Cookbook Club

By Sara Gray & Renee WilkinsonArts Food

Cookbook Club episodes

February 08, 202340: Salad
Let’s talk about salad! Generally raw, generally cold, but can be defined in a million ways. Join us as we explore some ways to make salad more delicious and share some favorite recipes and strategies.
Salad strategies mentioned in this episode:
Make a salad bar in your fridge

Make a house dressing

Make salads ahead

Use fresh herbs

Add a protein
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Craveable creamy brussels sprouts slaw with apples and toasted almonds (Naturally Nourished)

Brussels sprouts caesar salad (NYT)

Tex-Mex caesar salad (Amá)

Chopped salad with apples, walnuts and bitter lettuces (NYT)

Lentil and tomato salad with mustard vinaigrette (It's All Good)

Sesame cucumber and avocado salad (NYT)

Carrot salad with tahini, crisped chickpeas and salted pistachios (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)

Sweet and tangy carrot and tuna salad (Japanese Cookbook for Beginners)

Shaking tofu & Shaking beef (Vietnamese Food Any Day)

Romaine and celery salad with buttermilk ranch (Now & Again)

Vietnamese salad bowl (Vietnamese Food Any Day)

Taco salad

Cilantro raisin vinaigrette (Grains for Every Season)

Blue cheese dressing (Salt Fat Acid Heat)

Miso-ginger dressing (NYT)

Crunchy greens with carrot ginger dressing (NYT)

Perfect herby salad (Nothing Fancy)
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 2/22/2023): Amá: A Modern Tex Mex Kitchen
30 min
January 25, 202339: Japanese Cookbook for Beginners
A small, humble cookbook that took us by surprise. This Japanese cookbook from Azusa Oda is full of heavy-hitting simple recipes with clean flavors. Hear us talk about a whole pile of recipes we’ve made — and let us know if you’ve cooked from it too.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Humble Bean blog
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Basic dashi, page 18

Vegan dashi, page 19

Miso soup, page 20

Coconut, almond & matcha granola, page 32

Easy cucumber pickles, page 35

Miso-marinated salmon, page 94

Salted salmon, page 92

Alison Roman buttered salmon dish

Green salad with sesame-miso dressing, page 38

Stir-fried broccoli with crispy garlic, page 52

Furikake popcorn, page 33

Potluck ready crunchy cabbage salad, page 40

Sweet and tangy carrot and tuna salad, page 42

Buttery sweet potatoes, page 54

Super simple ramen, page 86

Slow cooker shoyu chicken, page 115

Sweet and savory chicken and egg bowl, page 108

Hamburger steak, page 112

Citrus soy sauce, page 26
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 2/22/2023): Amá: A Modern Tex-Mex Kitchen by Josef Centeno and Betty Hallock
30 min
January 11, 202338: Instant Pot Round-Up
It’s a new year, and for us, we’re feeling a draw toward simplicity and ease in our cooking. This week we’re talking about all our favorite easy, delicious things to cook in the Instant Pot.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Instant Pot egg bite mold
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Spicy pork shoulder (NYT)

Pressure cooker beef pho (NYT)

Oven-braised beef with tomatoes and garlic (Smitten Kitchen)

Pressure cooker classic beef chili (NYT)

Harissa, butternut and chickpea stew (Instant Pot Miracle Healthy Cookbook)

Instant Pot vegetable soup (Nom Nom Paleo)

Tempeh with teriyaki greens and cilantro yogurt (Martha Stewart's Pressure Cooker)

Pressure cooker carnitas (Allrecipes)

Carnitas (Dinner in an Instant)

Easiest-ever pasta bolognese (Julia Turshen)

Egg bites (The Kitchn)

One-pot turmeric rice with greens (NYT)

Spiced chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric (NYT)
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 1/11/2023): Japanese Cookbook for Beginners
35 min
January 04, 202337: Super Natural Every Day
We’re a split vote on this natural, whole foods cookbook from award-winning author Heidi Swanson — it has shown us some new things, but does it offer enough to stay on our cookbook shelves?
Resources mentioned in this episode:
101 Cookbooks

Super Natural Simple
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Granola (page 26)

Baked oatmeal (page 44)

Millet muffins (page 41)

Chickpea stew (page 134)

Open-faced egg sandwich (page 60)

Rye soda bread (page 96)

Summer squash soup (page 60)

Spiced chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric (NYT)

Green lentil soup (page 149)

Wild rice casserole (page 155)

Miso-curry delicata squash (page 158)

White beans and cabbage (page 86)

Macaroon tart (page 192)

