Fall Cookbook Releases: Four New Cookbooks Reviewed

October, a time when fall is really settling in and the desire to cook and bake starts to outweigh the desire of being outside. Or at least for me that is true. In order to celebrate the impending change in weather, and perhaps hobbies, are four upcoming cookbooks. Two baking, one slow cooker / Instapot, and one homesteading. Take your pick.

Cookbook Banter

100 Afternoon Sweets by Sarah Kieffer
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: October 1, 2024
Pages: 304
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon

From one-bowl snacking cakes to bigger baking projects, here are 100 little treats to help you push past the midday slump, including:

* Pecan Espresso Bars
* Roasted Strawberry Cream Pie
* Kitchen Sink Crispy Treats
* Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake
* Straight-Up Yellow Snacking Cake
* Giant Pop Tart
* Fig Scones
* And much more!

Filled with more than 120 inspiring photographs, including how-tos for doughs, shaping, and flavor variations, 100 Afternoon Sweets is the third must-have in the trilogy of Kieffer’s 100-themed baking books. These sweets are perfect for wherever the afternoon takes you: at the office deep in emails, hungry kiddos coming home after school, or simply a restful Sunday spent lazing on the couch.

My Thoughts and Reflections

“100 Afternoon Sweets” by Sarah Kieffer offers delicious recipes for indulgent afternoon treats, from snacking cakes to elaborate desserts. If you love to have treats at the ready to appease your sweet tooth, or if you enjoy taking on a more challenging dessert on the weekend, this is the book for you. Please note that she does not include traditional cookie recipes in this book; those are covered in her cookie cookbook. However, she does feature plenty of pan-style cookies, so all the yummy bakes are covered. The introduction is essential reading if you’re baking from this book, as Kieffer explains her personal measuring techniques, which are appreciated and necessary to get the recipes right. The recipes are approachable, and the ingredients are easy to find. The one recommended item that is not as easy to obtain (especially for those living in less populated areas) is not a requirement, and this is explained in the introduction. The instructions are thorough, and there are pictures with every recipe. I also appreciate the bookish quotes at the beginning of each chapter. If you want to own one baking book that will cover you for daily treats, simple parties (including birthdays), and fun weekend challenges, then this is the cookbook you need.

Fix-It and Forget-It Budget Meals by Hope Comerford
Publisher: Good Books
Publication Date: October 29, 2024
Pages: 216
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon

Looking for quick and easy meals that are also shockingly affordable? You’ve come to the right place. There’s no need to spend a fortune on ingredients. Hope Comerford has compiled more than 100 recipes that are delicious, family-friendly, and cheap!

Find crowd-pleasers such as:
* Black Bean Soup
* Chili Chicken Corn Chowder
* Crustless Chicken Pot Pie
* Spiced Lentils with Chicken and Rice
* Fresh Veggie Lasagna
* Orange-Glazed Chicken
* Turkey Meatballs and Gravy
* Tamale Pie
* Black Bean Burritos
* Pumpkin Spice Pancake Bites
* Breakfast Sausage Casserole
* And more!

In addition to great recipes, you’ll also find tips on how to set up and use your Instant Pot, how to know when your food is perfectly done, and more. Make the most of your Instant Pot or slow cooker with these easy and delicious recipes!

My Thoughts and Reflections

Fix It and Forget It Budget Meals by Hope Comerford This cookbook provides fast, easy, and budget-friendly recipes for everyone. These recipes are good for anyone new to cooking, especially with a slow cooker or Instant Pot, or for those who want to find a few go-to’s they can memorize and put together quickly. I really liked the slow cooker sizing page. There was sizing for a 2-3 person household up to a 6+ household. However, there weren’t recipes with only 2-3 servings, but there were some that recommended the smaller crockpot size. You just have to be happy with leftovers or eat really large servings. The Instant Pot recipes are very thorough and explain what setting to use, when to release the pressure, and for how long—everything I need to know to avoid making a mess of an Instant Pot meal. I liked the colored icons throughout so that I can quickly find the recipes for the cooking appliance I want to use. For the recipes that had photos, they were nice. If you’re a fan of the Fix-It and Forget-It cookbooks, you’ll want to add this one to your collection.

The Self-Reliant Kitchen by Michelle Mullennix
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Publication Date: October 1, 2024
Pages: 216
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon

Traditional skills, heritage recipes, and food preparation techniques from the generations before us.

If you’re ready to stop relying on overly processed foods from the grocery store and start nourishing yourself and your family with healthier options, this book is for you. Through easy-to-follow recipes and traditional cooking skills, this cookbook inspires and empowers you to create a more self-reliant kitchen.

