If there’s one place that people have been spending a lot more time during social distancing, it’s the kitchen. From sourdough starters on Instagram Stories to whipped coffee tutorials on TikTok, right now, we’re all culinary influencers (or at least we can pretend we are).

Hey everyone, Kate and Courtney here. Today we’re writing about our go-to cookbooks during quarantine. We’ve both spent a lot of time trying and sharing new recipes, and we’re excited to introduce you to some of our favorite chefs and cookbook authors behind the flavors.

Before we begin, we want to recognize that being able to access food right now is a huge privilege and we don’t take it for granted. We’re grateful for all of the grocery store workers and delivery personnel, and everyone else who makes that possible.

Another thing? Sometimes cooking just isn’t the move. We both enjoy carrying out from our fave local restaurants and have been known to pop a couple trays of pizza rolls, too.

This global pandemic has put a strain on all of us, both personally and professionally, so we’re trying our best to find joy in the simplest of things and let go of control. For some of us, that has come through food and cooking. If you too are finding solace in the savory and respite in new recipes, check out these cookbooks.

1. Half Baked Harvest - Super Simple

Courtney:

Although I’ve been known to cover my kitchen in food-colored frosting to make royal icing cookies, I’m also one to prefer cooking meals that don’t require taking a Mr. Clean sponge to the walls or wash dozens of dishes afterwards.

That’s why I’ve been cooking a lot of Half Baked Harvest recipes lately. I took a liking to the food photographer, author, and culinary mastermind behind the brand, Tieghan Gerard, because 1. Her Instagram is full of delicious recipes, and the cozy, earthy vibe of it all just makes you want to grab a glass of wine and a blanket and indulge, and 2. She’s from a suburb of Cleveland right near where we grew up and I thought that was cool.

I snagged her New York Times Bestseller, Half Baked Harvest: Super Simple, last year, and have not regretted it. She develops her recipes in her converted-horse-barn home in Colorado, and the flavors and aesthetic of her food give you all the downhome feels. My cookbook favorites have been Lemon Basil Pasta with Balsamic Brussel Sprouts, Garden Basil Pepperoni Pizza, and Sesame Crusted Salmon.

As far as recipes you can try right now if you don’t have her cookbook, here are some that I’ve tried from her website:

Caramelized Onion, Spinach, and Cheddar Flaky Pastries
- (pictured above!) My one takeaway from this is make sure your spinach is really dry! Mine was still damp (I didn’t fully follow her directions, lol), and although the pastries tasted great, it made the bottom of the puff pastry a little soggy.
Spicy Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken Fingers
- The spicy honey was AMAZING. One thing I’d make sure I did next time is crush my pretzels more — mine were a little chunky, but overall, it was still delicious!

2. Healthyish

Courtney:

My fiancé stumbled on this cookbook while we were browsing Ponce City Market on a trip in Atlanta last spring. We have made dozens of recipes from this book, and probably make at least one a week, whether it’s an entrée or an appetizer.

The author, Lindsay Maitland Hunt, upholds the food philosophy that “actual cooking” consists of recipes made with ingredients that can be found at the grocery store, can be cooked in a reasonable amount of time, and don’t leave the kitchen a complete mess.

Here are some of our go-tos:

Smoky Cauliflower and Onion Frittata
Summer Barley Bowl with Chorizo, Cucumbers, and Corn (we sometimes replace chorizo with roasted chickpeas!)
Prosciutto and Cucumber Tartine
Whole Wheat Banana Bread (this one isn’t online, but you can find another very similar banana bread recipe we use here)

Although I haven’t found any of her recipes online, you can snag a copy of her cookbook here — it’s worth it.

3. Well + Good

Kate:

Although I have to admit that the quarantine life has me leaning much farther into hearty, comfort-food recipes than healthy ones, this cookbook is a great companion to balance out a repertoire of rich, indulgent recipes.

My grandma gave me this book for my birthday a few months ago, and so far I’m really loving the variety of recipes in it.

While I haven’t had a chance to try many of the recipes, I’ve been starting with their breakfast and smoothie sections and I’m already SOLD. Smoothies have been a great way to squeeze some fruits and veggies into my life, especially on those pizza roll days

For a ton of recipe variety and some great information about how eating healthy-ish benefits you, this is a great pick in my book. You can pick up a copy here!

4. Elote

Kate:

Living in Los Angeles, one of the things I miss the most about not being able to dine out has to be indulging in the city’s endless list of amazing Mexican restaurants. Before quarantine times, we would probably find ourselves eating out at least twice a week at one Mexican restaurant or another, so I’ve been really feeling the need to bring the experience of a great bowl of guac or baja tacos home.

This cookbook is probably my favorite on this list, because it’s not one you’re going to find on every shelf or on everyone’s list. I first learned about Elote, the restaurant whose recipes this book is based, on from my friend Michelle Branch (who also happens to be an amazing cook) because it’s located in her home town of Sedona, Arizona.

When my husband Brett and I moved to Nashville in 2013, we drove across the US and made a stop in Sedona for the weekend. We ended up eating at Elote both nights because it was that incredible, and we made sure we left with a cookbook in hand so we could attempt to recreate the magic at home.

Fast forward 7 years and this is still my go-to for incredible Mexcian recipes. Even their recipe for guacamole (which we shared and raved about on the blog - pictured above) is better than any other I’ve tried.

You can buy this cookbook (plus it looks like they just released a volume II!) on their site.

5. Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook

Kate:

Ok so not only am I a sucker for a book that looks pretty on the shelf, but I’m also a big fan of any and everything Anthony Bourdain has ever done. I love the simple kraft paper tone on tone design of this book, and although there are several recipes in here that are too ambitious for me at the moment, there are some serious gems that are pretty simple and utterly delicious.

My personal favorites? The SOUPS.

From French Onion, to Tomato Fennel, to Mushroom Soup - these recipes are exactly the cozy comfort food I’m craving right now and they’re classics that I’m sure I’ll make forever long after this crazy season is over.