Oatcakes (page 204)
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 1/11/2023): Japanese Cookbook for Beginners, by Azusa Oda
31 min
December 14, 202236: Holiday cookies
Oh boy, how can two ladies have so many opinions about holiday cookies? You’re about to find out. Join us as we dig into our history eating and baking these cookies, and a roundup of some of our favorite recipes.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
How to Make the Perfect cookie box (NYT)
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Eggnog snickerdoodles (NYT)

Dirty chai earthquake cookies (NYT)

Rosemary olive oil shortbread (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)

Fudgy bourbon balls (NYT)

Nut brittle (The Campout Cookbook)

Double coconut meltaways (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)

Aunt Ginny’s molasses cookies

Holiday cookies (America’s Test Kitchen)

Shortbread cookies (Grand Central Baking Book)

Confetti cookies (Smitten Kitchen)

Thin and crispy gingerbread cookies (America’s Test Kitchen)

Cowboy cookies (The Campout Cookbook)

Chocolate sandwich cookies (100 Cookies)

Neapolitan cookies (100 Cookies)

Jam thumbprints (Cook for Love)

Cornmeal lime shortbread fans (NYT)

Chocolate sugar cookies (100 Cookies)

Russian tea cakes (Gourmet)
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 12/28/2022): Super Natural Every Day
29 min
November 30, 202235: Nothing Fancy
Big bold flavors and a big bold personality — Alison Roman brings it all in this book about “having people over” and not “entertaining,” thank you very much. Renee thinks Roman shows her immature side and we look past the very 1970s photography style to get to the meat of this popular cookbook.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Alison Roman

Small Kitchen, Big Thanksgiving video

Sweet Enough
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Creamy goat cheese with lemony za’atar (page 53)

Seeded breadsticks with parmesan (page 66)

Labne with sizzled scallions and chile (almost ranch) (page 22)

A better garlic bread/Caramelized garlic on toast with anchovies (page 73)

Frizzled chickpeas and onions with feta and oregano (page 168)

Roasted squash with yogurt and spiced, buttered pistachios (page 148)

The perfect herby salad (page 86)

Celery salad with cilantro and sesame (page 100)

Summer squash with basil, parmesan and toasted buckwheat (page 108)

Smashed cucumbers with sizzled turmeric and garlic (page 107)

Spicy caramelized leeks with fresh lemon (page 140)

Buttered turmeric rice with crushed almonds and herbs (page 173)

A very good lasagna (page 256)

One-pot chicken with dates and caramelized lemon (page 194)

Buttered salmon with red onion and dill (page 247)

Salmon with soy and citrusy charred scallions (page 238)

Lemony turmeric tea cake (page 309)

Crushed blackberry and cornmeal cake (page 272)

The only pie crust (page 311)

Casual apple tart with caramelized buttermilk (page 284)

Sweet and salty cream cheese tart (page 292)
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 12/28/2022): Super Natural Every Day, by Heidi Swanson
38 min
November 16, 202234: Holiday breakfasts
Yes, the big cooking holidays are coming — but before you feed a crowd and get to your oven schedule, what are you eating for breakfast? Sara and Renee detail their strategies for how to keep themselves and house guests fed before the big meal.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Doughnut pan

Rhodes cinnamon rolls

Mail-order croissants
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Baked pumpkin doughnuts (NYT)

Cranberry crumb muffins (NYT)

Apple cider baked doughnuts (NYT)

Sweet potato & sausage breakfast hash (One Pan & Done)

Fluffy pumpkin pancakes (NYT)

Buckwheat pancakes (The Campout Cookbook)

Overnight french toast (NYT)

Fluffy eggnog cinnamon rolls (Half Baked Harvest)

Baked oatmeal (Super Natural Every Day)

Strata (America’s Test Kitchen)

Bacon, egg and cheese breakfast casserole (NYT)

Cheesy breakfast egg and polenta casserole (NYT)

English muffin breakfast casserole (NYT)

Bagel morning plate (That Cheese Plate will Change your Life)

That morning marmalade plate (That Cheese Plate)

Backcountry breakfast boards (The Campout Cookbook)

Eleven Madison Park granola (NYT)

Union Square Cafe chocolate biscotti (NYT)

Overnight yeasted waffles (Kitchn)

Green eggs with or without ham (Small Victories)
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 11/30/2022): Nothing Fancy, by Alison Roman
26 min
November 02, 202233: The Flavor Equation
Sort of like the love child of J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, Christopher Kimball and Samin Nosrat, The Flavor Equation is a cookbook unlike many others. Join us as we share some of the things we learned and the delicious things we cooked from this nerdy food-science book that dives deep on flavor.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
J. Kenji López-Alt

Christopher Kimball

Samin Nosrat

Joshua McFadden

Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Stir-fried cabbage (page 219)

