Cookbooks mean different things to different people. For some they can herald a whole new way of living; a healthier diet; a more nourishing way of eating. For others they open the door to indulgent desserts and calorific treats to spoil others with at family celebrations.
Whether you’re the type to switch on the KitchenAid and roll up your sleeves or the cookbook fan who prefers to leaf through the gorgeous foodie photography in front of a roaring fire, rest assured there’s a cookbook out there to suit you. Which, when you think about it, really means there’s a cookbook out there to suit everyone in the family – Christmas gift inspiration a go-go!
Here are our top picks of the new releases this year…
The Nation’s Favourite Healthy Food by Neven Maguire
If your idea of healthy eating is dry Ryvita and cottage cheese, don’t wait for Santa: simply go out right now and buy yourself a copy of this brilliant cookbook. Neven has come up 100 new, light and modern recipes – each of them a healthy choice. In addition to the familiar sections on beef, chicken, fish, desserts and snacks, you will find healthy alternatives to takeaways, low-carb lunches, omega 3 rich suppers and nutrient-packed vegetable juices. Yum. €22.99 here.
Chicken by Catherine Phipps
Fried, flambéed, roasted, barbecued, smoked, stewed, grilled, put in a sandwich or made into soup … the versatility of chicken knows no bounds. And this brilliant book contains every recipe you will ever need. From Double-crusted Chicken Pie, the Best Roast Chicken and Chicken Pâté to Baked Italian Meatballs, Confit Chicken, Butter Chicken and Chicken in a Mountain there are over 200 recipes old and new to tempt and inspire you. €31.60 here.
Eat Yourself Beautiful by Rosanna Davison
They say you are what you eat, so if you’d like to know what stunning model and nutritionist Rosanna Davison whips up for dinner, now’s your chance. In Eat Yourself Beautiful, Rosanna Davison shares recipes to help you kick excess weight, puffiness around the eyes, spots, dry skin and hair, brittle nails, poor sleep, low energy, even wrinkles and fine lines. There’s even a one-week sample diet to take you from zero to radiant in seven days. €24.99 here.
Honey & Co. The Baking Book by Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer
Sticky buns full of cherries and pistachios in the morning; a loaf of rich dough rolled with chocolate, hazelnuts and cinnamon for elevenses and crisp pastry filled with spiced lamb or burnt aubergine for lunch: just another day at Honey & Co., the little London eatery with the big reputation. This lovely book lets you create a similar menu for your very own kitchen. €22.99 here.
Food52 Baking Cookbook by Amanda Hesser
A compilation of recipes by one of our favourite foodie sites, the Food52 Baking Cookbook is filled with 60 go-to, anytime recipes, as well as stunning photography by James Ransom and tips that come from generations’ worth of kitchen wisdom. Guaranteed to be the most chocolate-splattered book in your collection. €28.50 here.
Festa by Eileen Dunne Crescenzi
A must for the adventurous dinner party host, in Festa: A Year of Italian Celebrations, renowned restaurateur Eileen Dunne Crescenzi shares the recipes and memories that defined her many happy years living la dolce vita. Eileen’s recipes are designed to create conviviality and make every occasion a cause for celebration, whether you’re planning an annual holiday feast, a catch-up with friends or a special homecoming. Fantastico. €24.99 here.
I Quit Sugar: Simplicious by Sarah Wilson
Sarah Wilson, bestselling author of I Quit Sugar, taught the world how to quit sugar in eight weeks, then for life. Now with I Quit Sugar: Simplicious she strips back to the essentials, showing us how to shop, cook and eat without sugar and other processed foods, how to buy in bulk, freeze and preserve and how to use leftovers with flair. It’s a New Year’s resolution in one book. €31.60 here.
Deliciously Ella by Ella Woodward
A collection of simple and delicious health-boosting recipes by star blogger Ella Woodward, Deliciously Ella is filled with over a hundred amazing recipes, almost all of which are totally new and ten favourites from the blog including sweet potato brownies, raw brownies and superfood bread. A must-have. €31.60 here.
Fresh by Donal Skehan
FRESH is jam-packed with yummy, energy-boosting recipes to cook at home. This one is all about maximising your health through eating delicious and nutrient-packed food. Tying into Donal’s TV series on eating for energy, FRESH includes recipes for breakfasts and snacks as well as Food On The Run, Quick Cook Suppers, and Better For You Desserts, such as Peanut Butter Brownies, Mega Beetroot Burgers and Mini Quinoa, Pea and Courgette Cakes -chock-full of goodness! €19.99 here
The ICA Book of Christmas
This hefty how-to guide lets you in on secrets and tips that have been passed down and perfected through generations of Irish families and Irish Countrywomen’s Association members. Find traditional recipes for festive feasts, advice for ‘the big shop’ and buying the tree, techniques for homemade cards and gifts, and little touches that make an Irish Christmas complete, like the candle in the window and stirring a wish into the Christmas pudding. €22.99 here
Got a cookbook you’d like to recommend? Drop me a mail katie.mythen@herfamilydotie.
