Shelf Life
My favorite new cookbooks this season cover just about every mood I’ve been in lately—some nostalgic and comforting, others inventive and a little mischievous in the kitchen. I love that they don’t just tell you what to cook, but why—each one feels like a glimpse into the author’s life, their cravings, their chaos, their calm. There are books that make you want to slow down and savor, and others that remind you dinner doesn’t need to take three hours or twenty ingredients (although that’s fun, too!). They’ve reminded me why I love being in the kitchen in the first place—that cooking isn’t about chasing perfection, it’s about instinct and finding joy in the process, whether you’re whisking, roasting or just standing over the stove with a spoon in hand.
Anytime Cakes is a joyful ode to simple baking—over 100 recipes for loaves, Bundts, muffins and even a few savory surprises. Illustrated by Nancy Pappas and filled with Dorie’s signature warmth, the book celebrates cakes you can make (and eat) any time of day, turning everyday moments into something sweet.
The Art of Gluten-Free Bread redefines what gluten-free baking can be—elegant, textured and deeply satisfying. With more than 100 recipes, from crusty boules to tender pastries, Goyoaga brings her signature precision and warmth to every loaf, proving that bread without wheat can still be full of soul.
Linger invites you into the heart of gathering through food — with over 100 inventive salads, simple sweets and stories woven around shared meals. Rooted in her salad-delivery beginnings, the book frames vegetables as a pathway to connection, proving that lingering at the table is a gesture of care and community.
Good Things is a joyful return to the kitchen from one of cooking’s most beloved voices. With more than 125 recipes—and her now signature how-to guides on intuitive cooking—it’s a book about flavor, instinct and generosity, reminding readers that good food is really just another way of showing love.
House of Nanking is a vibrant tribute to a beloved San Francisco restaurant, offering over 100 recipes that merge simplicity and bold flavor. It captures the spirit of their iconic menu—sesame noodles, crispy eggplant, scallion pancakes—while inviting home cooks to replicate those restaurant-style dishes with heart and ease.
Family Thai is a warm, approachable celebration of Thai home cooking—recipes made for everyday life and shared meals. With dishes spanning from vibrant curries to comforting stir-fries and snacks, the book brings together authentic flavors and familial warmth. Through clear guidance and cultural insight, it makes cooking Thai for loved ones feel joyous and accessible.
Padma’s All American blends her memoir voice with recipes that reflect her American experience—dishes like fried chicken, biscuits, and vibrant vegetable sides that feel both familiar and surprising. With warm storytelling and bold flavors, she crafts a vision of “American” through her multicultural lens, inviting readers to savor what it means to belong at the table.
Six Seasons of Pasta transforms dried noodles into a canvas for each season’s best produce. With more than 125 recipes, he teaches you his “build-the-sauce-in-the-skillet” method so your pasta and sauce fuse beautifully. From spring’s tender artichokes to winter’s hearty baked ziti, the book is both a technique guide and a love letter to seasonal Italian cooking.
Recipes from the American South is a sweeping, deeply felt tribute to Southern food traditions, offering more than 260 recipes that stretch from Louisiana’s bayous to the Chesapeake. With warm storytelling and rigorous historical insight, Twitty shows how dishes like grits, red rice, hush puppies and She-crab Soup carry layers of culture, memory and resilience beyond their flavors.
Instant Ramen Kitchen turns the humble cup of noodles into a springboard for infinite creativity. With approachable recipes and inventive upgrades—from rich broths to clever stir-ins—Kim brings depth, comfort and fun to quick meals. It’s a celebration of ramen’s versatility, proving that great flavor doesn’t need hours in the kitchen.
Something Delicious is a luminous collection of 100 flavorful, low-fuss recipes perfect for any moment of the day. With a sensory approach to cooking and dishes that blend comfort and surprise, Baruch encourages you to cook with presence. Whether you’re serving for a busy weeknight or a casual gathering, the book helps make everyday meals feel special.
The Art of Jacques Pépin entwines his twin passions—cooking and painting—into a beautifully crafted cookbook that feels like an artistic memoir. Featuring 99 beloved recipes paired with his own artworks, the book moves gracefully through soups, roasts, desserts and more, offering timeless, accessible dishes infused with warmth, creativity and a lifetime of culinary wisdom.
French Classics is a compelling debut that makes timeless French dishes feel both ambitious and attainable. Packed with over 100 recipes, it balances “easy” and “elevated” approaches so home cooks can master everything from coq au vin to chocolate mousse. Ryle draws on years in professional kitchens to guide readers toward flavorful, confident French cooking from their own stovetop.
