I’m trying to eat healthily at the moment, which obviously means I’ve suddenly become obssessed with food. I’ve added six new books to my already bulging recipe book collection and seem to be constantly looking for new delights to whip up for family and friends.
So in an effort to distract my grumbly tummy I thought I’d share some of my favourite cook books and food porn blogs with you.
So first up it has to be the truly wonderful Rosie of Slutty Brownie fame. Her blog The Londoner is a constant source of food ideas and lifestyle envy.
Slutty Brownie image courtesy of The Londoner
I highly recommend the Sticky Pork Baguettes, Starlit Spicy Lemon Chicken Wraps and of course her now world famous Slutty Brownies.
My favourite lunch time haunt – Leon on Carnaby Street
My trips to London these days are sparse, but what hasn’t changed is my need to track down the nearest Leon whenever I am in town. To lighten my post Leon blues I picked up Leon: Ingredients & Recipes and very quickly picked up their other two books, Leon: Naturally Fast Food and Leon: Baking & Puddings. Just flicking through these books is enough to make you feel healthy, though I recommend trying out the recipes too! So far I’ve tried the pancake stack and omlette from Leon:Naturally Fast Food and not a lot else, but I just know I’ll be whipping out these bad boys more and more as the weeks go on.
Usually I avoid American recipes like the plague. After years of throwing things together in the kitchen I like to think I’ve mastered the art of measuring most ingredients by sight, so the idea of having to measure out cups and ounces fills me with dread, but the blog Spoon Fork Bacon is just too good to miss! Just one look at their website gets my mouth watering. With so many wonderful recipes, it’s hard to pick one stand out one.
Another US site that has me digging out my measuring cups is Smitten Kitchen. A quick glance at her blog is enough to have me out of bed in the morning and trying to pull together carrot cake pancakes and Soft Eggs with Buttery Herb-Gruyere Toast (though obviously not for the same sitting!).
Carrot Cake Pancakes and Soft Egg images loving borrowed from Smitten Kitchen
My final foodie find was the wonderful Kitchenella book by Rose Prince. My mum has a fantastical book that has a recipe for everything and anything and when I haven’t been attempting to steal it and make it mine I’ve been trying to track down my very own kitchen bible. This book is the closest I’ve come so far.
What are your favourite food blogs and recipe books?
According To Gem 