10 delightful cookbooks for reading, cooking, and gifting

Still We Rise: A Love Letter to the Southern Biscuit with Over 70 Sweet and Savory Recipes

by Erika Council

There’s never a bad time for a biscuit, especially ones as luscious and mouth watering as these. Erika Council, head baker at Bomb Biscuit Company in Atlanta, Georgia, crafted a cookbook that is equal parts ode to the Southern biscuit and Black food history. The recipes are a mix of traditional and inventive and include spreads and sandwiches.

Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over

by Alison Roman

A great option for the holiday season. I happily did a deep dive of Alison Roman's cookbooks this past fall; Nothing Fancy is my favorite of the bunch. Whether you’re having one person over or a whole crew, Roman offers recipes and tips to make it all doable, instead of a stress fest.

Vegetable Kingdom

by Bryant Terry

Vegetable Kingdom is a sophisticated-looking cookbook, written in a delightfully snarky voice—and the photos are absolutely gorgeous. You can’t underestimate the joy of flipping through a beautifully photographed, drool-worthy cookbook, especially after you've unwrapped it as a gift. W. Kamau Bell says it best, "Bryant Terry goes hard at vegetables with a hip-hop eye and a Southern grandmama’s nature. To paraphrase Maya Angelou, Bryant wants us to know that once we know vegetables better, we will cook vegetables better.”

Salty: Lessons on Eating, Drinking, and Living from Revolutionary Women

by Alissa Wilkinson

Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Community Manager Ginger Horton put this nonfiction collection of cocktail party length stories on my radar. This feels like a series of the author chats that we do over in Book Club all the time. Ginger described this as the book form of that question: "Who would you invite to your imaginary dinner party?" That's almost what Alissa Wilkinson is answering in this collection and her guest list is exquisite. The subtitle's reference to "revolutionary women" includes names I expected to find, like Laurie Colwin, but also so many others—Edna Lewis, Hannah Arendt, Alice B. Toklas, Maya Angelou, and many more mentions besides as these women rub shoulders with all kinds of people in their places and times. I was especially not expecting to see Octavia Butler. If a small and short deep dive is possible, that's what she's doing in these pages. There's a recipe at the end of each chapter that's indicative of each woman's life and work. What she's talking about here is how she says these are women with strong opinions, but also generous hearts and who make strong arguments because they believe in them, but always do it with grace. I felt like I was in such good hands at her dinner table. I have to warn you slash encourage you that you could cobble together quite the reading list from the suggestions in these pages if you wanted to. It feels like the best kinds of literary conversations.

Cook This Book: Techniques That Teach and Recipes to Repeat

by Molly Baz

Former senior food editor at Bon Appétit magazine Molly Baz created a foundational cookbook to help everyone become more proficient in the kitchen. The recipes are a combination of low effort and big flavor, which is sure to help anyone feel more confident about their cooking skills. In addition to the recipes, Baz encourages home cooks to improvise and make dishes your own. This includes an interactive component via QR codes, which will take you to videos where Molly demonstrates various skills.

Let’s Eat: 101 Recipes to Fill Your Heart & Home

by Dan Pelosi

The first cookbook from Dan Pelosi, the Instagram star behind GrossyPelosi, is the equivalent of a warm hug. His favorite Italian American recipes are paired with heart-warming and often hilarious memories of Dan’s family and how he learned to cook. Recommended by team member Brigid.

Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds

by Hetty Lui McKinnon

Vegetables and heritage are intertwined in this beautiful vegetarian cookbook. McKinnon learned to appreciate vegetables from a young age. She grew up in Australia as a Chinese immigrant where her father sold bananas at a local market and would bring home scores of produce. Her recipes concentrate on 22 essential fruits and vegetables, focusing on how to bring out their flavor and let them shine in each dish. Plus, how cute is that cover?!

Home Is Where the Eggs Are

by Molly Yeh

I've enjoyed Food Network star Molly Yeh’s recipes ever since Patreon Community Manager Sara put her on my radar! This cookbook is all about cozy, comfort, perfect for busy families. With flavors drawing on her Chinese and Jewish heritage and her husband’s Scandinavian heritage, the recipes focus on seasonal ingredients, flavorful spices, and an emphasis on being easy to prep and make. Yeh’s enthusiasm and candor makes her feel like a friend giving you the best kitchen advice you’ll ever receive. Her first cookbook Molly on the Range: Recipes and Stories from An Unlikely Life on a Farm is also worth picking up.

The Cook’s Book: Recipes for Keeps & Essential Techniques to Master Everyday Cooking

by Bri McKoy

Bri McKoy has been helping people build confidence in their cooking skills for years. An accidental home cook with many kitchen mishaps behind her, she knows what it’s like to not understand how to read a recipe or what a “pinch of” seasoning means. This is the cookbook she wished she had back then but there’s still plenty for established cooks to glean. Each recipe builds on itself by teaching a technique or skill. By the end, you’ll know exactly what you need in order to create a delicious meal. This would make an excellent gift. (Don’t miss my conversation with Bri on WSIRN #397: The ingredients for a favorite read.)

Snacking Bakes: Simple Recipes for Cookies, Bars, Brownies, Cakes, and More

by Yossy Arefi

If “only one bowl” is your calling card, this is the dessert cookbook for you! Baker Arefi makes it easy to indulge your sweet tooth with these easy to bake recipes—most can be made with the aforementioned one bowl, in less than an hour, no fancy ingredients or equipment required. This is a great companion to Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings.

10 delightful cookbooks for reading, cooking, and gifting

The MMD Summer Reading Guide

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summer reading starts May 16th