Comfort in Cookbooks

 For the last few weeks, I have been spending a little less time online and a little more time fluffing up my ‘nest’.  I have cleaned out cupboards and closets, painted our family room, moved around artwork and home decor, and started to prepare our home for the cozy season ahead.  My pantry feels stocked, the warm blankets have been taken out and I am ready to cook comforting and nourishing meals.

I always love a little cookbook inspiration and noticed a bit of a theme in the last four books I have purchased.  I think my need to slow down and find comfort is reflected in each of these beautiful books.

Clockwise from top left: French Country Cooking by Mimi Thorisson,  New World Sourdough by Bryan Ford, Art of the Pie by Kate McDermott and The Prairie Homestead Cookbook by Jill Winger. 

My cookbook collection is large and so when I purchase a new one, I am quite selective about it.  It has to either be filled with useful recipes that I would enjoy making and eating, or be a beautiful book that inspires me with lush photos and writing. All four of these books fulfill those requirements in some way.  Here is my take on each one:

French Country Cooking:  This is an absolutely beautiful book, cover to cover.  It could easily stay on my coffee table and offers endless inspiration.  The photos are stunning and give you a glimpse into a historical home in a French Village, a family that values simplicity and gathering around the table, and of course, beautiful tableware and food.  I expected this to be mostly a book for inspiration, but was pleasantly surprised that most of the recipes are ones I would make for my family.  I’ve marked the Old-Fashioned Orange Cake, Everyday Pear Cake, Simple Vegetable Potage and Old Fashioned Summer Veal Roast to try first.


New World Sourdough:  this is my most recent purchase and the one I have spent the least amount of time looking at so far.  But as someone who recently dove into the world of sourdough starter and bread making, I think it is an excellent reference book to add to my collection.  It has all the basic information to make and keep a starter, but  is also filled with simple, step by step instructions and more complex recipes to use your sourdough starter.  I think it will be living on my kitchen counter through the colder months while I experiment with bread making.  I’ve got English Muffins, Chocolate Pan de Coco, Tortillas and Pizza Dough on my list to try.


Art of the Pie:  I purchased this one solely on the recommendation from my friend Christina at Chelsea Yarns and I do not regret it one bit.  It is a wonderful book for pie reference and inspiration, and although I don’t particularly like making pies, I do love eating them.  I am hoping it will inspire me to experiment more in pie making.  There are informative chapters on ingredients, methods, how to make pie dough and tools to use.  I feel like this one book could be everything you need on the subject of pie.  I am hoping to master pie dough, make hand pies and try many other recipes in this book through the seasons.


The Prairie Homestead Cookbook:  this one may be my favourite book of all four.  It has everything I love in a cookbook.  It is filled with delicious and interesting family recipes... not too complicated but also not boring.  There are recipes and tips for basics like baking bread and flour tortillas and there are so many dinner ideas with a slight spin on them.  Dinner is something I am always trying to keep interesting and this book is filled with great options. It is going to be used a lot and has earned a space in my kitchen on the bakers rack.  I am planning on making the Apple Cinnamon Puff Pancake, Chicken Stroganoff, Sticky Honey Chicken, Steak Bites with Mushrooms, Ham and Cheese Pockets and so many more I can’t even list them all.  I would very highly recommend this one.


I will never be a minimalist, but I am trying to be more mindful of my purchases and how much I am keeping in my home.  I did a very big clean out of my cookbooks this summer, and although it was difficult, I gave a few to my sisters and donated quite a few more.  I have no regrets with any of these four cookbooks and would recommend all of them.

Comments

  1. Love your cookbook collection, Sandy, and love that you share with us ❤️ Joanne

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    1. Thank you, cookbooks really bring me so much enjoyment.

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  2. So glad to see you back in this format! And thanks again for the cookbook recommendations! I have the Prairie Homestead one and have bought a few others you recommended in the past. I think my all time favorite is No Crumbs Left one! I have found that making pie crust is easier in cooler weather and the dough needs to be chilled - also, the simpler the dough recipe the better! I failed on my first sourdough starter, but you are inspiring me to try again! Looking forward to future blogs!

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    1. I think my starter worked out well, but I am not liking the schedules involved in baking bread. It is really hard to keep track of and I'm a little tempted to give it up.
      I'm glad you like some of the cookbooks I've mentioned. The Prairie Homestead is a really good one!

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  3. I had over 150 cookbooks and set a goal to reduce my collection by half this year. Man is it hard to part with them. I've purged over 50 and think that might be as far as I'll get for now. It helped that I was able to gift some of the special ones to a very appreciative recipient. Like you I'm trying to be very selective on what books I acquire - going to be difficult this fall because there looks to be a good crop of new books coming out. One that I have bought with no regrets is the Skinny Taste Meal Prep Cookbook.

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    1. I got rid of as many as possible this summer and it was difficult! I just got the new Skinny Taste one and can't wait to try some of the recipes.

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  4. I’m always interested in seeing what you are cooking and baking. I appreciated your review of the cookbooks, and intend on trying some of them.

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  5. I’m always interested in seeing what you are cooking and baking. I appreciated your review of the cookbooks, and intend on trying some of them.

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    1. Thanks, I hope you find one (or more) that you like.

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  6. I always love, love, love it when you talk about cookbooks. I have a ton, but have gotten rid of quite a few over the years...I "try" to hang onto those that I go back to over and over. I am going to check out The Prairie Homestead one you mentioned - it looks like stuff we would eat. And yes, I hear you with dinner. I have a 10 year old boy who pretty much only likes basic stuff, but I am trying hard to mix in new things - to, at least, get him to try them. Sigh. I know he won't eat like this forever, but I love to cook and it is hard when he only really wants tacos, hamburgers, tuna and tater tots. Thankfully my husband pretty much eats anything.

    OK! Over and out for now - nice to see you here and I am looking forward to reading your posts!

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    1. I hear you on pleasing everyone. My boys are pretty adventurous but I do wish they would eat more soup. :)

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  7. What a great cookbook collection. I borrowed a few cookbooks from my local library that you have recommended on previous podcasts while in lockdown in Melbourne, Australia and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I even decided to purchase one, I loved it so much. Thank you for the inspiration. I absolutely love cooking and sharing the love of food with my family. I also love knitting too ;) .
    We also have some amazing ladies in Sydney, Australia who call themselves the Monday Morning Cooking Club. They have wonderful cookbooks curated with recipes from local and global friends and networks from their Jewish community and heritage. You should totally check them out. They are on insta and they are just launching their newest book 'Now for something Sweet' into the USA and Canada. They have live zoom cook-a-longs to join in with too.. I don't know them personally or am affiliated, just wanted to share with you as you may be interested. It's more than just the cooking, it's the stories, the love and the shared experience that makes food so much fun and a joy to nuture your family with.

    Thanks for your creative heart - I enjoy listening/watching your podcasts.

    Amy

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