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Make home cooking a habit with the top 5 cookbooks of 2016

They’re those things that came before Tasty videos.

Photo of Amanda Booth

Amanda Booth

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After getting a taste of home cooked meals over the holidays, do you really want to go back to picking up a burger on your way home from work every night?

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No? Then make your New Year’s resolution to cook more, and learn how to do it well. It sounds simple in theory, but if whipping up recipes by yourself still seems a little daunting, consider investing in one of these cookbooks. 

1. Cooking for Jeffrey: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

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Ina Garten was everyone’s favorite wholesome meme this year, so why not celebrate what she actually does for a living too? In addition to some fire recipes, the book includes stories of her life with husband Jeffrey Garten. It doesn’t get more adorable than that. 

Price on Amazon: $18.99+

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2. Appetites: A Cookbook by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever

Amazon

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If you know Anthony Bourdain from CNN’s Parts Unknown, you know that any cookbook of his will make you a more cultured human being. With the help of the bad boy of cooking, you can experiment a little in the kitchen, even as a beginner. 

Price on Amazon: $19.99

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3. Skinnytaste Fast and Slow: Knockout Quick-Fix and Slow Cooker Recipes by Gina Homolka and Heather K. Jones

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If you want to try out a healthier lifestyle once the holidays die down, this will be a great guide. It provides nutrition facts for all of the dishes, making it easy to track whatever the newest dietitian tells you to keep an eye on. It’s also great if you don’t have much time to cook actively since all of the recipes are either for a slow cooker or can be made in 30 minutes or less. The book comes with tons of vegetarian and gluten-free options too. 

Price on Amazon: $3.99+

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4. Alton Brown: EveryDayCook by Alton Brown

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Alton Brown’s just as much of a source of entertainment as he is an expert on food, and that shines through in this book. He keeps it real, and also teaches you a few things about cooking and food along the way. 

Price on Amazon: $14.99+

Buy it now

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5. Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from My Corner of the South by Vivian Howard

Amazon

Southern cooking often comes from a place of love and community, so how can you have a cookbook for southern food without some sentimental stories to go with it? Whether you want to deeply ingrain yourself in the culture behind Southern cooking or just want to learn how to make fried okra, order a copy of this. 

Price on Amazon: $16.99+

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