A Lifestyle Blog

cooking

5 Essential Cookbooks You Shouldn’t Live Without

by Leave a Comment

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.

You open the refrigerator and half-opened containers, ripe fruit, and leftover chicken are staring back at you. You wonder, “What recipe can I make to use up these items?” I’ve been there. When time is of the essence and I need to get dinner on the table in a hurry, I rely on my trusty cookbook library to help me out.

I don’t want you to ever stand in your kitchen again wondering what meal to prepare for your family. Each one of these five cookbooks will inspire you to put on an apron! Here are five of my go-to favorite cookbooks that I highly recommend adding to your collection.

“Eating in the Middle: A Mostly Wholesome Cookbook” by Andie Mitchell

I love this cookbook because Mitchell includes wholesome, healthy recipes that are admittedly a bit decadent. Eating is about balance and when you know you need to eat a nutritious meal yet still crave certain ingredients, “Eating in the Middle” is a must-use cookbook. She has taught me better ways of preparing ingredients (baked sweet potatoes, anyone?) and has taught me to appreciate foods that cut the calories but not the flavor. I highly suggest preparing her Argula with Orange Segments, Spiced Walnuts & Goat Cheese salad.

What Can You Expect:

Recipes with big flavor using fresh ingredients perfect for weeknight meals or weekend celebrations. The book includes a chapter “For Sharing” with recipes ideal for large families or hosting friends.

Buy the cookbook here.

“The Pioneer Woman Cooks Dinnertime” by Ree Drummond

Ree does it again! Comfort classic, 16-minute meals, and supper solutions are exactly what every home cook needs when the family is breathing down your back asking, “What’s for dinner?” You’ll find yourself adding these recipes to a regular rotation. Each fool-proof recipe comes with step-by-step photos. The cookbook includes recipes like Pork Chops with Wine and Roasted Garlic, Mexican Tortilla Casserole, and Dessert Panini. As a Kansan, I appreciate the beautiful photos and prairie life commentary included within its pages. I recommend trying her Sausage, Kale, & Potato Soup recipe.

What Can You Expect:

Tips for make-ahead meals, ingredient variations for each recipe, conversion charts, and recommendations for complementary side dishes or bread recipes. Don’t skip pages 370-371! Ree has created recipe lists based on the type of eater you’re serving from Fancy Friends to Kid-Friendly and Meatless Wonders to Neighbors in Need.

Buy the cookbook here.

“New Cookbook” by Better Homes and Gardens

The internationally recognized cookbook is a staple for every home chef. It was the very first one that I owned and it was given to me by my mother just after I graduated high school.  First introduced in 1930, it continues to provide cooks with dishes made with easy-to-source ingredients. From comfort classics like roasted chicken to fancier fare such as Gingered Plum-Glazed Halibut, the cookbook is the ultimate resource for cooks from beginner to advanced. I recommend preparing the Ribeyes with Grilled Garlic recipe.

What Can You Expect:

Each recipe includes nutrition facts and daily vitamin values. Expect to learn the basics of how to select meat, how to prepare food using various cooking methods, and how to select the perfect serving dish.

Buy the cookbook here.

“Family Food: Kitchen Tested, Home Approved” by Guy Fieri

A fan of “Guy’s Ranch Kitchen,” a Food Network show that features fellow chefs cooking together at Guys’ home, I’ve learned a lot about how to elevate my cooking using smoked, grilled, and fresh ingredients. The cookbook includes 125 “real-deal recipes” that pay homage to his family’s love of food. The chapters are filled with recipes ranging from stacked sandwiches and savory noodle dishes to recipes that families can get involved in making like kabobs and home-baked pizza. I prepared Poutine French French Fries, a recipe that I’m still daydreaming about today.

What Can You Expect:

Quick tips for selecting the best ingredients, Flavortown favorites, and recipes using southwestern ingredients.

Buy the cookbook here.

“Home Cooking Basics: Great Food Made Simple” by Southern Living

Have you ever dined in the South and wished you could make the same recipes at home? “Home Cooking Basics” includes easy-to-follow Southern recipes that take the guesswork out of cooking. The book is written to improve your cooking skills while expanding your flavor palette. I highly recommend buying the cookbook if you or someone you know would appreciate having a virtual chef by your side walking you through each step of a recipe. Fancy up your appetizer spread with recipes like Baked Fig Crostini or Curried Shrimp Tarts. Dive into dinner entrees like Southern Stuffed Rosemary Chicken or Braised Beef Brisket. I recommend making Big Daddy’s Grilled Blue Cheese-and-Bacon Potato Salad when hosting a backyard party.

What Can You Expect:

The book is an illustrated guide to Southern cooking. If you follow the steps shown in each photo, you’ll achieve culinary greatness by the time you’re ready to serve a meal. They make it easy!

Buy the cookbook here.

I hope that you find one of these cookbooks the perfect addition to your kitchen library or best suited as a gift for a fellow foodie. I’d love to hear your recommendations for a must-have cookbook. Leave it in the comments below!

cookbooks

 

How I’ve Stayed Happily Busy During the Pandemic

by Leave a Comment

This stay at home thing isn’t ending anytime soon. During my time at home, I’ve found myself reviving old hobbies, experimenting with new things, and well, cleaning and eating a lot.

How have you kept yourself from going stir crazy while stuck at home?

Maybe an activity or recipe below will inspire you to cross something off your fun to-do list OR perhaps it will simply leave you with the feeling that only being productive can bring. If you’re like me, you want to keep yourself busy!

