean burritos and had even prebaked the sweet potatoes one night while I had the oven on for something else (green idea not to have to reheat the oven)  and then my husband used those cooked sweet potatoes as a side for one of his meals.  He makes dinner just ONE night a week of which I AM grateful for but he often uses something for his dinner that he thinks I am letting "waste away" in our fridge or cupboard, etc.  He's forgiven though because it is a joy to come home Thursday night and have dinner ready for me no matter what it is. 

I easily rebought and rebaked those sweet potatoes and made the burritos the very next week.  I also created the Mexican Casserole from Katie Workman's The Mom 100 Cookbook., which was a huge hit at dinner.

My actual weekend cooking post is about this stack of cookbooks: like a great love affair I can't live without them.

From  top to bottom: 

1. Deborah Madison is a queen and one of my first cooking crushes.  Some people fell for Paula Deen or Rachel Ray-me it was all about Deborah.  It stands to reason that my mother-in-law gave the book to me for a Christmas present about 10 years ago.  The book now has a few food smudged pages showing my love.  Love.

2. Giada D.L. my second crush  helped  me take pasta to a new level for my family.  I learned to make pesto and a popping cherry tomato sauce through her tutelage.  I've never watched her show but I'm sure it's lovely.  For me Everyday Italian will be my go-to for fun pasta.

3. Katie Workman is my latest crush.  I picked her up at my Scholastic book fair and kept going back for more.  Now her book The Mom 100 Cookbook is a staple for what I need.  The Mexican Casserole I made this week will become a staple in my menu rotation. 

4. The Grit (Athens, GA) Cookbook-okay I know this is a place not a person but if I could go work in one kitchen in the United States it would be at The Grit. Every time I open this book I find a great quote, a perfect recipe, or an idea I can use.  I've never had the pleasure to eat there but it is on my food adventure bucket list. My mom gave me this one.  (Truth: she bought it for herself and I talked her out of it.) Very crush-worthy.  Anybody been there?

5. So Sweet!  by Sur la Table. Again I know not a chef but just like #4 so worth the help this book gives me.  My desserts leaped to new levels after I purchased this book for Groovy Girl.  I've made many recipes from this tiny book and especially love the whoopie pie section.  Yep, I'm crushing on the staff that put this little one together.

If you are looking for a new chef to follow or a new cookbook to love you would not be disappointed with any of these choices.  This post is linked to Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking meme. 

Be peaceful~