Recipes include:

* Sourdough Cinnamon Raisin Bread
* Home-Churned Butter
* Raspberry Preserves
* Homemade Pasta
* Chicken Pot Pie
* Sourdough Fried Chicken
* Pot Roast
* Nourishing Bone Broth
* Homemade Pickles
* Healthy Grape Gummies
* Homemade Maple Vanilla Marshmallows
* And many more!

Learn how to replace manufactured, over-processed store bought food items with delicious from-scratch dishes one recipe at a time!

My Thoughts and Reflections

This cookbook provides easy-to-follow recipes and traditional cooking techniques to help you replace processed grocery store foods with healthier, homemade options. The jacket did not provide much information on the author or her expertise in this type of cooking, but I assumed more would be explained once the book was opened. That did not happen. There was a lovely picture and introduction by the author, but her skills are mostly glossed over. Under ingredient sourcing, Mullennix does discuss regenerative agriculture, which is something not spoken about often enough, so that inclusion was appreciated. The list of stocked pantry items is complete and appreciated, but some of them do not fit into the context of the book and were not used in the recipes. Recipes included both volume and weight measurements, allowing anyone to use the book. However, it is illegal to sell raw milk in some U.S. states and in some entire countries, so the suggestion to use this is not practical. Throughout the cookbook, simple and beautiful photography accompanies the recipes. While I appreciate Mullennix sharing her recipes with others, this is not a cookbook I will be adding to my shelf.

Breaking Bao by Clarice Lam
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
Pages: 248
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon

Breaking Bao is a culinary journey bridging gaps between Asian flavors and global techniques. It is a collection of recipes rooted in renowned chef Clarice Lam’s personal journey of self-discovery and the transformative power of embracing one’s heritage.

Here are 88 approachable recipes that are firmly rooted in classical French technique but travel far and wide. Dive into three chapters, exploring:
* Bao: the fundamentals of baked, steamed, fried, or laminated buns and breads, from golden curry-filled donuts to Rice Dumplings filled with Hong Kong Bolognese to Vietnamese Cinnamon-Raisin Babka.
* Cakes & Desserts: classics treated with a twist, such as Mango-Yakult Tres Leches Cake, Ovaltine Mochi Marjolaine, and Pandan-Lime Meringue Pie.
* Snax: savory and sweet treats, from Cantonese-Style Fig and Marzipan Mooncakes to Gochujang-Furikake Caramel Popcorn to Ramen Cheese Itz.

Featuring more than 100 stunning photographs by prominent food, lifestyle, and travel photographer Evan Sung, Breaking Bao is a visual feast as well as a go-to cookbook. For home cooks looking to expand their repertoires, these projects range from simple cookies and flavored popcorn snacks to lavish mille feuille and laminated pastries. With humor, whimsy, and respect for traditions, Lam invites readers into these pages to break barriers, bread, and bao, all at the same table.

My Thoughts and Reflections

Breaking Bao by acclaimed pastry chef Clarice Lam is a visually stunning pan-Asian baking book that blends classical French techniques with Asian flavors through a diverse array of buns, cakes, desserts, and snacks. I loved Lam’s introduction—it provided insight into how the book represents her culture, background, and what this cookbook means to her. The ingredients list included information on new flours, spices, and other ingredients, as well as those more familiar. There are recipes such as Shokupan, Chee Cheung Fun, and Scallion Roti Canai that use ingredients even those in smaller towns should be able to source. Other recipes call for items that may need to be purchased at specialty stores or online. If you have not explored different food cultures in the past, this cookbook is for adventurous eaters and home cooks. However, the level of detail and photos allows anyone to take on this adventure if they are willing. The pictures throughout were mouthwatering, and each recipe had a picture to accompany it. More difficult pastry techniques not only had written instructions but also step-by-step pictures. Another fun aspect of the book is the introduction provided for each pastry, which includes personal anecdotes from Lam as well as notes on the actual bun (bao), dessert, or snack. Breaking Bao is an inspiring cookbook that beautifully combines personal storytelling with diverse and delicious recipes, making it a great book for adventurous bakers and food lovers alike.

How the Publisher Can Make or Break a Cookbook

When looking at these reviews, you may notice that I have a preference: Chronicle Books. They publish well-known chefs/authors and thoroughly vet the people they work with. Their editing is top-notch, and I can’t recommend this publisher enough. They are also the publishers of Southern Get-Togethers. Honestly, I will not be picking up any other Skyhorse Publishing books for review. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with Fix-It and Forget-It Budget Meals, it’s just not a cookbook for me. I prefer a more modern approach with pictures for every recipe.

This is just to say, you may want to pay attention to the publishers of books. When you find a style and approach you like, it can often be associated with the publisher, so make a note of that publisher because it may encourage you to pick up a book you might have otherwise overlooked.

Do you have a favorite publisher?
Will you be adding any of these cookbooks to your shelf?