COMFORT FOODS
  1. Chocolate Chip Cookies
  2. Scalloped Potatoes
  3. Egg Salad
  4. Banana Bread
  5. Fruit Cocktail Cake
  6. Peach Dump Cake
  7. Smoked Pork Ribs
  8. Apple Salad
  9. Rasta Pasta
  10. Vodka Sauce
  11. German Potato Salad
  12. Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
  13. Biscuits and Gravy
  14. Garlic Rosemary Chicken Thighs
  15. Sautéed Red Cabbage
  16. Italian Stuffed Peppers
  17. Green Tomato Relish
  18. Stuffed Summer Squash
  19. Sesame Kale
  20. Hamburger Soup

MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS

  1. The Kansas African American Museum
  2. Botanica Wichita
  3. Keepers on Parade
  4. Virtual Museums + Webcams
  5. Downtown Newton, Kansas
  6. Old Town Farmer and Art Market
  7. Wichita State University Sculpture Tour
  8. Douglas Avenue Street Art Tour

 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

  1. Leaf Peeping
  2. Bird Watching
  3. Chiminea
  4. Dog Walks
  5. Sidewalk Chalk
  6. Raised Bed Gardening
  7. Stargazing
  8. Landscaping
  9. Biking
  10. Neighborhood Litter Pick Up

HOME ACTIVITIES

  1. DIY Dog Bandanas
  2. Clean Garage
  3. Clean Grill, Traeger Smoker
  4. Deep Clean House
  5. Clean Car
  6. Declutter Drawers and Closets
  7. Game Night
  8. Classic Movie Night
  9. Spa Treatments
  10. Living Room Dance Party
  11. Mail Cards to Loved Ones
  12. Puzzles
  13. Paint a Room
  14. Coloring Book
  15. Reading
  16. DIY Wooden Bead Garland
  17. Blogging
  18. Indoor Gardening
  19. Online Shopping
  20. Dehydrate Herbs

TV SHOWS (I’ve watched every episode of these series.)

  1. Masterclass
  2. Growing a Greener World
  3. Somebody Feed Phil
  4. Hart of Dixie
  5. Hollywood Reporter Actor’s Round Table
  6. Get Organized
  7. The Chef Show
  8. The Ranch
  9. Grace and Frankie

What has inspired you to stay active during the pandemic? Share an idea with me in the comments below! Together, we’re going to get through this time.

3 Ways to Stay Active After Work Even If You’re Feeling Lazy

by 2 Comments

Do you ever find yourself wondering where the time went?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American works 44 hours per week, or 8.8 hours per day. If you’re like me, you spend most of that time staring at a computer while sitting at a desk.

After returning home from work, the last thing I want to do is to sit around some more. Yes, I’m tired. Yes, my brain is trying to tell me to binge watch another season of a Netflix flavor-of-the-month instead. But inactivity doesn’t improve my health, it only encourages self-isolation (I’m not nurturing friendships while watching TV!), and quite frankly my household begins to look the worse for wear. So, how do I stay active and make sure that I’m making the most of every minute of my life? I move! That’s right. I keep my body in motion.

Photo: Pexels

If your evenings after work just seem to vanish into thin air or perhaps every day is monotonous, make a conscious effort to m-o-v-e. If you’re chasing kids around the house, you’re already staying active and I commend you for being a rock star parent. This post is written for someone who doesn’t have to keep up with active kiddos or perhaps simply wants to change up their routine after work.

Disclaimer: Everyone needs to take a load off and relax, and by no means am I suggesting that you not answer your body’s call for rest. Sometimes you need to chillax. But on the other days…

1. GO OUTSIDE

Whether you use your time after work to walk the dog or maintain your landscaping, the health benefits of exposing yourself to the outdoors are vast. For example, spending as little as 15 minutes outdoors in the sun will increase your level of Vitamin D, a nutrient needed to maintain strong bones.

Besides, even a short walk has a de-stressing effect and can improve your concentration allowing you to think creatively. By letting your mind wander, you may just return home from your walk with a renewed sense of curiosity for life and that is a good thing!

Devoting time outdoors, whether I’m walking or tending garden,
helps me destress and resets my mood. I may purchase a cruiser bike!

2. PREPARE FOOD

On the evenings when I’m the most tired after work, the last thing I want to do is prepare a meal. But I know if I take a few minutes to read a recipe and set out the ingredients and supplies, I’m going to keep my brain active. I could easily sit down on the couch with a microwave meal and veg out in front of the TV, and yes, I’ve done that many times. But cooking for myself has taught me about the science of food, keeps my brain actively engaged, and ultimately I eat healthier, more flavorful meals.

caprese salad
One of the easiest salads to prepare, I often enjoy a Caprese Salad or antipasti platter on the nights that I don’t have the energy or the time to make dinner.

Cooking your own meals helps your brain (and your body!) stay healthy. Not only are you saving money because you’re not ordering takeout meals, but it gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Need a recipe? Try one of these healthy dinner recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less.

3. DO YOUR CHORES

Mowing the overgrown lawn, doing laundry or cleaning a room of your home are not necessarily fun activities, but completing these tasks are a necessity and they keep you burning calories and moving! Imagine how rewarding you’ll feel once you sit down for the day only to realize that your to-do list is accomplished! Tackling those not so fun chores once or twice a week after work will afford you more discretionary time to enjoy yourself.

Need inspiration? Check out this household cleaning checklist.

There ya have it – a solid kick in the pants to keep you motivated! What activities make you feel alive even after a long day at work? Tell me in the comments below!