Cooking Through My Cookbook Collection: Rediscovering the Joy of Cooking
A very small sample of my vast collection of cookbooks.
Over the years, my kitchen has seen many chapters, from carefree dinners with friends to years of quick family meals designed around what the kids would actually eat. Somewhere along the way, I lost the joy of cooking for myself. The pandemic didn’t help either. Making three meals a day for months on end left me uninspired and exhausted.
But lately, something has shifted. As my kids have grown and their palates have expanded, I’m finding my way back to the kitchen, and this time, on my own terms. I’ve missed the creativity, the ritual, and the simple pleasure of turning ingredients into something comforting, delicious, and worth sharing.
The Cookbook Project
I’ve always loved cookbooks. I read them like novels, not just for the recipes. I read thought them for the stories, the photos, and the glimpse into someone else’s culinary world. Over time, my collection has grown into a small library, each book holding inspiration I’ve yet to unlock.
So, I’m starting a new personal project: cooking through my cookbooks, one at a time.
This isn’t a challenge or a race. It’s simply a way to slow down, practice, and fall in love with cooking again. My goal is to refine my skills, learn to build recipes, and add new dishes to my repertoire, all while sharing the process with you. Each recipe I make will include a wine pairing suggestion (because, of course, wine makes everything better).
Except perfect pairings like this mushroom soup I made and a very delicious Chilean Pinot Noir. Check out my Instagram reel for the recipe and wine pairing.
How It Works
I am taking a methodical approach to this project. The point is to learn new skills and different approaches to cooking. When I find a rhythm and I get more confident I will explore how to riff one recipes and make them my own.
Here’s how I’m approaching it:
I’ll choose one cookbook at a time and work my way through it, recipe by recipe.
I’ll skip the occasional dish if it uses an ingredient I dislike and cannot find an alternate ingredient or the recipe doesn’t suit the occasion.
I’ll source fresh ingredients locally whenever possible, and if I need special tools, I’ll try to find them second-hand.
My goal is to make one to two recipes a month. If I have more time, I might get inspired and cook from more recipes.
There’s no pressure and no deadline. This is about joy, learning, and sharing.
The First Cookbook: Martha Stewart’s Slow Cooker
To kick things off, I’m starting with Martha Stewart's Slow Cooker: 110 Recipes for Flavorful, Foolproof Dishes (2017). I found this book in one of those charming free community libraries that pop up around the city — the kind you can never resist peeking into. Finding a cookbook in one always feels like discovering buried treasure.
This book was such an epic find. I dream of one day finding Mastering The Art of French Cooking in one of those free community libraries. A girl can dream.
I chose this one because it’s perfect for fall . It has cozy, comforting meals that simmer away while you go about your day. Plus, many of the recipes easily transition into the warmer months, which makes it a great year-round choice.
Recipe #1: Chicken Tagine
Tagines are so warm and comforting. They are the perfect cold weather meal.
The first recipe I’ll be tackling is Chicken Tagine, a Moroccan dish named after the vessel it’s traditionally cooked in. While I don’t have a tagine (yet!), the slow cooker makes a great stand-in. The technique is fascinating: as steam rises into the lid, condensation drips back down, creating a tender, aromatic stew.
This version includes preserved lemon (which I’ve never used — apparently, you can even make it yourself), green olives, apricots, and kaffir lime leaves. Martha notes that the lime leaves aren’t traditional, but they add a wonderful aroma. I’m already intrigued and maybe a little intimidated, but that’s part of the fun.
As always, I’ll be sharing the finished dish, along with my thoughts, cooking notes, and a wine pairing suggestion to bring it all together.
Join Me in the Kitchen
This series is about rediscovering joy through cooking, learning, and sharing food with the people you love. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cooking rut or uninspired by your usual rotation of recipes, maybe this will inspire you to dust off one of your own cookbooks and try something new.
Stay tuned for the first recipe post — Martha Stewart’s Chicken Tagine — coming soon. And of course, I’ll have the perfect wine to pour alongside it.