On Cookbooks
are you surprised?
I love cooking (ok baking) and I love books.
So, of course, these two things combined make me very happy.
There’s something deeper here of course:
Dating back to a Western Literature: Ancient to Renssiance course I took in undergrad, I’ve always been fond of how food intersects with literature; how food writing sounds like delicious prose. My final paper for the course was called An Appetite for Metaphor: How Ben Johnson Uses Food to Explore Good Poetry. I argue that his poem “Inviting A Friend to Supper”, is as much about being a good dinner host as it is about being a good poet. In part because a dinner party and a poem are ways of making the familial, fantastic. Of turning the everyday and simple act of living or eating into a new and exciting experience.
With the holidays right around the corner (and for me, a much-anticipated winter break), I imagine you might have some free time to cook and bake to your heart's desire. And this is where I step in. Browsing my collection, here I give you the best of the best.
In no particular order, here are some of my favorite cookbooks and recipes I highly recommend you try out, with and for your loved ones:
Wild Sweetness: Recipes Inspired by Nature by Thalio Ho
If you are a seasoned visitor of Ho’s blog Butter and Brioche, then I’m sure you have already dipped into her gift that is Wild Sweetness. I mean, first, the cover is gorgeous. But what I love most, is its structure: the way the recipes are broken up by seasons, while the flavors and textures correspond with the changes through nature. I am a tried and true fan of her Buckwheat Chocolate Chunk Cookies. The S’mores Pie is a Halloween favorite and this winter I’m excited to try her Espresso Marble Cake.
Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz
This is Saffitz's first cookbook and I pray it isn’t her last. Her food ethos is simple and one that I think many of us would agree on: “no meal is complete without something sweet at the end. When a server asks me if I saved room for dessert, the answer is always, emphatically, “yes.” This book is perfect for those of us who are bakers but not super good at cooking, even though most of the world seems to be the other way around (probably because you can’t live on butter and vanilla extract alone). My favorites in this book are the Pistachio Pinwheels and the Oat and Pecan Brittle Cookies.
If you’re trying to limit food waste and eat as clean as possible--and make as much as possible with your hands (like making tempeh or hummus or ketchup for example), then this is the cookbook for you. Paige packs 50 recipes in this book, and they are ones you will want to return to again and again. I have been living off of her Breakfast Cookies and curry recipes this winter.
Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton Martin
I was introduced to Tipton-Martin through the Netflix documentary High on the Hog. Chef and writer Stephen Satterfield traveled across the African Diaspora to bring to light the ways American cuisine has been undeniably shaped by Black culture, Black history, and Black culinary tradition. Or in other words: Black food is American Food. In this cookbook, I loved the recipes for Baked Barbequed Beans, Peanut Soup, and Sweet Potato Mango Cake. I think they’d make perfect holiday additions if you want to step out of the box this season.
The New Way to Cake: Simple Recipes With Execptional Flavor by Benjamina Ebuehi
Whether you are a seasoned baker or a newbie to cake making, you’ll find something enjoyable in this original and inspiring cookbook. To be honest, I’ve only made one thing so far, and that’s the Chocolate, Rye, and Passionfruit Cake at the recommendation of this blogpost, but I have a feeling I’ll be dipping more into this one over break. I can’t wait to share more of my favorites!
Black Girl Baking by Jerrelle Guy
Again, the baker in me could not resist. Guy has a keen way of creating recipes that leave you with a lasting impression. Her recipes are deeply rooted in the senses, accessible, and yet wholly indulgent. I enjoy making her Sundried Tomato and Seed Crackers to eat with any hummus I have in my fridge (usually olive tapenade). For sweets, I recommend the Macadamia Brown Butter Cashew Cookie Dough or the Blacker Berry Crostata.
Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne
Like many of you, I spent my undergrad experience perusing through her youtube videos when I wanted something quick (usually savory) to make. I’m pretty sure her Sweet Potato Cinamon Rolls deserve to be placed in a National Museum somewhere. I made them this thanksgiving, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the original ones. She turns the traditional organ-clogging soul food of the South that we all love, into tasty and fresh creations that make you feel as good and soulful as they taste.
In Pursuit of Flavor by Edna Lewis
Yep. That Edna Lewis. Speaking of traditional southern cooking, are you from the South if you haven’t heard of this tour de force? Her philosophy on food, living close to the land, and making most things with your own two hands, are what really stick out to me— even if some of her recipes feel a little out of reach for me at this time. Her writing is comforting but be warned for my vegetarian and vegan friends…almost every recipe in here revolves around an animal of some kind.
\With a title like that, you’d expect this book to live up to a high expectation, and fortunately, I can confirm. It does. I loved how much fun I had while making some of these recipes (mostly the salads). Sure, I’ve had grilled watermelon before, but I’ve never had it in a salad…with pumpkin seeds….and mango…and white cheddar cheese? But the quintessential Grilled Watermelon Salad with Lime Mango Dressing and Cornbread Croutons was on repeat this summer (although, in a moment of transparency, I failed at the cornbread croutons). The Harlem Market Salad and the Heirloom Tomato Salad were also repeats and equally divine. I’m excited to dive back in over break to try some more of the bold dishes I’ve heard were a must-try. Specifically the Afro-Asian American Gumbo and the Roasted Japanese Eggplant with Pecan Bread Crumbs.
