September 2018 Cookbooks

Canning in the Modern Kitchen by Jamie Dement

When I put this book on hold I didn't realize the author was from North Carolina. She lives on a farm and grew up learning gardening and canning techniques from generations of women in her family. This is a collection of canning recipes from her family and ones she's created herself. The book starts with an overview of canning, but PLEASE if you haven't canned before work with someone experienced or take a class first! I like that the recipes are organized by type of product - fruits and vegetables, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles, etc. There is also a chapter on things you can make that can't be canned, but can be frozen and enjoyed later in the year. Overall, a GREAT book with lots of good ideas. This might be one I buy because there is so much I want to try.

The Taco Tuesday Cookbook by Laura Fuentes

I love tacos so when I saw this book I definitely wanted to check it out. I like that is starts with a section called "the essentials" that covers making guac and salsa, sauces, even your own tortillas. Then the biggest section is of course "tacos" that is further broken down into breakfast, vegetarian, chicken, beef, pork, and tacos del mar. The final section is "beverages" to go with your taco nights. Overall, there are some recipes I want to try, but there were a lot of recipes that seemed similar just with a different protein. Still if you're wanting to up your taco night this is a good one to check out.

Pie School: lessons in fruit, flour, and butter by Kate Lebo

I like pie as much as the next person and have managed to make a really great pumpkin pie and some a few other kinds, so I thought I would check out this cookbook. I did like that she had a chapter on different types of pie crust, but I felt like the majority of the recipes were just fruit pies when there are a lot of other kinds out there. I also felt like it would have made sense to include a few savory pies/quiches too. Overall, there were a few recipes I'd like to try, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

Southern From Scratch: pantry essentials and down-home recipes by Ashley English

The idea of this cookbook is to help the reader create a Southern pantry and then recipes to go along with or made from these pantry staples. So each chapter is a type of pantry staple with a recipe for how to create that staple and then a few recipes to use it or go along with it. Some chapters include: pickles & relish, fruits & vegetables, dry good & sundries, etc. English also reiterates the importance of canning fresh produce and using it year round - again if you don't know how to can PLEASE work with someone experienced or even better take a class through your local extension office. Overall, I really like the unique focus of this Southern cookbook and there are definitely a few recipes I plan to try.

Weck Small-batch Preserving by Stephanie Thurow

When I took a canning class a few years ago the instructor reiterated that even if we grew up watching relatives can some of the old ways are not considered safe any longer. I didn't have anyone in my family that canned, so I didn't have any bad habits to unlearn. I'm not saying these Weck jars don't work, but it was very much reiterated in my class that you do NOT want to reuse lids/seals when canning and that's basically what you do with these jars. Even though I didn't intend to can with Weck jars I figured I could still get some new canning ideas from the recipe part, but not really. There wasn't really any recipe that I wanted to try, which is very rare for me with cookbooks or canning recipe books. The illustrations and jars and beautiful, but I can't recommend this one.

Once Upon a Chef, the Cookbook by Jennifer Segal

Jennifer Segal went to culinary school and worked in professional kitchens, but found the professional kitchen atmosphere very stressful and overwhelming. She stopped cooking professionally once she had children, but still loved to cook. After starting a children's cake business she decided to start a blog and use her professional cooking skills to help others learn to cook quick, but good meals. Once her blog took off she had the opportunity to create this cookbook. And there are SO MANY great recipe ideas that this is one I might have to buy! There are so many easy, but delicious looking recipes I want to try. The cookbook is organized like many cookbooks with starters/snacks, salads, main dishes, etc. but with each recipe there are "pro tips" and "sourcing" ideas for how to source the best quality ingredients. There are also a few pages between each chapter with "pro tips from my kitchen" talking about something that is common knowledge to professional chefs, but might not be to home cooks. Overall, a VERY impressive cookbook. I'm looking forward to trying some of these recipes!

Farmacy Kitchen Cookbook by Camilla Fayed

I don't mind if people want to be vegan or vegetarian, but don't be a bully about it. No one likes a food bully and that's what this book is. The first 50+ pages are all about how terrible meat and dairy are for you and if you're a good person who cares about animals and the planet you will be vegan - NOPE! I 100% disagree with that philosophy. I do think factory farming of both animals and plants is terrible for everyone involved, but there are other ways to circumvent the industrial food system like supporting your local, small farmers. After reading the first 50 pages I knew I wasn't going to like this book, but I still flipped through the recipes to see if anything looked good - nope again. If you enjoy being a holier-than-thou vegan this is the perfect book for you, if not give this one a pass.

One Pan Whole Family: 70 complete weeknight meals by Carla Snyder

I can usually find something I want to try from most cookbooks, but there wasn't anything in this cookbook that I wanted to try. In theory it should be a good cookbook because it's supposed to be easy, healthy meals in 45 minutes or less. I just wasn't impressed.