Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy · Episode 326 · October 27, 2026 · 38 min
What Cookbooks Should You Cook From Next? | Recommendations from “Everything Cookbooks”
There are more cookbooks published every season, but which ones are worth keeping on your shelf? And which ones will you actually reach for, year after year? This week, we’re joined by Molly Stevens and Kate Leahy, two hosts of the Everything Cookbooks podcast. Both are accomplished cookbook authors and avid collectors, and they know what makes a cookbook worth returning to. They’re sharing the books they rely on for everything from weeknight dinners to baking, along with underrated finds and cookbooks that open the door to new cuisines and experiences. By the end of this episode, you’ll discover: Essential baking books for beginners and experienced bakers alike Cookbooks to turn to for everyday dinners, new cuisines, and inspiration when you don’t know what to cook What makes a cookbook stand the test of time, and which trends are worth paying attention to Press play now to get recommendations from two cookbook experts, and find your next favorite cookbook today! *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here . And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links: Most used (wouldn’t get rid of) cookbooks: Molly: All About Dinner, by Molly Stevens Kate: Dorie Greenspan’s Dorie’s Anytime Cakes, and she especially loves the “Almost Maida Heatter’s Buttermilk Lemon Bundt Cake” (and here’s the original recipe) Essential cookbooks: Kate: Sunday Suppers at Lucques , by Suzanne Goin (especially for West Coast cooks) Molly: Richard Olney’s Simple French Food , Joy of Cooking , The Silver Palate , and Cooking Thai by Pim Techamuanvivit and Andrea Nguyen Transportative Cookbook: Kate: Washoku: Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen , by Elizabeth Andoh Molly: Amy Thielen’s Company: The Radically Casual Act of Cooking for Others Baking books: Molly: Richard Sax’s Classic Home Desserts and Chez Panisse Desserts , by Lindsay Shere Kate: Holiday Cookies: Showstopping Recipes to Sweeten the Season , by Elisabet der Nederlanden Underrated Cookbooks: Kate: I Am From Here: Stories and Recipes from a Southern Chef , by Vishwesh Bhatt and John Currence Molly: Tasty: Get Great Food on the Table Every Day, by Roy Finamore Cookbooks for Figuring out Dinner: Kate: Andrea Nguyen’s Vietnamese Food Any Day Molly: Nigel Salter’s Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food Discoveries from the Everything Cookbooks podcast: Kate: Anna Voloshyna’s Budmo: Recipes from a Ukrainian Kitchen Molly: Her co-hosts' books like Turtle Island and Kate’s Wine Style , as well as Perfectly Good Food: A Totally Acheivable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking by Margaret and Irene Li **** 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 . Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!