I genuinely enjoy cooking but haven’t quite got the natural instinct to throw things together on my own. People have told me this skill develops over time. But for now, I rely on my trusty cookbooks to get me through dinners and get-togethers. So this post is not intended for gourmet cooks. It’s for those of you who need to add a few more basics to your repertoire, but kicked up a notch.

My favorite cookbooks have all been gifts from friends and family. They started appearing around the time I discovered the Martha Stewart Show two years ago and announced to everyone I know that I would like to be just like her. Martha makes it look especially easy and I do wish I had kitchen helpers to chop up all of my ingredients first. So here is my list, in no particular order, of the best and ‘Kylie the novice’-approved cookbooks.

Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: New Classics (by the guru herself) — 1,200 recipes that have never, ever gone wrong in our household. Her recipes are full-proof (at least the ones we’ve tried)! The index is out of sync in my version though, which makes finding the correct page numbers a little difficult but they are so delicious when you figure it out.

Instant Entertaining (by Donna Hay) — I’ve mentioned this book before but I love the menus, from weeknight meals to Sunday brunch, and place setting ideas in the book. Plus Con Polous’s photography is stunning (above). In fact, the graphic designer in me loves this book just as much for the layout, font selection, and photography as for the recipes. Wish we could get a subscription to her magazine over here.

The Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook (by Mary Corpening Barker & Sara Corpening Whiteford) — a perfect shower gift and the recipes are so appropriate for young love, including “chicken soup for your soul mate” and “cooking side-by-side” meal suggestions. It’s definitely my go-to cookbook for dinners for two at home, whether for weeknight meals or when you feel like spoiling your loved one.

Fresh From The Farmers’ Market (by Janet Fletcher) — If you enjoy visiting farmers’ markets, then you will like this book because it explains what is in season, how to pick fruits and vegetables, and recipes for that season. My friend, Courtney, gave this book to me for Christmas one year and it is now my reference book for Saturday morning visits to the local farmers’ market.

The New York Times Dessert Cookbook (by Florence Fabricant) — Now this book inspired the entire post because it was given to me by my lovely friend Fiona over the weekend. It is filled with over 400 dessert recipes — how can you beat that. I actually haven’t tried any so I’ll have to report back to you on this book but it made the favorites just by reading the recipes alone.

For a novice, I do own a fair number of cookbooks but the list above includes the books that I revisit time and time again. I’m anxious to try one of Nigella Lawson’s books. Do you have one? Are there any other cookbooks you would add to this list? I recently purchased an early edition of Julia Child’s Mastering The Art of French Cooking, but let’s just say that I’m still trying to master it. Now I’m hungry!

Image credits: Amazon.com & Con Poulos