It’s that time again! The super bowl of the cook’s calendar. We talk about not making it a one-woman show, our plans for Thanksgiving this year and strategies for keeping it together during this food and family-filled holiday. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Cranberry curd tart (NYT) Mango pie (NYT) Vegan mushroom gravy (NYT) Carrot pie (Six Seasons) French onion stuffing (NYT) Pecan pie bites with gravy (NYT) Jennie’s Chicken Pelau (Small Victories) Chicken and black-eyed...

Instagram sensation turned cookbook author Dan Pelosi gave us a gem of a cookbook filled with comfort food, family and fun here. Sara is obsessed with the breakfast mushrooms and eggs, Renee isn’t sure whether these recipes are that great, but we love how Dan brings his whole personality to the book. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Grossy’s vodka sawce (page 193) Spinach & mushroom baked eggs (page 60) Mushroom bolognese (page 190) Vegan mushroom gravy (NYT) Roasted fennel,...

A weeknight savior, a delicious favorite for kids and adults alike, and yet we made it to episode 79 before we had an episode about it?! We’re getting to it, thanks to a great listener request. Join us to talk about delicious pasta. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Spaghetti with garlicky bread crumbs and anchovies (NYT) Bacon & egg spaghetti, with greens & herbs (Dinner in One) Fettucine alfredo (Cook for Love) Pasta with garlicky broccoli raab (Dinner in One) Creamy...

This James Beard-award winning cookbook features a collaboration between Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen, and tells the stories of many women across eight African countries. We love the storytelling aspect of this book. Will we keep it on our shelves? Recipes mentioned in this episode: Digaag Qumbe (page 73) Xawaash spice mix (page 74) Somali beef stew (page 93) Ma Gehennet’s Shiro (page 45) Berbere spice mix (page 50) Ma Kauthar’s Mango chile sauce (page 116) Date bread (page...

The kids are back in school, and you need to get yourself fed during the day. Join us for some strategies for weekday lunches, whether you are at home or in the office. Renee works from home, Sara often works from her car, and we offer solutions for every situation in-between. Cookbooks mentioned in this episode: That Cheese Plate will Change Your Life, by Marissa Mullen Vegan boards, by Kate Kasbee It’s All Easy, by Gwyneth Paltrow Resources mentioned in this episode: Planetbox...

Ali Slagle wrote our dream weeknight cookbook in “I Dream of Dinner.” We talk about Ali Slagle’s camper van adventures and the flexibility in these recipes while we celebrate bringing the podcast back after Renee’s cancer treatment! Recipes mentioned in this episode: Shrimp cocktail for dinner (page 365) Gochujang gravy (page 337) Smoky white beans and cauliflower (page 82) Marbella chicken salad (page 277) Ricotta frittata with lemon crumbs (page 32) Sesame chicken meatballs...

Rick Martinez brings his warm, fun and exuberant personality to this collection of Mexican cuisine from different regions of Mexico. We love the color and texture throughout this book and talk about one of the yummiest meals we’ve shared together. Somebody book us a trip to sunny Mexico! Recipes mentioned in this episode: Enchiladas mineras (page 74) Aguachile (page 242) Gaspacho moreliano (page 90) Arroz blanco con mantequilla (page 50) Pozole verde, estilo Guerrero (page 116) ...

Pie is wonderful. Dessert pie is the best. And it makes us feel downright patriotic. Join us as we geek out on crust, fillings and baking techniques in this episode all about pie. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Tart and pie dough (The Art of Simple Food) All butter crust (America’s Test Kitchen) The only pie crust (Alison Roman) Lime pie with Anzac biscuit crust (Family) Carrot pie (Six Seasons) David Liebovitz’s salted honey pie (Grains for Every Season) Banana cream pie...

Bryant Terry is a visionary in the vegan cooking world, and we tried out this well-known cookbook. We talk about nesting doll recipes, brilliant vegan flavor boosters and decide whether this book could ever work on a weeknight. (And yes, we know we sound a little breathy in the audio on this episode, we’re working on it!) Recipes mentioned in this episode: All-green everything salad with creamy sage dressing (page 148) Cornbread muffins (page 37) Dill pickled fennel (page 44) Red...

We love to bake — so today, we talk about some favorite recipes for these easy go-to bakes. Sara won a prize for quickbread at the Oregon State Fair, Emily brings us tips on making these treats gluten free, and Renee, as always, loves Melissa Clark. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Carrot loaf cake with tangy lemon glaze (NYT) Banana bread (Weeknight Baking) Spiced banana brown bread (Now & Again) Gluten free zucchini muffins (Sprouted Kitchen) Pumpkin bread (Smitten...

This book grabbed Renee’s eye over the summer when she was traveling in the UK, so she brought it back and we dove in to this ingredient-focused, easy weeknight book from our neighbor across the pond. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Persian saffron chicken, fennel & barberry stew (Persiana) Harissa & lemon roasted chicken thighs (page 80) Bloody Mary spatchcocked chicken (page 58) Butternut, cardamom & tahini soup (page 27) Tahini cinnamon swirls (page 222) ...

There are very many things you can put on buns. Make your own buns, buy some at the grocery store, make a thing on a bun! We give you a whole list of ideas you can use for a meal on a bun! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Beautiful burger buns (King Arthur Flour) English muffins (King Arthur Flour) Crispy oven pulled pork (Smitten Kitchen Keepers) Turkey burgers (Food Health & Happiness) The ultimate veggie burger (NYT) Jamie Oliver’s vegetarian black bean burger (NYT) ...

