Written by Breadroot Board Member, Ally Titus
If you’ve ever been to my home for a meal or invited me to a potluck, there is a good chance you have heard me go on and on about my (not-so) secret weapon: cookbooks from the Rapid City Library.
A few years ago, I found myself in a cooking rut. My normal recipes weren’t hitting the spot, I was getting sick of scrolling for hours through cooking and too many ads, and I feeling very uninspired in the kitchen. Around the same time, my husband’s reading hobby was picking up, so I suggested that he get a library card, and we began visiting the library together every few weeks. It was on one of those fateful trips that I discovered the Food & Drink section, where I was suddenly face-to-face with hundreds of cookbooks with thousands of recipes.
Since then, I have been working my way through the library’s catalog, checking out a cookbook and cooking almost exclusively from it until it is due back or until I am bored and ready for a new one! Here are some of my favorite cookbooks so far:
So Easy, So Good by Kylie Sakaida
Kylie is a registered dietician who runs on a philosophy that there is room for every food in a healthy diet. I love her philosophy, and I LOVED this cookbook (so much so that I bought my own copy!). I found myself using ingredients I already had to make easy and delicious meal-prepped lunches for my family. While a lot of her recipes are inspired by her Asian heritage, I enjoyed her takes on buffalo chicken and fajitas. Don’t miss the Breakfast Cookies or the Thai Curry Mason Jar Noodles!
Perfect Plates in 5 Ingredients by John Whaite
This cookbook pushed me out of my comfort zone without breaking the budget. Since each recipe is only around five ingredients, I was able to justify purchasing a new ingredient or two without noticing it in my budget. This is definitely the cookbook for when you want to impress without the stress! Don’t miss the Ham and Fennel Pasta or the Sausage, Kale, and Potato Casserole.
Good Cheep Eats: Dinner in 30 Minutes (or Less!) by Jessica Fisher
I kept this cookbook until it was overdue, and I still would check it out again and again. I was so impressed by the mix of quick, easy recipes for meals as well as basic recipes for meal components – dressings, seasoning mixes, and different types of doughs. The pages are also laden with tips and tricks in the kitchen, including substitutions, tools, and how to pair multiple recipes together to make a meal. Don’t miss the Black Bean Tortilla Casserole or the Out-of-the-Box Rice Pilaf.
A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS:
Don’t be afraid to modify recipes – add or swap a protein, greens, vinegars, oils, based on what you already have in your kitchen. Some swaps will be better than others, but it all becomes easier with practice!
Offload the mental load – give your children, housemates, partners, or dinner guests the cookbook and ask them to pick the recipes for the week!
Read the introductory chapters – if you are looking to start your cooking journey or just level up, pay attention to what the cookbook authors, who are often chefs or dietitians themselves, have to say even before the recipes.