Cookbook Club, May 2021
Oh my gosh – hi friends! How the heck are you this May bank holiday? I had a very luxurious lie in this morning, and looking out at the rain, I think it’s safe to say we’re staying in for the day. I’m stopping in here today not to share a recipe, but to share a new segment to the blog: Cookbook Club! This is something that I’ve wanted to introduce to the blog for years, and I’m so excited to finally do it! More details below, but basically: I’m going to choose a couple books from my collection and cook/bake my way through them for a month. And here’s the thing – I want you to join me! I want us to share our recipes and thoughts and results. What do you think? I’m so excited!
The Plan
I’m so excited to get stuck in! Here’s how I was thinking things could work out:
• every month, we’re going to choose two or three different cookbooks from our collection. This will be done randomly, with the exception of glaringly obvious seasonal cookbooks.
• cookbook club posts will be shared on the first and last Wednesday or Sunday of each month – whichever comes first/last.
• the first post, shared at the start of the month, will identify the chosen cookbooks. I’ll also use these posts to link to the author’s website/blog etc. Where possible, I’ll try to link to their recipes so you can bake along too!
• the second post, shared at the end of the month, will recap what we made from which book, and also feature my favourite recipe of the bunch. I’ll try to link to as many of the recipes as possible in case you’d like to find them.
• I would loooove for you to join me in Cookbook Club! Maybe you have one of the chosen cookbooks at home, or you might be able to borrow it from your local library, or simply find the recipes online. I’ll be posting about the journey on my Instagram stories throughout the month, and I’d love to hear from you as I do.
That’s all there is to it! So, shall we do it? Our very first Cookbook Club choices below!
Cookbook Club, May 2021
Back Pocket Pasta by Colu Henry
Back Pocket Pasta is one of my favourite cookbooks, and I use it at least once a week. It somehow makes pasta less boring and more exciting, and I love the way every single recipe can be whipped up without too much hassle. I’ve already made a lot of recipes from the book, but I’m going to push myself to try some new-to-me ones. And I also have my eye on Colu’s Hudson Spritz – just for the purposes of research, of course.
More information: Colu’s website / Colu’s NYT Cooking Column / Back Pocket Pasta Cookbook
How to be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson
I just adore Nigella, no matter how she pronounces microwave. This is the very first cookbook Boyfriend ever gifted me, and it’s one that I had lusted after for a long time beforehand. It’s a vintage Nigella – her second ever book – but it’s still golden. I’m sad to admit that over the years I’ve only ever made a small handful of dishes from this book – but that’s about to change, I swear!
More information: Nigella’s website / Nigella for The Guardian / Nigella on BBC Food / How to be a Domestic Goddess Cookbook.
Los Angeles Cult Recipes by Victor Garnier Astorino
As documented here, I’m a big fan of the Cult Recipes book series. LA is a city I’ve only ever dreamed of visiting, but this book makes me feel like I’ve been there. I’ve made a couple recipes before – In-N-Out Double Cheeseburgers! – but I’m excited to dive deeper into the dessert section.
More information: Victor’s Instagram / Victor’s restaurant, Blend / Los Angeles Cult Recipes Cookbook.
There we have it – our first ever Cookbook Club post! I hope you join in, and I hope you find a recipe that you love.
Happy cooking/baking! xo