I learned to cook from my mother. Who, even though she had a large library of cookbooks, didn’t always use them. When I moved out I rifled through her shelves and “inherited” some of those books. Unlike my mother, I do on occasion use them. I have the good fortune of being bilingual and the majority of the books that I inherited are in German.

• Die große farbige Kalte Küche : Vom Partyhappen zum Kalten Buffet by Christine Schönherr - This book is all about the cold buffet, appitizers, and open-faced sandwhiches. I have yet to make anything out of it.
• Kunden Kochen Für Kunden : Menüs und Rezepte mit Eismann Tiefkühlkost - This book was written by homecooks for fellow cooks. It is filled with menu ideas and suggestions.
• Ich helf dir kochen by Hedwig Maria Stuber - This big orange book is a primer in how to cook. From this book I learned how to make Spätzle. After having a conversation with my mother I found out that this book was HER FIRST cookbook. How cool is that?
• Rezepte, Wie Wir Sie Mögen: Alte und Neue Klassiker by Alfred Biolek and Eckhart Witzigmann - My mother sent this to me when she found out that I was starting to branch out in my cooking. It has some classic German dishes as well as a few twists.
• Scnitzel-varianten: raffiniert & schnell by Unipart - This was the second book my mother sent me as a gift after learning that my husband really likes the fact that I am not afraid to cook pork. (Long story.)
• Gut gekochet für meine Gäste : Eine kulinarisches Handbuch für perfekte Gastgeber by Marianne Kaltenbach - This book is meant to be the handbook for being the perfect Hostess. I haven’t actually looked at the book in any depth, but that will most likely change.
• Die besten Landfrauen-Rezepte by Dr. Oetker - This is another gift from my mother. It contains simple, but very flavorful dishes.
• Neue Ideen Für Die Partyküche : Feiren leichtgemacht - Yet another book about throwing a party and how “easy” it can be.

English Cookbooks

• Breakfast & Brunch Classic Recipes
• The Confident Cooking Series: Fast Finger Foods, Brownies Fudge and Toppings, Tempting Chicken Cookbook, Perfect Pastries, Fast Chicken, Step by Step Italian Cooking
• Simply Thai Cooking by Wandee Young and Byron Ayanoglu
• Concert in the Kitchen : A Medley of Main Recipes Orchestrated by Friends of Portland Symphony Orchestra
• Italian Cooking with Olive Oil by Diane Seed
• Cooking Essentials by Cooking Club of America
• The New Guide to Spirits and Liqueurs by Stuart Walton