From weird and wonderful collections to downright bonkers and baffling recipes (roadkill for dinner, anyone?), these eclectic cooking titles prove there really is a book for everyone. Dig in.
Ever wondered what it might be like to eat in space? You can try it for yourself thanks to The Astronaut’s Cookbook: Tales, Recipes, and More, co-authored by Charles T. Bourland, a former director of the NASA space-food programme and Gregory L. Vogt, a one-time NASA education specialist. Bringing "space food" to the masses, this 232-paged title boasts all manner of recipes that have been modified for preparation in a "normal kitchen", whatever normal may be to you. Be sure to try the "Skylab Butter Cookies".
Fire-starters, rejoice. This heated collection of recipes will help you take your cooking to the next level. From "Cooking with flare: how to set fire to almost anything that will burn" to "How to fire up the party", chapters comprehensively explore how to set your food alight – literally. The faint-hearted needn’t be put off either. The Pyromaniac’s Cookbook: The Best In Flaming Food And Drink also includes tamer recipes for novices, such as flaming coffees to more straightforward flambé desserts.
It’s cooking Jim, but not as we know it. “Is there one food that humans, Klingons, Bajorans, and Vulcans would like? If so, what would it taste like? How would you prepare it? Could you find all the ingredients locally?” asks the back page of this 320-page cookbook, released at the turn of the millennium. Written by Ethan Phillips, AKA Neelix in Star Trek, the Star Trek Cookbook includes recipes such as Vulcan Mocha Ice Cream, and is guaranteed to be a stellar read.
With its punchy title and curious cover, this cookbook demands attention. According to the book, pesky iguanas are responsible for destroying some of Florida’s key wildlife, so author George Cera came up with Save Florida, Eat An Iguana: The Iguana Cookbook, to advise on how to cook these troublesome lizards, which apparently taste like chicken.
Stud Muffins: Luscious, Delectable, Yummy, a full-colour cookbook published in 2008, promises "creative muffin recipes with unforgettable serving suggestions". And if the recipes aren’t enough to whet your appetite (or give you a ‘heart-pounding sugar rush’) there’s apparently plenty of "eye candy" to devour while flicking through the pages too.
Promising 120 "gourmet" recipes, plus Lagerfeld’s personal tips for staying fit, healthy and attractive, The Karl Lagerfeld Diet tells the story of how the eminent fashion designer lost eighty pounds in just thirteen months. There are also chapters on skin procedures and cosmetic treatments, depending on just how much you want to look like Karl Largerfeld.
From "Chilli Con Carnage" to "Bangered And Mashed", there’s no shortage of frugal and savvy recipes in writer Buck Peterson’s The Original Roadkill Cookbook. Note the "original" in the title of this meaty release – yes, roadkill cookbooks really are a thing.
Grab a gin and juice and tie those apron strings pronto: the D-O-double-G is back with 50 recipes ‘straight from his own collection’. From Crook To Cook: Platinum Recipes From Tha Boss Dogg’s Kitchen covers everything from ‘remixes on upper echelon fare such as Lobster Thermidor and Filet Mignon’ to everyday essentials such as Soft Flour Tacos and Easy Orange Chicken and, of course, some late-night munchies. For dessert, look out for the chart-topping Bow Wow Brownies and Ice Cream. Ooh-wee!
Find out what happens when a "young free-range chicken" falls into the hands of "a mysterious, domineering chef" in this bare-all cookbook. In Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody In A Cookbook, author F. L. Fowler seductively weaves a narrative with fifty finger-licking good recipes, from "Roast Chicken with Brandy-vanilla Butter" to "Chile-lashed Fricassee".
Don’t let being a mere muggle hold you back you from cooking like a wizard, says The Unofficial Harry Potter Wizard’s Cookbook: Magical Meals & Fantasy Food Inspired By The World of Hogwarts. “You could use your magic wand to help with the preparation,” the book explains, “but the real creative work is down to you”. Conjure up recipes from "Leek-y Cauldron Couscous" to "Buckbeak's Breakfast Buns".
WWE: The Official Cookbook is packed with hard-hitting recipes, from "The Rock's Jabroni Macaroni Salad" to "Macho Man's Savage Nachos". With this book in your arsenal, you’re guaranteed to be the heavyweight cooking champ of the world no time.
Many historians have tried to determine what happened on that fated final evening aboard the Titanic, including what was served for dinner. Thanks to Last Dinner On The Titanic: Menus And Recipes From The Great Liner you can recreate the dishes for yourself, from 'Lobster Thermidor' to 'Chocolate Painted Eclairs'. Archive photos and anecdotes are served up alongside the recipes.
Discover more about what passengers ate on the Titanic here.
Who wouldn’t want to learn how to cook like Coolio? Now a decade old, Cookin’ with Coolio is your go-to guide if you’re looking to elevate simple ingredients into culinary masterpieces. Cooking "Ghetto Gourmet" cuisine couldn’t be easier, says the book jacket: “All you need is a little bit of food, and a little bit of know-how." The 224-page volume covers all manner of cuisines, including “Ghettalian” (that’s Ghetto Italian), as well as recipes such as “Banana Ba-ba-ba-bread”.
Don’t be put off by the bleak-sounding title. If the cover of Microwave Cooking For One is anything to go by, you’ll be cooking a whole banquet of instant food faster than you can say the word “ping”. Covering everything from breakfast through to dinner, and from pies to puddings, this culinary classic will keep you and your mini oven busy: there are 300 recipes to get through.
