I recently wrote a post about why cooking with your spouse is just awesome.
Missed that post? Check it out here!
However, some of you may not know how to get started, so I figured I'd give you some stepping stones on how to begin cooking with or without your spouse.
To so many people (and couples) the kitchen is daunting, overwhelming, and even intimidating. But I promise that will all change the more you use it.
In order to get over that fear or hesitation, I recommend cookbooks. Easy enough, right? But not just ANY cookbooks. These are my favorite, go-to, always has something delicious (and probably healthy) cookbooks.
Do I sound like an advocate for cookbooks yet?
Okay, I'll stop rambling now and get started.
Below are my top 5 favorite cookbooks. Some are vegan or vegetarian, not because that's how I eat all of the time, but because I think it's important to know how to manipulate different ingredients to fit your needs and learn how meat isn't always the basis for a great meal. (Click the titles to purchase!)
1. Thug Kitchen (vegan) - Need a laugh? Grab this book. It is probably one of the first, if not the first, cookbook I grab when I feel stuck on what to make for dinner. Be warned though, if cursing offends you, this book may not be for you. You'll learn easy, but absolutely delicious recipes, and it also gives you plenty of options if you don't have ingredients or don't know what something is. It's not just a cookbook, but it explains, in layman's terms, how to cook, what to buy or substitute, and how food and affect your body. Promise me you'll buy it.
2. Magnolia Table Cookbook - This book, I'll be totally honest, is the farthest thing from healthy. The tagline should be: "If you like butter, you're going to love this book." BUT it's filled with yummy, homestyle foods. One word to describe this book? Comforting. The gorgeous photos are reason enough. Seriously, open it up and use it as decor in your house at the very least. But the recipes? OMG they're amazing. And the best part is they are easy to follow. Many ingredients (if not all) can be easily found at a local market which makes it one of the best cookbooks to have on hand for beginners who are still learning new ingredients or would rather stick to what they know.
3. Whole30 Cookbook - Some might say that attempting the Whole30 challenge, is ridiculous or even impossible. And believe me, initially it was SO HARD. I mean, instead of listing out what we couldn't have to eat, it was easier listing what we could have. However, after the first week or so, it became so much easier. I'm not saying you should get this book to complete the challenge, even though it will guide you for a full 30 days, but if you're looking for an allergen-free cookbook; i.e. gluten-free, dairy-free, no beans, sugar, or alcohol, this is for you. I have so many go-to recipes that are Whole30 and when I'm hosting a large crowd, I gravitate to this cookbook because I know I can accommodate anyone's diet restrictions.
P.S. If you don't want to spend the money on this cookbook, there are hundreds of Whole30 recipes on IG at the account @whole30recipes
4. The Forest Feast Gatherings - This book is honestly just beautiful. The photos are so crisp, clear, and enticing. Written specifically for hosting parties and family, it's the perfect addition to all the other cookbooks. The recipes are vegetarian, but I believe you could add meat to many of them if that's what you desired. The book not only has food recipes but cocktail recipes and plenty of hosting tips, table setting ideas, and buffet style food gathering advice. The way this book is written is like a friend is sending you a recipe. It doesn't have long descriptions or really "fancy lingo," it's a very easy book to understand and follow.
5. The Wicked Healthy Cookbook - If you're feeling up for a challenge, this book is for you. The recipes themselves are not overly difficult, but many of them are time consuming. For example, I made a corn chowder recipe from this book and it took about 4 hours. The reason for how long these recipes can take, is because everything is from scratch. EVERYTHING. Now you don't HAVE to follow this, exactly. If you have a jarred marinara sauce you like, you don't have to make theirs for a recipe to turn out great. This book is vegan. Which, as I'm noticing, a lot of my recommendations are meat-free. But, again, I think it's important to learn different flavor combinations, textures, and how to use more vegetables in entrees, but if you prefer meat in a dish, go ahead and add it! :) It's a book that gives you MANY options and all of them will be good choices.
I hope these books help you expand your skill set while making cooking fun. Cooking should be enjoyable, not stressful!
If you purchase any of these books, use the hashtag #beautyandthebeardcookbook I'd love to see how you use each one and what recipes are your favorites!