3 Cookbooks I'm really loving (+ a few more)
I've grown to love cookbooks, not just for the how-to, but also simply for reading-- especially books that share a bit of narrative along with the recipes. And beautiful photos? That's a bonus.
It's pretty awesome to have friends who write books, and friends who develop recipes and write cookbooks impress me greatly. Today I wanted to share a few cookbooks that were written by friends of mine-- beautiful books that I have welcomed into my repertoire with open oven mitts.
Each of these books has its own focus and niche, and I can see any of them making a nice gift. I've cooked and baked from each of them and see them being a staple on my shelf for years to come.
1. Everyday Grain-Free Baking: Over 100 Recipes for Deliciously Easy Grain-Free and Gluten-Free Baking by Kelly Smith
Kelly and I are in a blogging mastermind group together, and while I haven't met her in person yet (even though we live just an hour or so away), she has been a great encouragement to me and others in our group, and it's been fun to watch her journey from blogger to author.
Kelly's book is a great resource for those that want to have baking options that are grain-/gluten-free. Baking with out conventional grains can be so tricky but Kelly makes it way more approachable and attainable with her book. Her beautiful pie is calling to me to try, but in the meantime, I can vouch for the Apple Streusel Muffins which were devoured by the entire family. Now to get some more blanched almond flour so I can try more recipes!
2. Good Cheap Eats: Everyday Dinners and Fantastic Feasts for $10 or Less by Jessica Fisher
Jessica is a real-life friend, thanks to blogging. She lives nearby and we have hung out a few times (and even ran into each other recently at Legoland!), and I was lucky enough to get to sample some of her freezer meals when she was recipe-testing for her first cookbook after Hallee was born.
Good Cheap Eats is quite the anthology of budget-friendly meals, so there are many more recipes I want to try but I've already made several which have become family favorites. I love Lui's Kitchen Almond Cookies and Buttery Dill Carrots, and her Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Rice has probably been made at least a half-dozen times in the last few months. Most recently I made a (huge) double batch for our big family gathering for Father's Day. It's incredibly delicious (we serve it with a dollop of sour cream for those who need to chill out the cajun spice a bit), and it got rave reviews.
3. Brown Eggs and Jam Jars: Family Recipes from the Kitchen of Simple Bites by Aimée Wimbush-Bourque
I've been a huge fan of Simple Bites ever since my friend Aimée and I began working together for Simple Living Media years ago. So many of her recipes are standards in our family now, and to have this work-of-art cookbook in my home is a real treat.
Brown Eggs and Jam Jars is the epitome of the balance of beauty and utility, with charming glances in at Aimée's homestead family life, delicious recipes and stunning photographs. The book is setup seasonally, which I love. A few favorites already are the Marinated Beets, Peach-Glazed and Grilled Salmon (with the delicious Roasted Peach Barbecue Sauce), and her Caprese Salad with Fresh Thyme Drizzle. I mean, wow. Aimée's recipes really dazzle, and this is already one of my favorite cookbooks I own (and I'm thrilled that she is working on her next cookbook already).
A few more in the cookbook department I've been checking out lately:
- Sweet Cream & Sugar Cones
- The Nourished Kitchen
- The Bouchon Bakery
- The Art of Simple Food
- In the Green Kitchen
Just a tip: I've started requesting cookbooks at the library and then I can look through them and decide which ones I want to buy. I'd love to know what cookbooks you are enjoying these days!
Some of these books were provided to me by the publisher or by author (all opinions are my own). Affiliate links included; thanks for your support!