One of Ree Drummond's favorite cookbooks is Ina Garten's 'Barefoot Contessa Family Style'
She has loved cookbooks since childhood — including a beloved Nancy Drew recipe book
Drummond says Joy Wilson's cookbook is "so special and irresistible."
Ree Drummond—a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman—doesn’t only write bestselling cookbooks—she collects them! From nostalgic classics (yes, even a Nancy Drew cookbook!) to Ina Garten’s beloved tomes and drool-worthy dessert bibles, here are the books Ree Drummond loves the most. Read on for the full list—and find out how she feels about each one of them.
Dolly Parton, 80, loves her family, songwriting, philanthropy, glitz, glamour—and books! That’s right! The Queen of Country has a lesser-known nickname: the Book Lady. “I mean, I must read at least about 50 books a year,” the icon told Jenna Bush Hager on her podcast, Open Book With Jenna. In addition to being a book […]
Ree Drummond’s favorite cookbooks
From Nancy Drew to Ina Garten, here are Drummond’s favorite cookbooks.
‘The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking’ by Carolyn Keene
Grosset & Dunlap
Inspired by the beloved fictional detective Nancy Drew, this 1973 cookbook is perfect for readers and foodies. In it, Nancy shares her favorite breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert recipes that leave her ready to solve crime.
“There was a recipe for making your own fortune cookies with mysterious messages inside,” Drummond said in 2020 of the book she loved as a child. “My mom and I tried to make them, and we failed miserably—ha!—but it’s still such a strong memory for me.”
‘Helen Corbitt’s Cookbook’ by Helen Corbitt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Helen Corbitt was a famous chef at Neiman Marcus in the 1950s, and in her 1957 cookbook she takes foodies inside her kitchen. She shares her tried and true recipes, and even shares how home chefs can give their food a restaurant-worthy presentation.
“Helen was the head of food service at Neiman Marcus in the 1950s and ’60s. My mom’s generation loved her—and so do I!” Drummond exclaimed.
‘Joy the Baker Cookbook’ by Joy Wilson
Balance
“A celebration of sugar and butter?!” Count us in! In chef Joy Wilson’s 2012 cookbook, she shares some of her favorite dessert recipes, including her beloved “Man Bait” Apple Crisp, Single Lady Pancakes and even Peanut Butter Birthday Cake.
“Joy is a good blogging friend from the early days, and her creations are so special and irresistible,” Drummond said.
‘The New Portuguese Table’ by David Leite
Clarkson Potter
Travel to Portugal without ever leaving your kitchen thanks to this 2009 cookbook written by David Leite. In it, cookbook author Leite shares details about his own culinary journey, while providing mouthwatering Portuguese recipes.
As Drummond put it, “It’s a feast for the senses. Even if you don’t know much about Portuguese cooking, you’ll drool over every page.”
Dolly Parton may be a global superstar, but she’s a master storyteller at heart. So when she revealed who her go-to Southern storyteller was, we had to know more. “I have a favorite Southern writer named Lee Smith,” she told Jenna Bush Hager on the Open Book With Jenna podcast. “She writes all these great […]
‘How to Cook Without a Book’ by Pam Anderson
Clarkson Potter
In How to Cook Without a Book, New York Times bestselling author Pam Anderson updates her classic cookbook 17 years later. Filled with tips, tricks and fun ways to cook without—you guessed it—a book, How to Cook Without a Book is the perfect gift for amateur, and even professional, chefs.
“One of my very favorite cookbooks ever, and I had it well before I met Pam and we became good friends,” Drummond said.
‘The New Basics Cookbook’ by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins
Workman Publishing Company
Every cook needs a solid foundation, and Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins deliver exactly that in their 1989 cookbook, filled with their favorite tried-and-true tips and tricks. Plus, details on what wine to choose, clear definitions of common cooking terms and 875 recipes, including 150 desserts.
“Another one my mom loved,” Drummond said. “Simple but stylish food!”
Ina Garten—a.k.a the Barefoot Contessa—shares her favorite family-style recipes in this 2002 cookbook. Recipe highlights include an arugula salad, oven-fried chicken and deep-dish apple pie.
“This was my first Barefoot Contessa cookbook,” Drummond said. “And it’ll always be my favorite because it’s the kind of food I love to cook.”
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