Shaved brussels sprouts salad (page 112)

Green beans with preserved lemons + crème fraîche (page 76)

Baked sweet potatoes with maple crème fraîche (page 177)

Herb + paneer pulao (page 80)

Paneer (Indian Instant Pot Cookbook)

Blueberry + Omani lime ice cream (page 98)

Roasted cauliflower in turmeric kefir (page 83)

Sweet potato honey beer pie (page 129)

Paneer + beet salad with mango-lime dressing (page 147)

Potato pancakes (page 249)

Garlic + ginger dal with greens (page 256)

Dal makhani (page 292)

Parathas + masala parathas (page 297)
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 11/30/2022): Nothing Fancy, by Alison Roman
28 min
October 19, 202232: Using the Freezer
We love our freezers — they keep us stocked and ready to cook at any time. In this episode, we share our best tips for freezing raw ingredients and whole meals in the freezer for maximum impact.
Our top freezer tips:
Consider food safety

Use plastic containers to organize

Use the door of the freezer

Keep an inventory
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Reditainer quart-size freezer containers

Azure Standard

Fair Valley Farm meat CSA

Moomaw Farm meat CSA

Iliamna Salmon Company salmon CSA
Things we love to freeze:
Meat

Fish

Homemade chicken stock

Lasagna (make a half-pan)

Cowboy baked beans (Hello, My Name is Tasty)

Butter chicken (Indian Instant Pot)

Carnitas

Meatballs

Cookies

Cookie dough

Individually-sliced cake

Muffins

Cupcakes

Pie crust

Nuts

Onions

Bell peppers

Garden surplus

Ginger

Turmeric

Ginger garlic cubes (Indian Instant Pot)

Miso

Fruit

Vanilla beans

Herbs

Pesto

Compound butter

Marinated chicken or meat
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 11/2/2022): The Flavor Equation, by Nik Sharma
32 min
October 05, 202231: Now & Again
Julia Turshen’s menu-based cookbook has tons going on — seasonal ideas, ideas for repurposing leftovers and even holiday menus. We dig in to our own happy memories around this book, and some of our favorite recipes.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Now & Again

Julia Turshen
Recipes mentioned in this episode:
Scrambled eggs with coconut-cilantro chutney (page 19)

Whole wheat & cumin flatbreads (page 21)

Mango with cardamom syrup and pistachios (page 23)

Cantaloupe with salt and lime (page 88)

Spiced banana brown bread (page 85)

Sheet pan frittata with roasted mushrooms & ricotta (page 82)

Shredded cabbage salad with feta & herbs (page 87)

Chicken & roasted tomato enchiladas (page 42)

Garlicky shrimp with tequila & lime (page 42)

Kale salad with pepita dressing (page 44)

Toasted coconut cake (page 47)

Chicken & black-eyed-pea chili (page 92)

Skillet cornbread with cheddar and scallions (page 93)

Romaine & celery salad with buttermilk ranch dressing (page 96)

Maple syrup old-fashioneds (page 102)

Iceberg wedge salad with pickled shallots (page 105)

Stuffed mushrooms with walnuts, garlic & parsley (page 103)

Tortilla soup with the works (page 184)

Simplest & best nachos (page 180)

Easiest almond horchata (page 181)

Super crunchy lime-y salad (page 227)

Kale & mushroom taco filling (page 228)

Chorizon & potato taco filling (page 229)

Warm corn tortialls & lettuce leaves (page 230)

Lime & hot sauce crema (page 232)

Charred tomatillo & scallion salsa (page 233)

Confetti meatloaf (page 194)

Creamy garlic mashed cauliflower (page 195)

Butter lettuce with shallot vinaigrette (page 196)

Raspberries with cocoa whipped cream (page 197)

Celebration chicken with sweet potatoes and dates (page 54)

Beet salad with poppy seed & chive dressing (page 56)

Applesauce cake with cream cheese & honey frosting (page 58)

Frozen watermelon aguas frescas (page 238)

Lamb burgers with grilled red onions (page 242)

Grilled okra & corn with lemon & red chile (page 244)

Grandma’s cucumber salad (page 245)

Whole wheat berry shortcakes (page 246)

Healthy, happy wife cake (page 158)

Pistachio mandelbrot cookies (page 148)
Join our Cookbook Club!
Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow

E-mail us: [email protected]

Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray

Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 11/2/2022): The Flavor Equation, by Nik Sharma
34 min

About Cookbook Club

From the publisher's feed

Join us as we cook from a different cookbook every month and deep dive into cooking topics, like finding the perfect meatball recipe and our favorite kitchen tools. New episodes are released every…