[image description: a cookbook open on a person’s lap. Hands are holding the sides of the cookbook open and there’s a photo of a meal on one side. It’s a close-cropped photo, so only the person’s hands and torso are shown.]
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Confession: I can’t cook for shit.

Before I met my husband, I subsisted on microwaveable freezer meals, raw vegetables, bagged snacks, and cheap takeout. He taught me basically everything I know about cooking besides boiling water. No joke, I was afraid of the oven when I met him. (And, if I’m being honest, still am a little!)

So you can guess why I’ve never made a cookbook post on this blog. I can hardly follow a recipe on a box, so what business do I have with a fancy coffee table-level gorgeous cookbook full of meals I’m too inept to make?

That’s how I felt until I met Jessica Furniss of Spiffy Eats and Giggle Water, an expert food photographer and recipe developer. With her simple, easy-to-follow recipes made with ingredients even my bachelorette younger self would keep around the apartment, I learned to appreciate the effort of eating a meal I made. Which made it taste all the better.

So I asked Jessica what her favorite cookbooks are and the following guest post is from her.

The first bite of every meal actually isn’t a bite at all––it’s a view because we eat with our eyes first. As a food photographer, that’s something I believe wholeheartedly. And it’s why I believe cookbooks aren’t simply lists of recipes, but works of art that are meant to be displayed. 

The idea of eating with your eyes first takes me back to memories of my grandma taking a 30-cent package of Jell-O and using her vast array of Jell-O molds, canned fruits, and whipped cream to turn it into a gorgeous dessert. A real Southern feast for the eyes that anyone would be proud to take to a potluck! 

As a food photographer who wants her food to taste as good as it looks, I’m often asked for cookbook recommendations. That’s why I’m highlighting 3 of my favorite cookbooks that use humble ingredients to create recipes that not only taste delicious but also look beautiful. 

Mississippi Vegan by Timothy Pakron

Timothy is a Southern boy with a great sense of humor, immense knowledge about Southern cuisine, and food photography skills like nobody’s business. In his inaugural book, Timothy takes all the principals of Cajun cooking and combines them with his passion for vegan adaptations to create light, fresh, seasonal meals that are delicious enough for even the pickiest meat-eaters. (Trust me, I’ve fed his food to my very Southern, very meat-loving family in Mississippi and they gobbled it up!) The photography in this book is so stunning you’ll want to keep it on your coffee table so all your guests can peruse it at your next get-together. 

Jamie’s Comfort Food by Jamie Oliver

This is the ultimate weekend cookbook. If you want to impress family and friends with amazingly flavorful food but not break the bank on expensive ingredients, this is the book for you. I never thought a cookbook that has such impressive recipes (hello handmade ravioli) could be so approachable and easy to follow, but it is! The rustic food photography completes the “comfort food” vibe in the most perfect way. You’ll want to leave this book open on a bookstand in your kitchen to adore every day (that’s where I keep mine). 

Lunch in Paris by Suzy Ashford

This whimsical cookbook will transport you from your home kitchen straight to the streets of Paris. Suzy shares light, easy to make Parisian lunch recipes that are so packed with flavor and presented in such an elegant way that you’ll feel like a seasoned french bistro chef. The book is not only filled with bright and airy food photos, but also architecture from the beautiful city of Paris. Just a warning: this cookbook will increase your desire to go to Paris by 1000%. 

When it comes to sharing food with those you love, Julia said it best:

You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients.
 –– Julia Child

Happy cooking! 

Jessica Furniss spent years educating herself about high-end food photography before going full-time with her business, Spiffy Eats & Giggle Water in December 2017. Combining her love of nutritious foods & intuitive food photography skills, Jessica has created a business that helps nutritionists & wellness-minded coaches reach their dream clients, one vibrant photo at a time. This business has landed her on the cover of magazines, billboards, television spots, and numerous online publications, where she shared her love for food & photography. 

When she's not creating beautiful moments in photography, you can find Jessica wandering around the farmers market, baking in her small Alabama kitchen, dancing with her dog Todd, or binge-watching Gilmore Girls with her partner Tony. Join her community to get her secret sauce for editing amazing food photos, and be sure to join her on Spiffy TV for all things food, photography, and of course, Britney Spears dance parties.