Monday, August 31, 2009

A Day at the Movies

Julie & Julia. Have you seen it? I was pretty sure I would like it. It's about Julia Child. It's about food. It's about blogging. What more could I want?

Are you familiar with the premise of the movie? Julie is unhappy in her government job. She's nearing her 30th birthday. She decides to cook her way through Julia's Mastering the Art of French Cooking - 365 days, 524 recipes. And she blogs her journey.

I loved the movie. I want to see it again. I want to read Julia's book, My Life in France and I also want a copy of her cookbook. I want to make beef bourgignon.

Before the movie I had thought to myself, "If I were going to cook my way through a cookbook in a year, what cookbook would I choose?"

I narrowed it down to 2 choices. First choice would be The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook because it is my absolute favorite cookbook and the first one I reach for. My second choice is
the copy of my mom's Farm Journal's Country Cookbook (similar to this one). This was my mom's cookbook of choice. I know I ate lots of recipes from it as a kid. I think it would be fun to cook-thru the recipes that my mom relied on.

So now it's your turn. What cookbook would you select to cook your way through in a year? And why?

And, if you haven't seen the movie yet, put it on your list of must see movies.

10 comments:

Michelle @ Give a Girl a Fig said...

That's a tough question! I'm thinking that I would have to choose Martha Stewart's Good Food Fast. It seems that every recipe is tasty...not made of weird ingredients...and easy to make!

Dee said...

I also would probably do the Ultimate southern Living. That's the one cookbook that sits on my counter.I might also consider one of my All Recipes books.
Hope to see the movie soon!

Jenni said...

I can't think of one cookbook I'd like to dedicate a year to. It seems cookbooks tend toward extremes--super healthy and not always tasty or delicious, rich, and not so healthy. Maybe I'd pick Ree's cookbook that is supposed to be coming out. (When?) I don't think I've tried any of her recipes that I haven't liked, and she does have a few healthy things now and then. Her tastes (evidenced by that photo Rechelle took of the inside of the Lodge fridge) run similar to mine with lots of butter and cream, but that's something I'm trying to move away from a little or at least mix up with healthier recipes. Healthy doesn't come naturally to me, and it's got to have plenty of flavor for it to be a winner.

Anonymous said...

would you believe that I have not seen it! do you ever pick up those every day food magazines at the check out of stores? it is a Martha Stewart publication. anyways, I really like those - so maybe one of those : )

Wren said...

I just bought My Life in France after seeing the movie. You HAVE to read Julie and Julia. The book is wonderful. I want to see the movie again too...

Hmmm...cookbook. Maybe The New Best Recipes from Cook's Illustrated. I love Cook's Illustrated. Or Farm Journal. Or James Beard..

Jenny said...

I looked on-line last night to find an old, used copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking...$200+! Wow!

Since I have a houseful of boys, I would cook my way through Tyler's Ultimate by Tyler Florence. Pastas, Pizzas, Stews and Chocolate Mousse! Yum!

Sarah H. said...

I like the Ultimate Southern Living cookbook, too. Have you tried the Cannelloni Florentine? Yum. And the Maple-Glazed Meatballs are my church potluck standby (I double it). I have many bookmarks in that book! But I also love Martha Stewart's Everday Food book--lots of fairly simple, fresh, quick stuff. I love the Greek Salad and Chicken Caesar Salad, the stir-frys, and the soups I've tried there. I still need to see Julie and Julia!

Anonymous said...

OH NO! that's a horrible choice to make, like choosing between your children. (hopping over to look at bookshelf) in all honesty i have that binder of collected online, magazine, given recipes and i think i may try to get through that one.

i HAVE NOT seen it. this is me kicking myself, but think i may be going this weekend.

i loved the book, so i cringed a little that they made it into a movie, but it looks fantastic!

CALAMITY JANE said...

hmm...i have an old missionary cookbook with recipes from around the world (and i mean ALL around the world - like, some from obscure islands and some from countries in africa, etc). it would be fun to make all those interesting recipes with the different ingredients!

Amy said...

I think the Joy of Cooking or How to Cook Everything, just because there is so much technique in those books that would make me a better cook!