April 2025 Cookbook Reviews

 

There's Always Room at the Table by Kaleb Wyse

I wasn't familiar with Kaleb Wyse or his website wyseguide.com but now I'll have to check that out. I love that in his bio at the back of this book it says he "...documents his life on the farm and shares his expertise on subjects like cooking, gardening, and canning." This cookbook is full of "farmhouse recipes" that you'll want to try. While Wyse's approach is more Midwest than Southern, there is a lot of focus on fresh produce and homestyle recipes. There are several recipes I want to try and overall this is a solid cookbook.

Small Batch Cookies by Edd Kimber

I thought this might be a good cookbook to be able to try out some cookie recipes without making 3 or 4 dozen. But I think it's a little too small batch - I want more than 6 cookies, especially if they're good! There is a wide variety of cookies here but I personally would prefer recipes that make a dozen.

Make More With Less by Kitty Coles

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one but it was a little disappointing. To me making more with less would be focusing on leftovers or how to not waste food. This seemed to be more a collection of recipes with pantry type items. To me the categories didn't really make sense. I did like that the chapter on chicken had a recipe for stock from chicken bones, but otherwise I wasn't overly impressed with this one and didn't see any recipes I wanted to try.

When Southern Women Cook: history, lore, and 300 recipes with contributions from 70 women writers by America's Test Kitchen

"Throughout history, food and cooking have sustained women as they have carved out a place for themselves in society and their communities. This is particularly poignant when you listen to women's stories in the American South; in this book, we highlight those stories, exploring how food has enabled women to overcome adversity, provide for themselves and their families, advance society, exercise their creativity, and claim their identities." (p. x) This first few sentences in the Introduction of this comprehensive cookbook/Southern women's food history book perfectly sums up what you're about to read. This is a cookbook. But it is much more than a cookbook as well. Their are 14 chapters of recipes, but each chapter also includes LOTS of other information either about the food/recipes, historical women, and/or current women working in food in the South. The recipes are created by America's Test Kitchen but using both historical and current recipes to find either the best combination or an easier home cook recipe. This is one I will definitely buy. There are several recipes I'd like to try and I could definitely see this being a cookbook you turn to regularly.