The Sassy Squid

Note: I received a digital advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been so excited to write my review of this cookbook in advance of its publication this week. It is everything I would have wanted in a cookbook as a kid. It's fun, eye-catching, delicious, and gourmet. It demystifies cooking for newbies but doesn't talk down to them. And for someone who is relatively new to cooking (as in I didn't learn how to cook until the end of college), there were quite a few recipes in here that I bookmarked to make myself, even though I'm not a kid!

It's clear from even a cursory glimpse of this book that Carolyn Federman knows how to select, adapt, and write recipes for kids. There's sweet potato fries and chocolate lava cakes. But there's also things a lot of kids might not have tried before, like hummus and pesto. The pesto, by the way, is presented in a slightly more grown-up grilled cheese, with mozzarella and actual chiffonade of basil. Yum! Not only are the recipes things that kids would actually eat, but they're also relatively nutritious too. They're definitely not the gut-buster, grease bombs that kid's meals usually are.

Note: I received a digital advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Little known secret--I'm from the South! And even though I may have spent my formative years in New England, I sometimes like to whip out the southern card whenever I'm feeling proud of my roots. Amy Hannon's beautiful cookbook made me come out hootin' and hollerin' for my home state. She set out to create a cookbook that not only celebrates southern recipes, but also captures the essence of the south--hospitality, warmth, and community. As a preacher's wife, she knows a good deal about all three, and it is evident in the recipes and stories she shares.

The recipes range from appetizers and mains designed to please a crowd to comforting casseroles to decadent desserts. There are southern classics, like Hannon's signature shrimp and grits to chicken and dumplings, made the real southern way, with the kind of dumplings rolled out like thick pasta. This was my personal favorite dish growing up so it was especially exciting to see a recipe for this. She also puts her unique spin on classic dishes such as iceberg salad, which she dresses with a homemade herbed ranch and garnishes with marinated tomatoes for added flavor. She's also inspired by memorable restaurant dishes, which she whips out replicas of at home, something I found very relatable.

Note: I received a digital advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I once lived with a roommate whose diet consisted almost entirely of veggie burgers (if she happens to be reading this: Hi, Rachel!). Being firmly in the pro-meat camp, I thought this was crazy. However, I now think she was onto something. I've made my own veggie burgers from scratch, and they are delicious (also very low in fat). I could easily eat them every day.

I would never have thought of writing an entire cookbook on veggie burgers, but now that I've read Veggie Burger Atelier, I'm fully convinced of its necessity. Never mind the silly name and its diminutive size. It is packed with recipes. There are recipes for everything, from the patty itself, to the buns, condiments, and even sides. There are 6-7 different types of burger per chapter, with each chapter representing flavors from a different region of the world. Before every recipe, there is a little blurb from Olsson herself that conjures up some of the flavors and textures that can be expected from each recipe. Olsson quickly establishes herself as not only a veggie burger guru, but also someone with global and far-reaching tastes.