I’m looking forward to a very happy August in the cookbook Club, and not just because this is my birthday month. I’m hoping you all love Tessa Kiros as much as we do!
Happy August everyone – it’s my favourite month, mostly because it’s my birthday later in the month! It’s also a bit special in the Lambs’ Ears Cookbook Club, because this particular happy August we take a look at the newest cookbook from another of my favourite cookbook authors, Tessa Kiros. If you haven’t come across her before, you are in for a treat. Tessa has been around for quite a while and has a significant back catalogue – so if she’s new to you, you have the happy opportunity to check out all of her work.
My very happy August’s cookbook selection, “Now & Then” is her definitive reflection on a lifetime of cooking, eating and travelling. Over the years, and in her past cookbooks, she has drawn on the richly diverse culinary traditions that have influenced her food, and in this part memoir, part travel guide, she shares some of her favourite food memories, and some of the favourite dishes that she and her family enjoy today.
We love her in our house – I hope you do too.
What did we cook in July
To be perfectly honest, I cooked very little in July, as I was swanning about Scotland, Ireland and England. As a matter of fact, I’m still in holiday mode and penning this from a fairly swanky hotel room in Dublin. But while I’ve been gadding about in the northern summer, the Lambs’ Ears Cookbook Club members have been keeping the home fires burning, cooking up lots of hearty winter meals from “The Tinned Tomatoes Cookbook”. Check out just a few of their splendid efforts below.
Easy Shakshuka from Sherry Mackay
Jan Sessions vibrant Tomato and Red Pepper soup
Cheats Chicken Pomodoro by Karyn Hearn
So tell me about September
Hold onto your hats, guys – in September we will be taking a collective step as a cookbook club into the unknown, with our first ever vegan cookbook.
Okay, I know that many of you are probably not that new to vegan recipes, but this is not a cooking scene in which I’ve spent too much time. However, one look at Cherie Hausler’s gorgeous new book “A Plant-Based Farmhouse”, was all it took to convince me that I’ve been missing out, and that vegan food is exciting and delicious as well as nutritious.
I managed to pin Cherie down just before I left Australia, to ask her a couple of questions about her food, and she was generous enough to take the time to answer (before she also took off from Australia, heading to the USA).
How did you come to this approach to food, and was it difficult to accommodate in your family life?
“My approach to food just feels completely natural to me, as I’m sure everyone’s individual and unique connection to food feels to them. There’s no difficulty at all, it’s just the way my body feels best being fed. I absolutely love food and the chance to grow so much of what we eat never gets old for me. Nurturing food and then letting it nurture me is absolutely profound and I’m so grateful to be able to eat this way.”
What is your favourite recipe in the book – one that is a regular in your home?
“That’s easy – Almond Ricotta. I can add it to anything, savoury or sweet, cooked or not, and it makes everything taste good!”
What are the top five ingredients that are always in your fridge or pantry?
“Sourdough starter, sauerkraut, wholefood stock paste, Bonsoy and almond ricotta. We hardly ever have veggies in our fridge, which sounds weird, but it’s because they are ‘stored’ in the garden until the very last moment before eating.”
Cherie’s food is fresh, delicious and accessible – I can’t wait to see what we all share from “A Plant-Based Farmhouse” in September
I’m also super excited for a happy August and to introduce you all to Tessa Kiros (see my interview with her here) and her recent cookbook “Now & Then” – so lets get cooking!
So far, 2024 is looking a little like this –
The whole year cookbook is The Food Saver’s A-Z – The Essential Cornersmith Kitchen Companion by Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards
August – Now & Then by Tessa Kiros
July – The Tinned Tomatoes Cookbook by Samuel Goldsmith
June – The Naked Chef and any other Jamie Oliver cookbook
May – Easy Wins by Anna Jones
April – Your choice from any ONE book you have
March – Recipes for a Lifetime of Beautiful Cooking by Danielle Alvarez with Libby Travers
February – Any recipes from the late Bill Granger, either from his books or online
January – Kindred by Maria and Eva Konescny
Details for last year in the cookbook club are all here.
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