Starting a Cookbook Club is easy, here’s how we did it…
Once a month we get together and everyone brings a dish to share from the book we chose the meeting before.
Alternatively, you can all cook the dishes together that night but we found it takes too long and becomes a little hectic in the kitchen. When you show up with the dishes prepared, this gives you and your friends more time to discuss the recipes together.
I’m from the south, I love comfort food and…. I have the palate of a 5 year old. I am the opposite of a “foodie”. I go to restaurants for the decor and ambiance, not really for the food. I eat the same five things over and over and I sprinkle that with loads of sweets because my sweet tooth is definitely bigger than yours.
As you can imagine, this type of preferred diet is not exactly conducive to healthy living so I have to compromise and these books below have helped me avoid diabetes and keep my children and husband alive.
Talk about ruts! Try making lunches for kids for years and years and years. My poor children… I could eat the same thing every day until I die and not be very affected and that has a trickle down effect.
One day, I thought to myself, they should probably eat something other than Pirate’s Booty and Peanut Butter.
A client of mine suggested “Weelicious” and I’ve been very pleased ever since. They have a website which is a great resource, but this book has come in so handy when it comes to getting crafty (but not too crafty) in the kitchen with kids.
Two thumbs way up. Your kids can thank me later.
I know I already said my disclaimer, but coming from the south, having just a kale salad or a bite of ahi just doesn’t cut the mustard in my house.
If I’m going to go through the effort of mixing ingredients and turning on the oven, it better be for a darn good tasty reason.
This book is full of those reasons, first of which being the macaroni and cheese recipe. I successfully made this twice at Thanksgiving last year and my family and dinner club friends can attest to the fact that this macaroni is a game changer. (More on dinner club here.. a cousin to the cookbook club)
What to Cook and How to Cook It
This cookbook has a little bit of a story. When I first started dating my husband, it became clear to me that for some reason in nature, when you’re in love, you feel an incessant need to feed a man. The desire is equal on the part of the man, where they have an instinctual desire to be fed.
This posed a problem because my skill level in the kitchen was that of my son’s, a three year old at the time.
So, I ponied up to Williams Sonoma and signed us up for a cooking class for our first Valentine’s Day.
Inside the sleeve of this cookbook is a sweet little love note where I probably vowed to feed Kyle as best I could but never quite lived up to that dream especially because he lost the gift card to the cooking class almost immediately upon receipt. So, I’ll blame him for my lack of progress in the kitchen.
Anywho… this cookbook is awesome because the cover is great and that is really important. It’s also likable because it shows photos of step by step instructions, so for an ignoramus like me in the kitchen, this is VERY helpful.
I first became obsessed with Gina through her website– Her endless recipes are not only mouthwatering, but also completely manageable for the working woman! With a section dedicated alone to recipes “Under 30 Minutes” I was immediately hooked. Her book is known for being “light on calories, big on flavor” and I can attest to it being just that. This is by far my favorite cookbook that I have ever tried- Every recipe that I have tackled been easy and delicious. Must-Try Recipe: The Skinny Chicken Enchiladas Note: I also love following her on Snapchat @skinnytaste!
Bride and Groom First and Forever Cookbook
As cheesy as this book may seem by the title alone, it’s actually a great cookbook and gift for newlyweds. From preparing for a dinner party to showing the ordinary problems of carving a turkey, this book covers all of essential information you need to begin cooking in your new home. With 125 recipes, it is easy to find something to make for every occasion. I love that that book begins with the basic recipes that every cook should have at his/her fingertips- like marina sauce and salad dressing! These are the types of fundamentals that aren’t typically covered in most cookbooks, but essential to master the art.
If you have never been to Zuni Cafe, next time you are in San Fran you must go.
Upon arriving to the restaurant every Zuni Cafe local knows that the minute you sit down you must put in your order for their “Roasted Chicken for Two with Warm Tuscan-Style Bread Salad” (approximately 30 minutes to make), then, of course, immediately following, you order the Bandol Rosé. After you have their chicken, I’m certain you will be buying Judy’s cookbook to make the dish yourself as well- or at least attempt to…
What do you think about a Cookbook Club? Would you participate in one?
Share with us your favorite cookbooks below..
