December 24, 2012


Lately, I’ve felt like I’m in a rush going from one thing to another. It’s the holiday blur, so I shouldn’t be surprised. As with so many things in my life, I’m rushing in here, to provide that gift guide I promised, part two… cookbooks. Seriously, I am so impressed with the new cookbooks I’ve seen this year, it was impossible to choose, and I’m sure I’m leaving one or two out! If you have gift cards in your pocket, check out these fantastic new books.

Jerusalem – everyone’s talking about this book and you can be sure it will be winning plenty of awards this season. It’s beautiful, healthy, easy to make, every-eater friendly food. The book is gorgeously produced with delectable photography.

Canal House Cooks every day from those two talented women is a fantastic book. I read it like a novel. Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer have the most lovely light touch with food, and a remarkable way of writing about and photographing it.

Bouchon Bakery. As my bookshelf will attest, Thomas Keller is one of my culinary heroes. I have read, cooked, and admired every book, as the stains, tatters and broken bindings prove. This book is destined to join the others. I hardly know where to start, so I’m going to go from the first page to the last, one recipe at a time.

Gran Cocina Latina is a remarkable compendium. It’s happy on the shelf next to Darina Allen, The Silver Spoon and La Bonne Cuisine de Madame Saint-Ange. It’s a reference book when I am dabbling in the cuisine(s) of Latin America. I can’t wait to dive in further.

Here are the other (many) cookbooks I’ve loved this season, in no particular order….
Susan Feniger’s Street Food
Kim O’Donnel’s The Meat Lover’s Meatless Celebrations
The Food52 Cookbook, Volume 2 (including one of my recipes!!)
Lisa Fain’s Homesick Texan
Yvette van Boven Homemade Winter
Alana Chernila’s Homemade Pantry
Marisa McClellan’s Food in Jars
Domenica Marchetti’s The Glorious Pastas of Italy
Recipes Remembered from June Hersch
Maria Speck’s Ancient Grains for Modern Meals

Thank You, all of you lovely readers out there. Thank you thank you. For reading, commenting, joining in on Facebook and Twitter. I have had Quite. The. Year. And sharing it with you has been the best part.  Thank you, very much.

It’s Christmas, I’ve met a big book deadline, and it’s time to hang out with Dennis and Louie, watch Love Actually, and have ourselves a very Merry Christmas. I’m off to Mexico after the new year, so I’ll be back here sometime in mid-January. Sending you all the best wishes for the New Year,

xoxMrsW (Cathy)

Recent articles:
Cranberry Conserve in The New York Times

Braised Goose in The Washington Post

8 Responses to “Have Yourself A Merry…”

  1. Lonnie Sussman

    Check out our nephews’ cookbook, This is A Cookbook, Recipes for Real Life. Eli is a cook at the Mile End Deli in Brooklyn and Max is the Chef de Cuisine at Roberta’s in Brooklyn. Eli was just interviewed on the Splendid Table. We are super proud of them and people, especially those in their 20’s and 30’s will enjoy this approach to cooking.

    Reply
  2. iluvsweets

    Merry Christmas Mrs. Wheelbarrow! Many of my friends are enjoying jars of Habanero Gold this Christmas thanks to you. A huge hit at athe office and I served Cheddar Thumbprints (via Food 52) with it on Christmas Eve. Can’t wait for your cookbook!

    Reply
  3. MD smith

    And a very happy and merry to you, Dennis and Louie! Thanks for the goose article, I could almost taste the thing!

    Is there another bake sale in your future? I’d love to help again.

    Best,
    Mary-Denise

    Reply
  4. Nicole

    I too got Bouchon Bakery (already have the first Bouchon cookbook… Yum), Jacques Pepin’s New Complete Techniques, Ruhlman’s TWENTY, and Lidia Bastianich’s Lidia’s Italy In America. I am so excited to delve into all of these lessons. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Alana

    I’m so honored to be on your list- thank you! Happy happy new year to you… sending all my best wishes for a very wonderful 2013. xo

    Reply

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