Chop, dice, shred, grate, braise, sauté, flip, sous vide, bake, broil, toast, poach; these are some of the verbs of the cook, whether the professional chef or the home cook. When COVID-19 hit and restaurants were shuttered many people went back to a skill that some worry is disappearing in our fast-paced modern culture: cooking for one’s self. There is nothing like a homemade meal and, with today’s variety and availability of ingredients, there is almost no excuse for not trying something new. Our multicultural society has opened doors to new tastes and new preparation methods that can be like travelling to another land without leaving your own kitchen. For some of these forays into the unknown, nothing beats the right cookbook. And for the adept cook, cookbooks provide inspiration and ideas for the ever-present question of “What’s for supper?”

When I look over my shelves of cookbooks, and see how many digital cookbooks I have purchased, I see how I have loved cookbooks for a long time. Sometimes when I buy one, my husband will say, “Another cookbook?” Some of my older ones are familiar friends, slightly worn and dog-eared. Some of my newer ones will be old favourites in time. Each offers delectable delights to tempt the palate and cheer the heart. Home cooking is fun and enjoyable and it never ceases to delight me when a meal that was lovingly laboured over receives a thumbs up from hungry family members who were drawn to the kitchen by tantalizing aromas.

I am reading and flipping through so many cookbooks right now. I have physical cookbooks that I try not to spill food on as I refer to them, and e-book cookbooks on a variety of cookery methods and regional specialties. I like to peruse them for ideas for supper or to recall the detail of a recipe I have loved for years. Here, then, is the current list of cookbooks I am constantly diving into. The buy-local movement has inspired people to experiment in their kitchens and we likely all desire to eat healthily and to enjoy the food preparation process too. Perhaps one of these books will encourage you to get into the kitchen and start cooking!

And that, dear reader, is the purpose of this reading list, which will span several entries. It will entice you to dig into the cookbooks you have on your shelf or on your tablet, and the hope is that they in turn will inspire you to get into the kitchen and rediscover the joy of cooking for yourself and your loved ones. 

My newest cookbook is Aarti Sequeira’s newest cookbook, Unwind, A Devotional Cookbook for the Harried and Hungry, Dayspring, 2023. Find it here with the following link:              https://www.amazon.ca/Unwind-Devotional-Cookbook-Hurried-Hungry/dp/1648707971/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MMYGLSHGS3IV&keywords=aarti+sequeira+cookbook&qid=1704746126&sprefix=aarti%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1

I am just beginning to read this as I just bought it. So far the introduction and first devotion and recipe have delighted my soul and tantalized my taste buds. I look forward to putting a little more (Indian) spice in my cooking!

The other new cookbook I am reading is Jamie Oliver’s latest, 5 Ingredients Mediterranean, and you can find it here:         https://www.amazon.ca/Ingredients-Mediterranean-Simple-Incredible-Food/dp/0525612904/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28MNBGKC0HCXB&keywords=jamie+oliver+5+ingredients+mediterranean&qid=1704746252&sprefix=jamie%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1

This one was a Christmas gift from my oldest son and I anticipate some delicious meals from this one with a Mediterranean flair and flavour which both go a long way to brightening up winter. I find Jamie’s recipes to be friendly, easy and they encourage me to cook fresh, healthy food in my kitchen.

One of my e-book cookbook collection is Rachel Khoo’s The Little Paris Kitchen.  Chronicle Books LLC published this in both the United States of America and in Great Britain in 2012. Before 2020 I had discovered the television show of the same name and delighted in the things she was able to make in “the tiny little kitchen in my apartment with just a mini oven and two gas rings.” Her cured sausage, pistachio, and prune cake, savory cake recipe is one of my favourite to make. My version replaces the sausage with dried apricots and this cake makes a lovely breakfast when warmed and topped with butter. One of the delights of this cookbook is if she can make these things in her tiny little kitchen then anyone can make them and this makes her recipes accessible to all.

This wouldn’t be my blog without a word from the Word! As it is a new year, I have been reading the New Testament with Dwell. As my favourite voice reads I follow along in my Bible. I enjoy this way of reading and in 90 days I will have it completed and will begin it again. I am, therefore, in the New Testament four times a year with these daily readings. As 2024 begins in earnest I want to remind you of our Lord Jesus Christ’s words in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light,” NKJV. I need to remind myself to rest in Him and let Him carry my burdens. They are too heavy for me and I know He can take them and infuse me with His peace and joy. May you find He is also the perfect place for your cares and concerns too. Believe me, dear one, He knows all about it and He loves you so much!