We’ve got lots of cookbooks in our library at whatsinmycookbooks.com, and we’re working on getting even more in there. But some cookbooks are probably best left out – there are some truly weird and, er, ‘wonderful’ cookbooks out there!
In no particular order, here are ten of the weirdest that we’ve found – can you add to this list? Leave your own ‘weird’ cookbook suggestions in the comments below…
Eat-a-bug Cookbook by David G. Gordon
Fancy some crickets with your cannelloni? Or some spiders with your spaghetti? This cookbook is not for the squeamish – David Gordon is a real-life biologist and self-confessed ‘bug chef extraordinaire’. Actually, eating bugs is fairly common around the world, so if you’re being ambitious, this book will give you plenty of culinary tips, including the right wine to serve with scorpions, how to order edible insects by mail and why termites are good for you.
The Heinz Tomato Ketchup Cookbook by Paul Hartley
We all know someone who can’t eat their food without drowning it in the red stuff. As this book shows though, good old-fashioned Heinz Tomato Ketchup (it’s been around since 1876!) can be much more than a mere condiment. It’s worth noting that the author has also written cookbooks specifically for Colman’s Mustard, Lyle’s Golden Syrup, and of course, Marmite.
Kill It and Grill It by Ted and Shemane Nugent
This one’s not particularly weird in itself – as its name suggests it’s a straightforward guide to preparing and cooking wild meat. The reason it’s made our list is the wonderfully bizarre cover – we just love the 80’s-themed shot of Ted and Shemane (isn’t that a character in ‘Thundercats’?) posing with their weapons. Epic.
Fit for a King: Elvis Presley Cookbook by Elizabeth McKeon
Given The King’s unfortunate demise and his infamous later years, we’re not sure that it’s a great idea to be advocating his diet. Especially as one of his favourite dishes was apparently fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Nevertheless, Elvis Mania does not stop in the kitchen, so if you want food that’s literally ‘fit for a king’, look no further.
The pyromaniac’s cookbook by John J Poister
A collection of recipes that all involve one main ingredient – FIRE. From spectacular flambe dishes to flaming cocktails, this book has everything a fire-lover could want. We particularly like its tagline: “Possibly the most exciting cookbook since the discovery of fire.” Just don’t set fire to the kitchen.
Star Trek Cookbook by Ethan Phillips
Is there anything that Trekkies haven’t thought of? If you’re a true fan, you’re going to want to eat like the crew of the Starship Enterprise as well as dressing and talking like them. This cookbook is just what you need – with Klingon, Vulcan and even a few Earthling recipes in there, you’re bound to find something you like.
Mosh Potatoes by Steve Seabury
This is a collection of recipes from some of Rock’n’Roll’s most famous faces. Well, Heavy Metal anyway – hence the ‘mosh’ part of the title (for those of you that aren’t familiar with Metallica and friends, ‘moshing’ is otherwise known as head-banging, or dancing furiously to extremely loud music). We give it a WIN for the title alone.
The What Would Jesus Eat? Cookbook by Don Colbert
Despite its title, we don’t think that this cookbook is going to purge you of your sins. Apparently the book is “based on a biblical, historical and scientific study of what Jesus ate” – and the general consensus is that the Big Man liked his healthy food – it’s got lots of recipes using fresh fruit and veg, legumes and whole grains. Not a chocolate pudding or fried food in sight – perhaps that’s why they’re called ‘naughty foods’…
Eat Tweet: 1000 Tiny Recipes in Twitterese by Maureen Evans
Quick, Twitter is taking over the world! Well, maybe not quite – but we certainly didn’t expect there to be a Twitter cookbook. If you like your recipes in under 140 characters, this book has plenty – although be warned, you may need to decipher it first. Unless, of course, you’re already fluent in ‘Twitterese’.
The Roadkill Cookbook by Arthur Boyt – coming soon?
OK, so we said that this list was in no particular order – but really, we were saving the best (or is it the worst?) until last. This one’s a bit of a cheat, because technically, the book hasn’t been published yet. And given that it was ‘yet to be published’ back in 2006, we’re not even convinced that it’s going to happen at all. There have been lots of ‘Roadkill Cookbooks’ published, but the main thing they’ve got in common is that they’re all tongue-in-cheek. However, this guy is quite serious. According to the Guardian, “Mr Boyt has spent the last 50 years scraping carcasses from the side of the road and chucking them, together with a few herbs and spices, into his cooking pot.” And now, he’s ready to share his recipes with the world. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…
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