It’s May, the weather is great and we’re all starting to socialize more. It’s also the time of year that many of us are on the hunt for Mother’s Day, graduation, bridal shower, and wedding gifts. So, take some inspiration from this cookbook round-up for your own kitchen or for another special cook in your life.
- I’m starting with Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, the latest from beloved chef Ina Garten. There are 85 recipes here that were inspired by childhood favorites that are taken a step further to be even tastier. Home cooks can always count on Ina’s dependable, easy-to-follow instructions, with lots of side notes for cooking and entertaining.
- If you love Chrissy Teigen’s recipes, you’ll love The Pepper Thai Cookbook: Family Recipes from Everyone’s Favorite Thai Mom because it’s written by her mom, Pepper Teigen. Influenced by Thailand, California, and everywhere in between, Pepper’s delicious recipes and sharp sense of humor will satisfy anyone wanting unique twists on Thai classic dishes. The Pad Thai Brussels Sprouts are a must-try!
- Do you have a child or other family member with food allergies or intolerances? You need to check out The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Cooking with Whole Foods on a Restrictive Diet by Leah Webb, a mom and health coach. The recipes are rich in healthy fats, nutrient-dense vegetables, ferments, and grass-fed meats. This cookbook includes snacks, school lunches, and delicious treats that rival the flavors of sugar-dense desserts. Get your kids involved in meal planning and cooking with this extremely helpful book.
- Snoop Dog seems to be everywhere these days, and his cookbook is a bestseller with tons of personality. From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg’s Kitchen (Snoop Dogg Cookbook, Celebrity Cookbook with Soul Food Recipes). You can find everything here from old school soul food dishes, fancy it up with lobster and filet mignon, and even get the lowdown on Snoop’s favorite cereals to snack on.
- If you use your air fryer as much as I do, you’ll want The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners On A Budget: 600 Recipes For Effortless Air Frying . Even if you’re not a beginner, you’ll find a ton of new dishes to try because there are 600 recipes in this, including a vegan section. It’s a great addition to add along with the gift of an air fryer.
- Giada De Laurentiis’ newest and most personal cookbook is called Eat Better, Feel Better: My Recipes for Wellness and Healing, Inside and Out. Giada walks the reader through how to select food that can make you feel better and curate a personalized wellness routine to support a healthy mind and body. She lays out her process of reconfiguring her diet to control inflammation and offers many dairy-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free recipes. This is way more than a cookbook for anyone looking to improve their overall wellness.
- Smoothies are a staple in our house during the long, hot months of summer so I’m excited about the 5 Ingredient Smoothie Recipe Book: 100 Nutrient-Packed Smoothies. Written by registered dietician and functional nutrition therapy practitioner, Amy Gonzalez, this book will help you mix up whole-food ingredients for quick and easy smoothies to keep your family cool and satisfied.
- From the host of the Netflix series Time to Eat and winner of The Great British Baking Show comes Time to Eat: Delicious Meals for Busy Lives: A Cookbook by Nadiya Hussain. As a remarkably busy mom of three kids, Nadiya shares all her tips and tricks for making meal prep as simple as possible, including ideas for repurposing leftovers and components of dishes into new recipes, creating second meals to keep in the freezer, and using shortcuts–like frozen foods–to cut prep time significantly.
Happy Cooking!