Hurray! It's finally here, my latest -- and possibly my greatest -- cookbook to date: "Cook This Now: 120 Easy and Delectable Dishes You Can't Wait to Make."
I couldn't be prouder or more excited about this new baby because it's the first book I've written that documents the actual food I make for my family on a daily basis. It's the recipes we all love, the ones my small child will happily eat, the ones my husband asks for over and over.
The book came about as a kitchen diary, literally. After years of my family and friends asking me to make that amazing whatever-it-was again, and me having totally forgotten what the heck I put in whatever-it-was, I finally started keeping a small notebook in the kitchen and jotting down recipes. That way when my sister Amy asked me to cook up that savory golden skillet chicken with fresh herbs I once made for a spring dinner, I could just go look it up instead of faking it with another dish. Ditto when my mother asked for the recipe for the figgy snacking cake with crunchy demarara sugar. I wouldn't have to admit, with shame, that I couldn't remember what I put in that batter other than a little whole wheat flour to give it chewiness and depth of flavor (yup, both those recipes are in my book).
What started to emerge was a pattern of seasonally-inspired recipes (I love me my farmers' market). So I organzied the book around the seasons. Each chapter corresponds to a month, and each month has 10 recipes using ingredients that are at their prime.
So for example January is about dark leafy winter greens and slowly stewed beans. August is about tomatoes, corn, and eggplants (The Best Tomato Sandwich, Roasted Ratatouille with Fresh Corn Polenta and Ricotta). October showcases warming, hearty recipes such as Three Meat Chili and Carroty Mac and Cheese. And in December, I use parsnips in my Hanukkah latkes because they taste so sweet and fruity it's as if the applesauce was fried right into the pancake instead of being spooned on top.
Unlike many, more cheffy seasonal cookbooks with esoteric or annoying ingredients (fava beans anyone?), mine are the simple, easy recipes that I can throw together at the end of a long day without fuss. They are the quick, satisfying dishes that reflect the foods that are the freshest and most flavorful because they are in season.
If you've ever been intimidated by the farmers' market, unsure what to buy and what to do with it once you got it home, this book will be your best friend in the kitchen. Or if you've wondered what to cook right now, this book will tell you what ingredients are at their best, and give some innovative and unusal ideas for using, say, skinny green beans, that you might not have ever seen before (how about with toasted walnuts in a simple, succulent salad).
And if that doesn't sell you, the photographs are mouthwateringly stunning, all taken by the amazing Andrew Scrivani.
I know you will love the book as much as I do (or I hope so at least!). Order your copy today or pick one up at your local book store! And let me know what you end up making for your family meal.
So exciting, Melissa! I can't wait to check it out. Congrats.
Posted by: Kasey | 10/04/2011 at 01:49 PM
Congrats Melissa! I'm happy to see more cookbooks evolving towards great meals that are also relatively easily to replicate at home. Some books are nice to look at, but either I a) do not have a particular device to make it or b) can't find the ingredient c) the ingredient is too expensive.
Glad to see Cook This Now is doable from all angles!
Posted by: Ethan | 10/04/2011 at 01:53 PM
Congratulations, Melissa! That sounds really wonderful and I love the idea of it being the real dishes you make for your family.
Posted by: Alejandra | 10/04/2011 at 02:00 PM
Looks good Melissa, I'll defo buy it.
Posted by: Mick Dore | 10/04/2011 at 02:00 PM
I think some of the best recipe collections are created just this way... family favorites perfected over time with your loved ones around your dinner table. Really can't wait to dig into this book. Congratulations, Melissa!
Posted by: Maria Raynal | 10/04/2011 at 03:04 PM
This sounds delectable -- and am truly intrigued by 'carroty mac and cheese.' Congrats!
Posted by: nicole | 10/04/2011 at 03:05 PM
Congrats, Melissa. I look forward to checking it out.
Posted by: April Fulton | 10/04/2011 at 03:41 PM
Congratulations, Melissa! Can't wait for my copy to arrive later this week and to start cooking from it. My mouth is watering just reading your blog post!
Posted by: Carol Sacks | 10/04/2011 at 03:45 PM
congratulations! copy already purchased - couldn't resist!
Posted by: aa | 10/04/2011 at 04:23 PM
Congratulations! What a great concept! My daughter will be delighted with this one. It is very much in line with what she is trying to do with food planning and preparation. A great gift idea!
Posted by: Michael Robert Lockridge | 10/04/2011 at 04:38 PM
Yay Melissa! I just ordered my copy and cannot wait to cook from it :)
Posted by: Winnie | 10/04/2011 at 04:43 PM
Finally! Can't wait to read all the stories :)
Posted by: mat | 10/04/2011 at 07:48 PM
Congratulations! I look forward to getting my copy this Thursday.
Posted by: Laura {gourmettenyc} | 10/04/2011 at 10:06 PM
So looking forward to getting a copy.
Posted by: Amybcleary | 10/04/2011 at 11:09 PM
I'm stoked about this book! Your previous book has all my current favorite recipes in it, so I'm sure I'll find loads of new faves in this one.
Posted by: Jen Abbott | 10/05/2011 at 10:08 AM
My copy is on my way!!! Can't wait to make all those great recipes!!! :-)
Posted by: RJ | 10/05/2011 at 09:48 PM
I ordered mine and it's on its way--I'm looking forward to reading the stories and cooking from the recipes. Thanks, Melissa!
Posted by: Becki | 10/05/2011 at 10:49 PM
I received my copy yesterday - loved flipping through it and can't wait to start cooking (buckwheat pancakes are at the top of list). Love the writing/recipe intros...
Posted by: aa | 10/06/2011 at 11:39 AM
Got my copy today...and the recipes look awesome! Going to start using it tomorrow!! Thanks for another great book!!
Posted by: RJ | 10/06/2011 at 11:41 PM