Think you know Dracula? Think again. Turns out this legendary vamp had a penchant for traditional Hungarian, Romanian and Slavic recipes, not just for blood. The Dracula Cookbook: Authentic Recipes From The Homeland Of Count Dracula will bring you right up to speed with his favourite foods, should you ever end up in his lair. Word of warning: double up on the garlic, just in case.
Proving that HP sauce is far more than just a condiment, The HP Sauce Cookbook brings what would otherwise be an afterthought ingredient to the fore. Dishes include "casseroles with clout" and a "brown Bloody Mary", plus a whole host of gravies, sauces and marinades. The book is also seasoned with pieces of HP trivia, so you can swot up on this ingredient’s colourful history and impress your dinner guests too.
If you’re looking for a new diet, The Cannibal Lover’s Cookbook promises a “joyous look at the entire cannibal lifestyle”, as told by the cannibalistic character of Omnivorous. A tongue-in-cheek masterclass in becoming a fine young cannibal, this is (apparently) a book for everyone. “Whether you're a long-time muncher or a novice with just a few friends under your belt, Omnivorous is here to show you the way,” it reads. Go ahead, eat your heart out!
Interested in entomophagy? Feeling greedy for grub? Bugs For Beginners: The Most Complete Guide To Teach You How To Cook Insects is the cookbook for you. This comprehensive guide is bursting with 75 insect-focussed recipes, from "Kentucky Fried Crickets" to "Waxworm Ramen", all accompanied by "gorgeous colour photography". Yum.
There’s nothing like a retro cookbook to set your taste buds alight, and this eighties classic promises a meat feast. Work your way through the 242 pages of Pȃté: The New Main Course For The '80s, with recipes for everything from chicken-liver pâté to vegetable terrine, and you’ll be hooked.
Whether you’re an apprentice cook, accomplished chef, druid or orc, World Of Warcraft: The Official Cookbook will have you cooking meals fit for a warchief in no time. Recipes include "Goblin Shortbread" and "Muglore Spice Bread", plus other fantasy-inspired foods.
The Breaking Bad Cookbook is a must-have for any fans of the hit TV series. Detailing how to cook everything from the Whites' celebrated cooked breakfast, to Gus Fring's Los Pollos Hermanos fried chicken, it's the perfect gift for any Walter White wannabes.
Step aside, pasta and pizza. In Cooking Apicius: Roman Recipes For Today, author Sally Grainger has painstakingly translated 64 Roman delights into modern-day recipes. Interpretations include fermented fish sauce and lark’s tongues, as well as more 'mainstream' concoctions such as duck with turnip, roast lamb with coriander and carrots or parsnips in a cumin-honey glaze. Hail, Caesar!
Relive this nineties Irish TV series with The Ballykissangel Cookbook: Irish Recipes From Ballykissangel Country. Featuring traditional and modern Irish recipes, it’s compiled by Aidan Dempsey, owner and cook at The Old Coach House restaurant in the Vale of Avoca (the setting for Ballykissangel). On top of recipes, you’ll also find anecdotes from Aidan and local producers, plus plenty of Irish charm.
Because every die-hard Roald Dahl fan wants to know how to cook Lickable Wallpaper, Stinkbug Eggs and Eatable Pillows, right? Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes will help you to re-create all of the weird and wonderful recipes from classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. Now, pass us that snozzcumber…
If your cookbook collection is missing a "what to cook in the event of an apocalypse" title, try this one for size. On top of detailing how to survive an apocalypse and avoid being eaten in the process, The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide also contains expert advice on foraging, hunting wild game and outdoor cooking. Look out for recipes from the hit TV series including "Carl’s Pudding" and "Hershel’s Spaghetti" too.
Mug cakes are a great entry point for novice cooks or the impatient: simply pop the ingredients in the microwave and voilà. The 25 recipes in Stoner Mug Cakes, such as the "Jammy Sandwich" or the the "Blueberry Haze", are apparently so straightforward that even 'a stoner can do it'. Just the thing if you’re looking to get your bake on.
The Special Effects Cookbook is for anyone looking to cook “safe and easy recipes for food that erupts, moves, sings, glows, talks, snaps, crackles, pops and swims.” With recipes such as "Green Dragon’s Breath Cake", "Beating Heart Cake" and "Glow In The Dark Gelatin", this is guaranteed to be a treat for kids and adults alike. We particularly like the sound of "Monster in the Pop Corn", which involves attaching a small wind-up toy to the bottom of the popcorn bowl. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Odd Bits: How To Cook The Rest Of The Animal is a warts-and-all guide to nose-to-tail cooking – think brains, cheeks, gizzards, trotters and even testicles. Recipes to look out for include "Headcheese for the Unconvinced" and "Bone Marrow and Mushroom Custard". This is definitely not one for the squeamish.
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Street food takes on a whole new dimension in this 2008 title. In Manifold Destiny Cookbook: The One! The Only! Guide To Cooking On Your Car Engine! you’ll find 147 pages of car-engine gastronomy, whether that’s bonnet-smoked s’mores or hood-poached fish. It's a must-read for anyone looking to burn more than just rubber.
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With upwards of 100 million cans of SPAM sold in the US alone each year, it’s hardly surprising there’s a whole recipe book dedicated to this tinned delight. From SPAM fritters to SPAM in port wine, canned meat lovers worldwide will revel in these creative recipes and fun facts. Rest assured, Spam The Cookbook does exactly what it says on the tin.
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