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With the new year, I'm committed to better meal planning and more variety in our weekly menus. We have not been to a restaurant in almost a year, and while we support our local businesses through carry-out, we are growing a little weary of our options. In the past year, I've started making homemade Ramen and Thai curry, but we want to continue expanding our palate.
Two new cookbooks, both gifted to me by my mom, have been extremely helpful in this endeavor. Both feature fairly straightforward recipes that are family-friendly. I've tried several recipes from each of these cookbooks, and we've been incredibly pleased with the flavors and variety, so I feel confident in recommending them to you!
Time to Eat by Nadiya Hussain
This is a cookbook written by a busy working mom intended to help families. Many of the recipes make 12 servings, and are freezable for future meals or can be prepared ahead. She makes every effort to eliminate food waste and maximize flavor. By incorporating a variety of cultural influences, the recipes are varied and unique from some of my standard American cookbooks.
You may recognize Nadiya as a winner of The Great British Baking Show, but I assure you that her meals are just as impressive as her baked goods! I highly recommend her Prawn Malay Rice and Thai Red Pepper Soup with Spicy Seeds.
Cook90 by David Tamarkin
This is another cookbook presenting a new method for preparing meals, much like Time to Eat. Specifically, the challenge is to cook all 90 of your meals for 30 days straight. While I did not follow this plan, I have prepared and enjoyed several new recipes from this cookbook; they will definitely be joining our meal rotation!
If you're getting started, I highly recommend the Everyday Granola recipe for a breakfast cereal or delicious snack. The Sheet-Pan Pasta Bake with Rotisserie Chicken and Kale has also quickly become a family favorite!
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