A vegetarian? Check. A sports fan? Yep. A gardener? Got it. A partier? Definitely. Whoever is on your gift list this holiday season, PA Eats has you covered with a variety of fabulous cookbooks to put a shiny red bow on. Read on for our favorite picks of the season, and you’ll have wrapped up your shopping with plenty of time to raise a glass and relax.
PA Eats’s Top Picks of Cookbooks to Gift
For the International Cook…
Put an Egg on It: 70 Delicious Dishes That Deserve a Sunny Topping by Lara Ferroni
Topping off your dish with an egg has been trending for quite a while, but now there’s a whole cookbook dedicated to this delicious habit. What’s notable about this particular collection of recipes is the breadth of international cuisines like Israeli, Thai and Spanish. We can’t wait to try the maple syrup-poached eggs and waffles, and the kimchi fried rice.
For the Veggie Lover…
Vedge: 100 Plates Large and Small That Redefine Vegetable Cooking by Rich Landau & Kate Jacoby
Chef-restaurateurs Landau and Jacoby are once again taking their ingenious vegetable cooking to the home kitchen with the introduction of their latest book, which is bound to win over the carnivores. Take vegetables to the next level with recipes like royal trumpet mushroom BLT with basil mayo, and summer corn custard with blackberries and hazelnuts.
For the Hostess…
Choosing Sides: From Holidays to Every Day, 130 Delicious Recipes to Make the Meal by Tara Mataraza Desmond
Anyone who loves to throw an impressive dinner party knows that it’s not just the main course that matters—it’s also creative sides that make an evening memorable. Your favorite host or hostess will love to test-drive recipes like roasted strawberry goat cheese, farro with figs, kumquats and walnuts, and panzanella trifle.
For the Football Fan…
The Steel City Garden: Creating a One-of-a-Kind Garden in Black and Gold by Doug Oster
Growing an ‘Eagles-inspired garden’ is easy, but for the other PA football fans in your life, gift them this book on how to grow black and gold combinations of flowers, plants and yard décor. A how-to written by one of Pittsburgh’s best-known garden experts, this guide dedicates an entire chapter to black and gold fruits and veggies. Foodie football fans can plan a garden of lemons, blackberries, elderberries, golden beets, radishes, eggplants and more come spring and summer.
For the Super Parent…
The Robin Takes 5 Cookbook for Busy Families by Robin Miller
Food Network host and best-selling author Robin Miller’s recipes are one of my own secrets to getting a healthy dinner on the table, while juggling two little girls and a demanding job. Her new book, which includes 200 recipes—each crafted from five ingredients or less—ranging from nourishing breakfasts to decadent desserts, is a hit for anyone cooking for kids. Try the cowboy pizza with rattlesnake beans, bacon & manchego, and the chapter dedicated to slow cooker meals, like pot roast pomodoro with shaved Parmesan.
For the Carnivore…
In The Charcuterie: The Fatted Calf’s Guide to Making Sausage, Salumi, Pates, Roasts, Confits, and Other Meaty Goods by Taylor Boetticher & Toponia Miller
Gift this book to the modern meat lover in your life. An illustrated, step-by-step anthology for making brined, smoked, cured, skewered, braised and stuffed meats at home, as well as a guide to sourcing, butchering and cooking with the best cuts.
For the Foodie…
Eating Italy: A Chef’s Culinary Adventure by Jeff Michaud
Before acclaimed restaurateur Michaud (Osteria & Amis) made his mark on Philadelphia, he spent three years in northern Italy as a culinary apprentice, immersing himself in the culture and cuisine of the old country. Part cookbook and part travel narrative, Eating Italy takes readers on a journey through unique Italian villages. Learn to prepare authentic dishes like blood orange crostata with bitter chocolate and swordfish pancetta with fennel zeppole.
For the Wine Connoisseur…
Corked & Forked: Four Seasons of Eats and Drinks by Keith Wallace
Wallace, president and founder of The Wine School of Philadelphia, pens the book perfect for those looking to find a great drink for every meal. Whether it’s springtime brunch, an elegant dinner party or a summer cookout, learn how to pair wines, cocktails and beers to every occasion. Over 100 recipes are included like grilled watermelon salad, ricotta gnocchi, and fava beans with mint and bacon.
