There are so many cookbooks out there that it takes a really good one to push me from “just looking” to “gotta have it.”  So, what do I look for in a cookbook?  Here are the top 10 key elements for me:

1.  delicious recipes - this is definitely number one for me.  It’s ultimately the reason I’ll return to a cookbook again and again.  If I share the same sense of yummy with the author, I can’t wait to get in the kitchen and cook! 

2.  photos - the prettier the better, and ideally one photo per recipe.  I really want to know what the author expects the dish to look like.

3.  nutritional breakdown - this is a big one for me.  I have diabetes and it is so helpful to know how many calories, fat, carb, protein, and fibre grams I’m eating.  I steer towards lower carb recipes so a quick glance at the nutritional breakdown helps me decide if I should make the dish. 

4.  nutritional info in general - I love info about healthy oils, anti-oxidants, and other trends in nutrition. 

5.  variations for the recipes - I often make up my own variations/substitutions, but it’s great to pick the author’s brain as well.  This is also a helpful source of ideas to tweak the recipes you use over and over again.

6.  cooking tips - this is always a fun part.  I love to find out about the author’s time-saving strategies, different ways to slice and dice, tasty and different ingredients I’ve never tried before, and other hot cooking tips.

7.  comments about each recipe - this personalizes the recipe for me.  I like to know what makes this dish so delicious, when the author usually serves it, and what other dishes go well with it.  This is the extra information that entices you to try the recipe.

8.  a table of contents and especially a usable index - i.e. one where you can look under “cakes” to find “carrot cake,” instead of having to look under “A” for “Aunt Martha’s favourite carrot cake” - aaarrgh!

9.  error free recipes - this may sound obvious but I often come across recipes with errors - for example, listing an ingredient and then never telling you what you’re supposed to do with it; incorrect measurements; incorrect ingredients; etc.  I once saw “sour milk” as an ingredient in a Long Island Iced Tea.  I pity the guest who gets that cocktail!

10.  no typos - yes, typos are a pet peeve of mine (I’m sure I’m setting myself up now to have every one of my own typos pointed out to me!).  For some reason, I expect people who publish books to be able to spell.  Call me crazy.