If a good is something of a manual for life, then a good cookbook is something of a tour of all the competing philosophies for living. Are you a head-to-tail type, rearing to tear into life, or more interested in the gentler footprint involved in sustainable grains and zero-waste, plant-based consumption? Does your table offer a first-class ticket to spicy destinations across the globe, or a comfortable sinking into recollected recipes from your mother? Of course, you never really have to pick, but adding a few of these books to your kitchen library will give you a taste (literally) of the various ways you might entertain your palate—and occupy the world. by Mollie Katzen If you haven’t yet experienced the satisfaction of whipping up an eggplant parm or a cardamom coffee cake large enough to feed an army from the pages of this cookbook, originally published in 1974 by members of Ithaca, New York’s Moosewood Restaurant, then you’re in for a real treat.
’s food is healthy without ever compromising on deliciousness, making it the perfect retro-classic gift for everyone from kitchen beginners to seasoned pros. —Emma Specter by Abi Balingit Fish sauce, frozen calamansi juice, shredded coconut, and minatamis na bao (coconut jam) are staple ingredients for those looking to master Balingit’s playful yet seriously delicious desserts. These recipes draw from the author’s California upbringing and adult life in Brooklyn, in addition to her Filipino-American heritage.
Fro.
