It’s that time again. It seems for the last two months of the year, every weekend (and even some weekdays) brings a new party, get together, potluck or laid back hang, and as everyone knows, the most important part of these events is the food (especially when it comes to a laid back hang). But with so many events to plan for, you might be starting to feel like your go-to dishes have gotten a little boring. Wanna spice up your spread? We got you. Here are five cookbooks that approach their recipes from a different angle to give us some truly inspired, delicious, and unique bites!
Goon with the Spoon by Snoop Dogg and Earl “E-40” Simmons
After Snoop’s success with his first cookbook, he’s back again with a bunch of new recipes inspired by his life and music. Whether it’s waking up to a dope breakfast of fried chicken and French toast, some sticky asian chicken wings for an appetizer, a tasty main course like bacon cheeseburger lumpia, or a sweet dessert like Snickers pocket pastries, the Snoop D-O-Double G has a recipe that covers your needs. Full of traditional and original recipes, this book will provide you with a recipe for any occasion.
The Feast of Fiction Kitchen by Jimmy Wong and Ashley Adams
Maybe you need to find just the right snack for your late-night gaming session over a long winter break. If so, check out this book by actor, musician, and YouTube personality Jimmy Wong and his YouTube co-host, Ashley Adams. Not only does it feature recipes inspired by some of your favorite TV shows and video games (like Dragon Quest and Star Trek), it also features ways to make some of the actual fan favorite dishes from those properties! Ever wondered what the mini dehydrated pizzas from Back to the Future Taste like? Now you can find out! Always wanted to scarf down a Poké Puff, but couldn’t because they aren’t real? Well, now they are! If you’re wanting to get in touch with your nerdy pop culture side, this is definitely the book for you.
Heroes’ Feast: The Official Dungeons and Dragons Cookbook by Kyle Newman
Need some D&D-inspired fare to eat while binge-watching the final season of Stranger Things? This book delivers, and then some. It features 80 recipes inspired by the magical worlds, monsters, clans and classes featured in the classic tabletop game, and even has the foods organized by theme. If you want to eat like an elf (lots of breads and vegetarian food) there’s a whole chapter of recipes to get your mouth watering. Or maybe you play a Halfling character and want some comfort food and desserts. If you really want to immerse your party in the world of D&D while they’re questing, this book is your chance to roll 20s and become the perfect DM (deliciousness master).
The Five Elements Cookbook: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine with Recipes for Everyday Healing by Zoey Xinyi Gong
Okay, so the game nights and gatherings have been great, but they’ve really worn you out. You need some quiet time for reflection and healing, but you don’t want to be hungry while you do it. Enter The Five Elements Cookbook. Inspired by the Five Elements theory behind balance and optimal health, this is a really cool book that not only gives you tasty meals that can help you get back on your feet, but also explains the hows and whys of what’s in the recipes. Part 1 explains the idea behind Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Part 2 explains the herbs you’ll be using, with each herb getting a two-page spread describing the benefits and what kind of recipes and flavor palettes would feature it. And lastly, Part 3 features recipes for all kinds of TCM food, from porridges to compotes. This is a great choice for when you’re ready to bounce back from all that holiday running around.
Pie for Everyone: Recipes and Stories from Petee’s Pie, New York’s Best Pie Shop by Petra “Petee” Paredez
You’ve done it. You’ve made it to the end of the holiday season. You went to all the parties, you ate all the food, and now you’re ready for dessert. What better way to indulge your sweet tooth than with a big piece of pie? And that’s what this book has. That’s it. Just pies. The book is broken down into chapters and separated by pie type, so it’s easy to decide what to bake if you know what kind of pie you want. The first chapter is some basic “Pie 101” for new bakers, so if you’ve never tried baking a pie, this is a good place to start. However, the chapters that follow are filled to the brim with pies of all flavors, types, and textures. Fruit pie? Chilled pie? Custard pies? This book’s got ‘em. You can even learn what a chess pie is, and there’s a whole chapter for pie toppings and sauces. Whether you want a new recipe for an old favorite like pumpkin pie or you want to try something new like a stone fruit pie with peach-gooseberry filling, Pies for Everyone has your back. There’s even a cheesecake recipe (C’mon, it’s New York’s Best Pie Shop, of course, there would be cheesecake). In between chapters, you can even learn more about the origin of the author’s recipes, the ingredients used, and where they came from. All in all, this book is a great way to fill that pie-shaped hole in your appetite!
And there you have it! We hope these selections help keep you from getting too hungry over these busy months. If you haven’t had your fill of awesome, quirky cookbooks, be sure to check out our catalog to find even more enticing offerings to level up your cooking skills!
