Cookbook Club

Join us for our farewell episode, where we talk about the process of making the podcast and hear from some of our listeners! Thank you all for listening for the last four years and making this such a fun project for us. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Eleven Madison Park granola ( NYT ) Baked eggs with crushed chickpeas, chorizo and herby breadcrumbs ( Dining In ) Cinnamon rolls (...

Snacks, as Sara says, are a life raft in the chaos of motherhood. Renee has a whole snack system. We have, actually, a lot to say about snacks. Join us! Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Costco high-protein granola bars That’s It fruit bars Rx bars Epic bars ( bison & cranberry ) Larabars Partake brand vanilla wafers or graham crackers Chomps Wild Zora GoMacro White bean spread...

We’ve had listener requests for Ottolenghi books over the years, and we’ve saved him for out last cookbook episode! We talk about his signature flavors, whether this book is overly simple, and whether we love it. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Gem lettuce with fridge raid dressing (page 37) Curried lentil, tomato and coconut soup (page 52) Roasted eggplant with anchovies and oregano (page 64)...

We are revisiting one of our favorite topics: meal trains! After Renee’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, we both learned so much more about meal trains. This is the best way to support people in your world with your cooking skills. Join us for some new tips and ideas. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Green smoothies ( NYT ) Seed crackers with oil-packed tuna, avocado and supremed g...

A very ambitious and comprehensive guide to pie — from crust technique to decoration to hundreds of unique and interesting flavor combinations — this book from Erin Jeanne McDowell really captured our interest. We talk about the recipes we made, and decide whether this book holds up to the promise. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Striped citrus pie Creamy lemon custard pie Peanut butter cream p...

We like veggie burgers, but have we cooked that many? Turns out, this episode sent Sara down a rabbit hole of making veggie burger recipes and they are tricky! Renee weighs in with her favorite store-bought veggie burger options and we have some clear winners to recommend. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: The Ultimate Veggie Burger ( NYT ) Black bean burgers ( NYT ) Really awesome...

My Everyday Lagos is a critically acclaimed cookbook that brings West African cuisine to western audiences. Specialty ingredients, spice mixes and unusual techniques set this book apart for us. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Bon Appetit article featuring Yewande Komolafe Mom’s Sunday chicken Omo Tunde’s spice blend Jacobsen salt tins Citrus tonic Fermented grain bowls Stewed sard...

Breakfast for dinner is a favorite weeknight hack for our families. You can take it in a hundred different directions, make it dead easy or make it fancy. Here’s our favorite recipes and hacks to make this fun meal! Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Multigrain pancake ( Super Natural Every Day ) Sour cream pancakes with roasted blueberries ( Small Victories ) Almond flour pancakes (...

This book is our first foray into the Chrissy Tiegen food universe, and it was a surprise to us — Renee enjoys Chrissy’s sense of humor and family-friendly dishes, Sara loves some of the fun treats and umami hacks. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Peanut butter and potato chip seven-layer bars (page 238) Two-berry crumble with HBO crumble (page 22) Orange chicken fried chicken sandwiches (page 1...

We deeply love the magic that happens when you combine whipped egg whites with sugar. Join us as we fall down the rabbit hole of meringue treats, including one of our favorites, the pavlova. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Salted lemon cream pie ( Sweet Enough ) Vanilla meringues ( NYT ) Marshmallowy meringues ( Salt Fat Acid Heat ) Strawberry pavlova ( NYT ) Cookies-and-cream pav...

This cookbook brings the unique perspective of an entire family — a collaboration between parents and young adult children with personal stories, family history and some delicious Chinese recipes. Renee went for some weeknight-friendly easier recipes and Sara took on a big baking project. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Cantonese steamed fish (page 211) Mapo tofu (page 250) Chili oil wontons (p...

We’ve talked about pasta recently, but in this episode, we dig into noodles. From noodle soups to a range of Asian noodle dishes, we talk about the delicious things we like to make. Just try to listen to this on without your mouth watering. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: The Kitchn guide to Chinese noodles Vietnamese rice noodle salad bowl ( Vietnamese Food Any Day ) Ever-Green V...

Lidey Heuck’s recipes are classic — maybe to a fault? For Sara, this book has been a weeknight workhorse, and Renee loves the inventive flavor combinations. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Blueberry muffin sugar cookies (page 108) Honey-roasted cashews with a kick (page 33) Baked crap dip with sweet corn and Old Bay (page 41) Coconut creamed corn (page 182) Kale salad with gouda, honeycrisp &am...

We love pie! In this episode, we dig in to savory pies that run a wide gamut of influences and flavors. Sara talks about the tamale pie of her youth, Renee used her precious postpartum support time to make a steak & mushroom pie, and we deem pies perfectly worthy of dinner. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Tamale pie ( Simply Julia ) Kale and mushroom pot pie (Simply Julia) Pas...

This memoir with recipes is an unusual cookbook — it follows the year after the folding of Gourmet magazine, when Ruth Reichl was left reeling and found her way through that transition through cooking and food. We talk about the wide variety of recipes, mixture of prose and recipes, and whether we liked the things we made from this book. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Khao man gai Borscht sala...

After the hemorrhage of the holiday season, we are ready to get back to simple cooking in the evenings, with a budget-friendly spin. We focus on cleaning out the freezer/pantry, maximizing protein and using our yummiest budget-friendly recipes. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: White bean dip ( Super Natural Every Day ) Lentil soup dip ( Simply Julia ) The Everlasting Meal , by Tama...

This cookbook from Martha Stewart alum Jess Damuck rides high on crunchy California hippie vibes. Whole wheat baked goods (yikes), smoothies and salads rule this book, which we liked and disliked in almost equal measure. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Tuna, Avocado and Grapefruit with Seed Crackers (page 129) Test Kitchen turmeric tonic (page 74) Morning glory muffins (page 50) Morning glory m...

By listener request, some ideas for gifts for yourself or the other cooks and foodies in your life. We discuss the best gift exchange gifts we’ve received, thrifting for treasures and buying more than one of your favorite spatula. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: SNL: Christmas morning ( YouTube ) Strawberry huller ( Amazon ) Renee’s Amazon storefront Mason jar juicer lid ( Amazon...

Discovered by Renee at Book Larder in Seattle, this book is a baking book celebrating flavors and treats from Denmark, Norway & Sweden. We both loved creating these treats that were outside the normal things we bake — a perfect book for the baking season! Recipes mentioned in this episode: The Life-Changing Loaf of Bread (My New Roots) Sprouted rye bread (page 198) Cardamom-scented apple and p...

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...

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 eg...

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 ) Fett...

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...

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 Kasb...

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...