Let me begin by saying I am not entirely sure how one reviews a cookbook. This coming from someone who took a class called “Writing About Food” in her MFA program, in which we most definitely read and discussed cookbooks.

But, I just have to write about this cookbook, so here we are.

I am a great lover of cookbooks, no matter the ready availability of free online recipes from food blogs. The feeling of spreading a real, physical cookbook on the counter and getting down to business is one of my all-time favorite parts of a leisurely weekend afternoon or, if I’m lucky, weeknight. My greatest demand when my boyfriend asked what I wanted in a kitchen? A shelf on which to display my cookbooks.

And the most beautiful and well-used among them is the Minimalist Baker cookbook, Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking.

I received this through one of the many gift exchanges I joined back in 2018, and it has become my reliable go-to when I want a quick, delicious meal. Every recipe I’ve tried from both the website and cookbook have turned out amazing, and I love the general philosophy of making recipes as simple and as plant-based as possible.

Not to mention, the cookbook is gorgeous. Dana Shultz of Minimalist Baker offers a number of resources related to food photography, and it’s easy to see why. The photos in this book are absolutely stunning, and nearly every recipe has a picture accompanying it (a cookbook must in my humble opinion). The instructions are easy to follow and substitutions are generally offered to suit those of us who aren’t vegan and don’t necessarily want to spend the $$ certain vegan substitutes cost.

Last weekend, Andy and I wanted to cook something delicious, and I pulled this off the shelf and picked out a new recipe: cocoa black bean burgers. One of my greatest food obsessions of all time is the vegan veggie burger at Burgatory here in Pittsburgh, and this burger recipe with black beans, quinoa, and walnuts seemed most likely to offer a similar texture. It did not disappoint. I mean, just look at this burger:

All this to say, I highly recommend this cookbook if you, too, like the feel of a real book. And if you don’t, Minimalist Baker has an equally gorgeous website with a ton of amazing recipes in the plant-based, gluten-free, and vegan varieties (note: the site has moved away from being strictly vegan over the past year, so you will indeed now encounter meat there on occasion).

I’m curious–do you have a favorite cookbook or blog for recipes? Let me know! And until next time, be well, my friends!