Saturday, September 5, 2009

Cooking Magazines

I had someone leave a comment asking what cooking magazines I like so I am making a post about them. I've not been doing too much cooking lately since I've torn the ligaments and tendons in my ankle and I am not suppose to put any weight on my foot. So this question came at a good time.

I never miss these magazines:
Cook's Country- I have to admit this is one of my all time favorite magazines. I think in the 4 years I've been reading it only once was there a recipe we did not like after we tried it. I just can't say enough about this magazine. I think you'll notice I make a lot of recipes from this magazine.

Cook's Illustrated- I buy this regularly BUT I find I don't make much out of them. Usually the recipes are a little more complicated and are a little beyond my family's taste. However I purchase every month because you never know when you'll stumble across a great recipe. Two of my all time favorite recipes came from this magazine, Rustic Dinner Rolls and Multigrain Bread.

Taste of Home's Simple and Delicious- While I purchase this magazine I usually end up having to really adapt most of their recipes into something we would eat. This magazine is big on processed foods which we really do not eat in our house. I find most Taste of Home magazines to be a step down from Cook's Country and Cook's Illustrated but I do love finding the occasional gem in the magazines.

Taste of Home's Healthy Cooking- Love this one! If I had to limit myself to one Taste of Home magazine this would be the one. Great ideas and some pretty tasty recipes in this magazine.

Cooking Light- I buy this every month for all the great tips on fitness and food. I find their recipes usually rank up there with Cook's Country and Cook's Illustrated.

I buy these magazines occasionally:
Rachael Ray's magazine- I use to really love this magazine. Something changed though over the past year and now I only buy it if it catches my eye.

Taste of Home- Just the regular version on this one. Not a huge fan but will buy every once in awhile.

Food Network- Interesting magazine but not one I buy unless something looks great on the cover.

Cooking with Paula Dean- I think I have bought this magazine twice. I really don't like the layout of the magazine for some reason. But the two or three recipes I have tried have been great.

Adding to my list: Country Living Magazine- Yes this is not really a cooking magazine but they have some amazing recipes in side. I don't always remember to pick up this magazine and I don't always try the recipes they have but its worth a look.

Sunset- Another magazine that is not a cooking magazine but it does have some pretty tasty recipes every once in awhile. This is another magazine that I don't always pick up and usually only buy if there is a recipe I am interested in.

Parents- This is like the Taste Of Home magazine for me. I have like a 5 year subscription to this magazine so it arrives every month but I usually take their recipes and adapt to our tastes. I have found a few winners in this magazine.

Family Fun- Like Parents I have a huge amount of time on my subscription and find a few worthy recipes inside. They had a banana bread recipe that was so unbelievably tasty I am drooling just thinking about it.




I'll do another thread with cookbooks later this week.

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5 comments:

  1. I've never heard of Cooks Country Magazine. Where do you find it? I enjoyed reading your favorites :)

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  2. I was just telling my daughters the other day that I don't enjoy Rachael Ray's magazine as much as I did in the beginning. I think it might be because there's so much more advertising in it now. I do still get it and like the recipes though.
    My Mom has been gifting me a sub to Taste of Home for years now. I am rarely inspired to try the recipes though. They seem to all be much more basic and simple than our family likes to eat and I like to cook. I guess I should tell my Mom not to waste her money, huh? LOL

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  3. Thanks for answering my comment!

    Right now I'd have to say that Cooking with Paula Deen is my favorite cooking magazine, but Cook's Country is a close second. I do think Paula's magazine isn't as substantial as Cook's Country but I usually get at least one or two great recipes out of each issue.

    I have liked most recipes out of Cook's Country, and that magazine is the reason I found your site in the first place (I was looking for reviews on their recipes). The fact that you review Cook's Country recipes is the reason your blog is one of my favs.

    Cook's Illustrated was too gourmet for me. I find Cook's Country to be a little more "down to earth".

    I used to absolutely love Taste of Home, but I feel their magazine has really changed in the last year or so. I've had a lot of bad luck with their recipes recently. I don't like the direction their magazine has taken.

    I also subscribe to Taste of Home holiday but have found they simply recycle a lot of recipes they have already published in their main magazine. I don't think I will renew that subscription.

    I agree about Food Network, I buy it once it awhile and while I find it is fun to read, I don't always see a lot of recipes I am interested to try.

    Years ago I subscribed to Rachael Ray but did not have much luck with her recipes and I found they often called for ingredients that were somewhat difficult to find.

    One year I had subscription to Everyday Food magazine. I did not renew it as I think the entire year I only got two good recipes out of it.

    I got a free issue of SemiHomemade with Sandra Lee and was not impressed. She uses tons of store bought, processed ingredients.

    Anyway I love your site! Thanks for taking the time to post.

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  4. Heidi- I find the magazine at Barnes and Noble. They have a website www.cookscountry.com but you have to pay to access most of the recipes. I do think they offer a trial magazine though so it might be worth it to ask for it.

    Trish- Maybe it is the ads. I'm not one to fight my way through advertisement after advertisement these days. I'm too busy. Maybe that's why my two favorite are Cooks Country and Cooks Illustrated since there are no ads in those magazines.

    Thanks Buffalo chicken wing without your comment I'd have not posted anything new for a few days. Also thanks for the kind words about my blog!

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  5. Norah - I agree with you 100% on the Cook's Country magazine. I LOVE it and look forward to it coming in the mail every couple of months. It is a little more spendy than a lot of magazines but I think you get your money's worth because there are NO advertisements and the recipes are tried-and-true. We love everything I make out of that magazine. I also get Cook's Illustrated and don't make as many things due to it being a bit more gourmet but I like the tips I find in there and always try one or two recipes. I agree that Taste of Home Simple and Delicious recipes use way too many processed ingredients. Anyway, I liked this post. Thanks for sharing your magazine tips.

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