What cookbooks are worth the investment? And which ones will you really cook from, time and time again?

Even the most passionate home cooks struggle with navigating the sea of available cookbooks out there! In this episode, we’re sharing the ones that have earned a permanent spot in our kitchen — these are the books that make weeknight cooking easier, baking more reliable, and hosting more successful. 

Whether you’re just starting your collection or looking to fall back in love with the books you already own, this episode helps you discover the ones that make you want to cook.

By the end of this episode you’ll: 

• Find out which cookbooks we rely on for weeknight cooking, with repeat-worthy recipes like chicken piccata and one-pot baked lentils with feta
• Learn which baking books made us confident home bakers, with recipes for an outstanding banana cake or the perfect homemade cinnamon rolls
• Discover inspiring recipes you might not expect, like a comforting bean soup from Frida Kahlo’s cookbook or iconic casseroles from a classic vegetarian tome

Pour yourself a cup of tea, open your favorite cookbook, and listen in. This episode might just remind you why you fell in love with cooking in the first place…

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This week’s episode is sponsored by La Baleine, makers of ancestral sea salts harvested from France.

Discover La Baleine’s sister brand’s new, organic Le Saunier de Camargue Fleur de Sel Sprinklers  — the iconic finishing sea salt from the South of France, now in an easy, ultra-practical sprinkling format. 

Each grain is carefully hand-harvested by salt masters using ancestral methods passed down through generations. This delicate, crunchy sea salt enhances every dish with a perfect touch of flavor and texture, and it’s 100% natural, unrefined, and additive-free.

Choose from three organic varieties: ✨ Original — for everyday flavor, 🌿 Rosemary — for a Provençal touch on meat, fish, and vegetables, and 🌶️ Espelette Pepper — for a bold, subtly spicy finish.

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Links:

Sonya’s favorite cookbooks for: 

WEEKNIGHT/EVERYDAY COOKING: Whole Food Cooking Every Day, by Amy Chaplin 

ENTERTAINING: At Elizabeth David’s Table, by Elizabeth David 

BAKING: Classic Home Desserts, by Richard Sax 

RELIABLE: The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, by Deb Perelman 

GIFTING: Tenderheart, by Hetty Lui McKinnon

ESSENTIAL CLASSIC: The Taste of Country Cooking, by Edna Lewis  

INSPIRING/UNIQUE: Fridas Fiestas Recipes & Reminiscences of Life with Frida Kahlo, by Marie-Pierre Colle, Guadalupe Rivera

One of Sonya’s favorite books about cookbooks: Sara B Franklin's “The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America”

Kari’s favorite cookbooks for: 

WEEKNIGHT/EVERYDAY: Vegetables Every Day, by Jack Bishop

ENTERTAINING: Cooking for Artists, by Mina Stone

BAKING: Now for Something Sweet, by Monday Morning Baking Club

RELIABLE: Barefoot Contessa at Home, by Ina Garten

GIFTING: Indian-ish, by Priya Krishna 

ESSENTIAL CLASSIC: The Enchanted Broccoli Forest, by Mollie Katzen 

INSPIRING/UNIQUE: The Dooky Chase Cookbook, by Leah Chase 

For Baking, we both have to include (again): Fat & Flour by Nicole Rucker

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Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084

For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. You can also now find us on YouTube. 

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at [email protected]!

Looking for an in-person Food Friends experience? Book a farmers’ market tour with Sonya in Portland, OR!