This time around, a potluck of new cookbooks is selected for your perusal. Inside each book, there is a little something for most everyone to enjoy. Happy adventurous eating!
Valerie Bertinelli’s latest cookbook “Indulge” is an invitation for us to enjoy what we eat as if it is a special occasion. She shares stories and life lessons in her warm and friendly style alongside a nostalgic collection of much-loved recipes. These include Maple Pecan Scones, Sausage and Olive Cheese Bites, Beverly Hills Chopped Salad, Mom’s Hero, Shrimp Scampi Pasta with Herb Bread Crumbs, and Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with a scoop of No-Churn Buttermilk Vanilla Ice Cream.
Brining, drying, smoking, pickling, curing, and freezing are some of the methods cooks use to preserve a variety of foods at their peak of flavor. These larder-building techniques and more can be found within the pages of “Cured” by Steve McHugh. Steve also includes 150 recipes to try such as Chipotle Marmalade Chicken Wings, Baked Rice with Shrimp and Chorizo, Kimchi Bloody Mary, Freezer Yeast Dough, plus Brown Butter Lemonade Blondies.
Alyse Whitney is elevating our party dip spread with her cookbook, “Big Dip Energy.” Inside the pages of this colorful and fun book are 88 sweet and savory recipes along with lists of recommended dippers both store-bought and homemade. Trade up your onion, bean, and ranch dips for Cincinnati Chili Dip, Green Goddess Hummus, Pizza Your Way Dip, and Spicy California Roll Guacamole. Graham crackers, shortbread cookies, and waffle cone pieces can be used to scoop up a bite or ten of Strawberry Shortcake Dip, Holy Cannoli Dip, chocolatey Dirt Pudding Dip, and Whipped Peanut Butter Cup Dip.
At Sugar Taco, an LA plant-based restaurant, diners are treated to Mexican food favorites that are bursting with traditional flavors and free of any animal ingredients. Some popular dishes are Carne Asada Fries, Al Pastor Bowl, Jackfruit Barbacoa Tacos, Gorditas and Cinnamon Sugar-Coated Churros. To cool the heat of a spicy bite, there are refreshing drinks like Passion Fruit Margaritas, Palomas, creamy Horchatas, and Watermelon Agua Fresca. Now, you can replicate these dishes and more from their new cookbook “Sugar Taco at Home” by Jayde Nicole, Nia Gatica Campos, and Alan Campos.