In Bibi’s Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers by Hawa Hassan and Julia Thurshen
Out of every book on this list, this one is my favorite. It was the first cookbook I bought when I moved into my new apartment in A2, and I immediately went to work. First off, the purpose behind this book is beautiful. It is organized by country- specifically, the 8 East African countries that kiss the Indian Ocean: bounded by the spice trade, these countries have rich histories, geographies, and cultures. And what better way to express those stories than through food? This book collects those stories through the dishes that Grandmothers from these countries continue to make in their kitchens. I’m sure that we can all agree that grandmothers anchor our identities through the recipes they keep and pass down. This book is a testament to that. That when we learn and recreate our grandmother’s food, we carry on deep legacies. Hopefully, this book not only inspires you to learn more about a breathtaking region of Africa but also inspires you to connect with your own matriarch. My favorite recipes include Sukuma Wiki (Kenya), Bolo Polana (Mozambique), Mofo Gasy (Madagascar), and Sweet Pea Soup with Coconut and Ginger (Comoros).
To Asia, With Love by Hetty McKinnon
I can’t lie, out of every book on this list, hands-down this one is the most accessible. No seriously, even if you have never touched most of the utensils in your kitchen, you’ll find this one enjoyable and approachable, and engaging. How all cookbooks should be. The vegetarian in your household will love you for these creations. My favorites were the Maple-Buttered Sweet Potato With Lentils and the Sheet Pan Chow Mein. I’ve heard the Soy Sauce Brownies are the best brownies to hit the food scene, so it’s high on my list to make this winter!
Cookbooks on My Wishlist
The more comfortable I get in the kitchen, the more I hope to branch out in the types of cuisines and techniques I’m enjoying. So if youre looking for Christmas gifts or just want some excitement in your kitchen...here are a few I’ve been peeking at from afar. If you’ve heard of any these let me know!
Pie for Everyone by Petra Paradez
“In Pie for Everyone, owner and namesake of Petee's, Petra Paredez (aka Petee) shares her personal repertoire of baking techniques that have made her pie shops, Petee’s Pie Company and Petee’s Café, New York staples. As Petee’s fans know well, great pie is all about a tender, flaky crust and perfectly balanced filling. This cookbook teaches you everything you need to know to recreate Petee’s shockingly delicious pies in your own kitchen, with easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidance. A champion of local foods, she spotlights independent farmers in profiles throughout the book, encouraging home bakers to seek out the very best ingredients.”
France The Cookbook by Ginette Mathiot
“The bible of traditional and authentic French home cooking, with over 6 million copies sold since its first publication. With more than 1,400 recipes, Mathiot guides the reader through all the classic recipes and techniques of French cooking (which provide the building blocks for so many other cuisines) with a clear and authoritative voice.”
Bread is Gold by Massimo Bottura
“Bread is Gold is the first book to take a holistic look at the subject of food waste, presenting recipes for three-course meals from 45 of the world's top chefs, including Daniel Humm, Mario Batali, René Redzepi, Alain Ducasse, Joan Roca, Enrique Olvera, Ferran & Albert Adrià and Virgilio Martínez. These recipes, which number more than 150, turn everyday ingredients into inspiring dishes that are delicious, economical, and easy to make.”
“In this collection, Meera serves up a feast of over 130 delicious recipes collected from three generations of her family: there’s everything from hot chappatis to street food, fragrant curries, to colourful side dishes and mouth-watering puddings. MADE IN INDIA will change the way you cook, eat, and think about Indian food, forever.”
“Snacking Cakes is full of one-bowl cake recipes that you can make with minimal ingredients, some simple tools (no electric mixers necessary!), and an 8x8 (or 9-inch round!) pan. There are 50 recipes, but they all sneakily have flavor and pan variations making the true count of recipes much higher than that. It’s got it all from bright citrusy cakes to rich chocolatey ones, and everything in between. There is truly something for everyone and they are the kind of cakes you can make any day of the week.”
Dishing Up the Dirt: Simple Recipes for Cooking Through the Seasons by Andrea Bemis
“Andrea Bemis, the creator of the popular farm-to-table blog Dishing Up the Dirt builds on her success with this beautiful, simple, seasonally driven cookbook, featuring more than 100 inventive and delicious whole-foods recipes and dozens of color photographs. For Andrea Bemis, who owns and runs a six-acre organic farm with her husband outside of Portland, Oregon, dinners are inspired by what is grown in the soil and picked by hand.”
Maman: The Cookbook All Day Recipes to Warm Your Heart by Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte
“ …in our highly anticipated cookbook, we share the recipes for some of our bestselling baked goods and savory dishes, alongside brand-new ones. this collection of 100 recipes covers everything from breakfast to dessert, with a common thread of warmth and family-inspired tradition tying them all together. handed down through generations, this is food that makes you feel at home. the rustic-chic charm of our cafés saturates every page and is reflected in recipes like banana-lavender cornmeal waffles with vanilla mascarpone, our number one selling “tawni salad” with farro, sweet potatoes, and feta, and the made-famous-by-oprah, nutty chocolate chip cookie.”
happy cooking! happy baking!
cover image by me