December 2018 Cookbooks

Red Truck Bakery by Brian Noyes

I wasn't familiar with Red Truck Bakery in Virginia before I checked this book out. But now after reading their story and seeing these recipes if I'm ever in the area I will definitely check it out. Brian Noyes worked in the publishing industry, but always enjoyed baking on the side. Deciding to get away from the DC area, he and his partner purchased a farm in Virginia and he stared making jams and jellies to sell in the area, soon he expanded to baked good and Red Truck Bakery took off. Surviving the Great Recession, they continue on today with two physical locations in Virginia. The recipes look amazing and I really like that he includes both savory and sweet recipes. There are definitely plenty I want to try myself.

Cooking With Scraps by Lindsay-Jean Hard

While I love the idea of cooking with food scraps and not letting food go to waste, I just never see many recipes I want to try. As a gardener I also compost (which she does discuss in this book), so I don't feel like I'm wasting food scraps when I am turning them into soil for my garden. There are some good ideas in here and I like that she encourages readers to change things or tweak recipes for their own taste.

Gourmet Cooking for One or Two by April Anderson

In my house it's just my husband and myself, which is why I decided to check out this cookbook. But, I really like having leftovers to take to work for lunch or to have on hand so I don't have to cook every night. I do think this could be a way to try out a new recipe and not waste so much food if you don't like it or it doesn't turn out. Overall, I guess I prefer to cook "normal" recipes and use the leftovers. But, there are a few new recipes in here that I would like to try and I think many people would appreciate the small soup and chili recipes.

Southern Snacks by Perre Coleman Magness

I love Southern food, so what could be better than a cookbook of nothing but Southern Snacks?! The author breaks down the snacks into categories like dips and spreads, cheese, please, deep-fried love, and the garden path. It looked like there were lots of great recipes and there were also sidebars between some of the recipes with info on Southern things like ro-tel, tailgating, and Mardi Gras and how these things relate to food or specific dishes. Overall, a good cookbook especially if you're looking for new snack or appetizer recipes.

Festive Holiday Recipes by Addie Gundry

If you're looking for new ideas for a holiday meal this is a great cookbook. It's organized like a typical cookbook with appetizers, main courses, sides, etc. but all the recipes are geared toward holiday meals. There are lots of recipes that look great and quite a few I want to try. If you're looking for some new recipes to try out for the holidays or any day this is a great cookbook to check out.

Carla Hall's Soul Food by Carla Hall

I love Southern food and was really looking forward to checking out this cookbook, but I found it a little disappointing. Maybe because I've grown up in the South there just weren't a lot of recipes I wanted to try. I did like that she explored all aspects of Southern food and talked about the history of Soul Food in different areas. If you're a fan of Carla Hall or want an introduction to Southern food this would be a good starting point.

Cook it in Your Dutch Oven by America's Test Kitchen

I love my Dutch oven and it really is probably the most versatile kitchen item I own. I already use it all the time, but there were lots of really great recipe ideas in here. Everything from one pot meals to desserts and everything in between. If you're looking to utilize your Dutch oven more or just want some new recipe ideas this is a great cookbook.