Season three of our podcast and we’re finally cooking from the Barefoot Contessa! We talk about our fabulous cookbook club dinner, and whether we like cooking Ina Garten’s classic, entertaining-friendly recipes. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Warm spinach & artichoke dip Ultimate bloody marys Green salad vinaigrette Creamy tomato bisque Split pea soup with crispy kielbasa Charred carrots with orange and balsamic Baked rigatoni with lamb ragu Brussels sprouts pizza...

We make a lot of cakes! In this episode, we weigh the pros and cons of cake mixes vs. homemade cakes, kid cakes vs. adult cakes and talk about decorations and give you some of our best birthday cake strategies. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Pineapple upside down cake (Snacking Cakes) Strawberry summer cake (Smitten Kitchen) Devil’s food with salted milk chocolate frosting (Smitten Kitchen Keepers) Chocolate Midnight cake (Salt Fat Acid Heat) Toasted coconut cake (Now &...

One of the most famous cookbooks of all time, Mastering the Art of French Cooking was a revelation at the time, bringing French cuisine to American cooks. This huge collection of recipes is a little intimidating — but in this episode, we break it down to share the things we’ve made and loved along the way. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Pissaladière niçoise (Vol 1, page 151) Salade niçoise (Vol 1, page 542) Eggs En Gelee (Vol 1, page 547) Meringue-nut layer cake with...

We are coming off the holidays, entering a new year, battling winter weather and sitting down to share how cooking is going in our homes these days. Freezer clean-outs, fresh new year recipes and more! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Indecision grilled chicken (Small Victories) Shepherd’s pie with a sweet potato crust (Whole30) Roasted red pepper sauce (Whole30) Roasted pork shoulder with butternut squash and tomatoes (Whole30) Cinnamon rolls (NYT) Bacon and egg spaghetti...

We loved Andrea Nguyen’s first book, “Vietnamese Food Any Day.” How does her new release stack up for us? Renee and Sara talk about building block recipes, too-long-descriptions, eating cake until our stomachs hurt and more. Recipes mentioned in this episode: 10-10-10 Perfect Rice (page 65) Umami tofu crumbles (page 50) Nuoc Cham dipping sauce (page 32) Fast-fried shallots (page 46) Chicken-vegetable pho (page 161) Pressure cooker beef pho (NYT) Char siu pulled jackfruit (page...

The holidays are over and weeknight cooking is back. If you’re like us, maybe you’re feeling a little overwhelmed and worn out on it — in that case, tune in for some easy weeknight dinner inspiration to get your dinner mojo back. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Shakshuka (Dinner in an Instant) Shakshuka (Dinner in One) Green shakshuka with avocado and lime (NYT) Rao’s meatballs (NYT) Pasta alla Gricia (NYT) Curried chicken with cauliflower, apricots and olives (Sheet Pan...

This week we’re coming back for more Deb Perelman with her newest book, Smitten Kitchen Keepers. Are they keepers? How do we like these compared to her other books? Tune in to find out. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Devil’s food cake with salted milk chocolate frosting (page 267) Luxe s’mores bars (page 235) Carrot cake with brown butter and no clutter (page 263) The blondie chipwich (page 237) Tomatoes with cottage cheese and bagel seeds (page 32) Blueberry pancake cobbler...

Have you ever made a babka? We tried a number of recipes for this enriched-dough bread with a ribbon of flavor, and we came up with very mixed results. Listen in on to see what we baked and our favorite babka recipe! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Babka (America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book) Cinnamon babka (Claire Saffitz, NYT) Savory babka with ricotta and herbs (Melissa Clark, NYT) Better chocolate babka (Smitten Kitchen) Chocolate babka (Melissa Clark, NYT) Sprinkle...

Inspired by a classic Pacific Northwest bakery, this book tells us how to make those beloved treats at home. This week we talk about the bakery and the cookbook, and which recipes we enjoy (or maybe not so much!) Recipes mentioned in this episode: Grand Central Bakery jammers (page 22) Pecan sticky buns (page 46) Rough puff pastry (page 176) Tarte tatin (page 194) Dutch babies (page 39) Artisan pizza (page 111) Ben’s pan pizza (page 113) Blueberry muffins (page 27) ...

It’s not a cookbook, but the New York Times Cooking section is a huge source of recipes for both of us. In this episode, we break down some favorites for fall and Thanksgiving. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Pumpkin maple muffins (Alison Roman) Pumpkin crumb cake (Yossy Arefi) No-bake pumpkin cheesecake (Yossy Arefi) Pumpkin bundt cake with maple brown-butter glaze (Yossy Arefi) Red wine pear cardamom cake (Melissa Clark) Pumpkin-butterscotch with spiced whipped cream...

We dig in to Freddy Bitsoie’s ode to Indigenous cuisine and ingredients on this episode, with a recap of a delicious meal we shared together with our in-person Cookbook Club. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Hominy with bacon bits (page 76) Alaskan King Salmon with crushed pecans (page 226) Spice-rubbed pork tenderloin (page 214) Chocolate bison chili (page 160) Three sisters salad with shallot vinaigrette (page 90) Red potato soup (page 50) Pumpkin bread pudding (page...

Cooking is one thing, but it takes a whole lot of logistics to plan, shop, organize and keep track of the groceries, recipes and cookbooks in our kitchens. Today we’re joined by Kirsten Collins to chat about how we organize our kitchens and our deeply personal ways of organizing cookbooks. Resources mentioned in this episode: ⁠Google Calendar Reminders app Eat Your Books Our Groceries app Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, ⁠@cookbookclubshow⁠ E-mail us:...