Happy June! If you've been around here for a while you know that I love to bake, cooking sometimes, but baking is where my real happiness in the kitchen is found. When it comes to cooking, that's husband's love. You could say our baking and cooking preferences create a nice in-the-kitchen-together balance. As an avid baker, I'm always on the hunt for a new a recipe, tweaking it along the way to make a new and original dessert or meal. So when the opportunity arose for me to sift through Food with Friends - The Art of Simple Gatherings I was all over it. Not only did it give me inspiration for new and eccentric recipes, but it was all about how to make food for your people. And hosting is another one of my great loves. Scrumptious food and gatherings go hand in hand.
I was immediately drawn to the vibrant photos of this cookbook, and truth be told, it will be on display as a home décor accent piece in my kitchen. Because beautiful cookbooks aren't meant to be tucked away, but displayed. So if you're looking for that perfect piece to add to your kitchen that also offers functionality, a.k.a. amazing recipes, you need to grab this lovely book. The photos are going to suck you right in, and you're going to want to prepare every recipe. They are curated wonderfully and inspire creativity on their own.
Most of the recipes I have never heard of, nor dare tried. To be honest, a lot of the ingredients have never even stepped foot in my kitchen. Typically, that would throw me right off and I'd keep moving to the next recipe to try. But, somehow Leela Cyd makes you want to push your cooking/baking boundaries and go for something unexpected. Then there are classic recipes with just a pinch of something different that makes you want to get culinarily creative in your own way. Like pumpkin seeds on Salty Everything Cookies (page 69). That's like combining fall with the best known cookie to mankind. And salt, did I mention that? I love salt (yes, I know it's not the best for you, but YOLO).
And how about Apple Fritters & Cinnamon Yogurt Cream?! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Truly, from recipes that have never crossed my mind to more staple recipes, the cookbook is packed with foods for each serving, appetizers to desserts, to share with your loved ones. And did I mention it's also stunning just to look at?!
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