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Cookbook Club

by Sara Gray & Renee Wilkinson

Join us as we cook from a different cookbook every month and deep dive into cooking topics, like finding the perfect meatball recipe and our favorite kitchen tools. New episodes are released every other Wednesday.

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Episodes

  1. 100: Farewell episode

    Join us for our farewell episode, where we talk about the process of making the podcast and hear from some of our listeners! Thank you all for listening for the last four years and making this such a fun project for us. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Eleven Madison Park granola...

  2. 99: Snacks

    Snacks, as Sara says, are a life raft in the chaos of motherhood. Renee has a whole snack system. We have, actually, a lot to say about snacks. Join us! Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Costco high-protein granola bars That’s It fruit bars Rx bars Epic bars (bison & cranberry)...

  3. 98: Ottolenghi Simple

    We’ve had listener requests for Ottolenghi books over the years, and we’ve saved him for out last cookbook episode! We talk about his signature flavors, whether this book is overly simple, and whether we love it. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Gem lettuce with fridge raid dressing (page 37)...

  4. 97: Meal Trains 2

    We are revisiting one of our favorite topics: meal trains! After Renee’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, we both learned so much more about meal trains. This is the best way to support people in your world with your cooking skills. Join us for some new tips and ideas. Recipes and resources...

  5. 96: The Book on Pie

    A very ambitious and comprehensive guide to pie — from crust technique to decoration to hundreds of unique and interesting flavor combinations — this book from Erin Jeanne McDowell really captured our interest. We talk about the recipes we made, and decide whether this book holds up to the…

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  6. 95: Veggie burgers

    We like veggie burgers, but have we cooked that many? Turns out, this episode sent Sara down a rabbit hole of making veggie burger recipes and they are tricky! Renee weighs in with her favorite store-bought veggie burger options and we have some clear winners to recommend. Recipes and resources...

  7. 94: My Everyday Lagos

    My Everyday Lagos is a critically acclaimed cookbook that brings West African cuisine to western audiences. Specialty ingredients, spice mixes and unusual techniques set this book apart for us. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Bon Appetit article featuring Yewande Komolafe Mom’s...

  8. 93: Breakfast for dinner

    Breakfast for dinner is a favorite weeknight hack for our families. You can take it in a hundred different directions, make it dead easy or make it fancy. Here’s our favorite recipes and hacks to make this fun meal! Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Multigrain pancake (Super…

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  9. 92: Cravings: All Together

    This book is our first foray into the Chrissy Tiegen food universe, and it was a surprise to us — Renee enjoys Chrissy’s sense of humor and family-friendly dishes, Sara loves some of the fun treats and umami hacks. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Peanut butter and potato chip seven-layer bars...

  10. 91: Meringue & Pavlova

    We deeply love the magic that happens when you combine whipped egg whites with sugar. Join us as we fall down the rabbit hole of meringue treats, including one of our favorites, the pavlova. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Salted lemon cream pie (Sweet Enough) Vanilla meringues...

  11. 90: The Woks of Life

    This cookbook brings the unique perspective of an entire family — a collaboration between parents and young adult children with personal stories, family history and some delicious Chinese recipes. Renee went for some weeknight-friendly easier recipes and Sara took on a big baking project. Recipes...

  12. 89: Noodles

    We’ve talked about pasta recently, but in this episode, we dig into noodles. From noodle soups to a range of Asian noodle dishes, we talk about the delicious things we like to make. Just try to listen to this on without your mouth watering. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: The...

  13. 88: Cooking in Real Life

    Lidey Heuck’s recipes are classic — maybe to a fault? For Sara, this book has been a weeknight workhorse, and Renee loves the inventive flavor combinations. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Blueberry muffin sugar cookies (page 108) Honey-roasted cashews with a kick (page 33) Baked crap dip with...

  14. 87: Savory Pies

    We love pie! In this episode, we dig in to savory pies that run a wide gamut of influences and flavors. Sara talks about the tamale pie of her youth, Renee used her precious postpartum support time to make a steak & mushroom pie, and we deem pies perfectly worthy of dinner. Recipes and resources...

  15. 86: My Kitchen Year

    This memoir with recipes is an unusual cookbook — it follows the year after the folding of Gourmet magazine, when Ruth Reichl was left reeling and found her way through that transition through cooking and food. We talk about the wide variety of recipes, mixture of prose and recipes, and whether…

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  16. 85: Budget-friendly weeknight meals

    After the hemorrhage of the holiday season, we are ready to get back to simple cooking in the evenings, with a budget-friendly spin. We focus on cleaning out the freezer/pantry, maximizing protein and using our yummiest budget-friendly recipes. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode…

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  17. 84: Health Nut

    This cookbook from Martha Stewart alum Jess Damuck rides high on crunchy California hippie vibes. Whole wheat baked goods (yikes), smoothies and salads rule this book, which we liked and disliked in almost equal measure. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Tuna, Avocado and Grapefruit with Seed...

  18. 83: Foodie Gifts

    By listener request, some ideas for gifts for yourself or the other cooks and foodies in your life. We discuss the best gift exchange gifts we’ve received, thrifting for treasures and buying more than one of your favorite spatula. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: SNL: Christmas...

  19. 82: Scandinavian from Scratch

    Discovered by Renee at Book Larder in Seattle, this book is a baking book celebrating flavors and treats from Denmark, Norway & Sweden. We both loved creating these treats that were outside the normal things we bake — a perfect book for the baking season! Recipes mentioned in this episode: The...

  20. 81: Thanksgiving Survival Guide

    It’s that time again! The super bowl of the cook’s calendar. We talk about not making it a one-woman show, our plans for Thanksgiving this year and strategies for keeping it together during this food and family-filled holiday. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Cranberry curd tart (NYT) Mango pie...

  21. 80: Let's Eat!

    Instagram sensation turned cookbook author Dan Pelosi gave us a gem of a cookbook filled with comfort food, family and fun here. Sara is obsessed with the breakfast mushrooms and eggs, Renee isn’t sure whether these recipes are that great, but we love how Dan brings his whole personality to the...

  22. 79: Pasta

    A weeknight savior, a delicious favorite for kids and adults alike, and yet we made it to episode 79 before we had an episode about it?! We’re getting to it, thanks to a great listener request. Join us to talk about delicious pasta. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Spaghetti with garlicky bread...

  23. 78: In Bibi's Kitchen

    This James Beard-award winning cookbook features a collaboration between Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen, and tells the stories of many women across eight African countries. We love the storytelling aspect of this book. Will we keep it on our shelves? Recipes mentioned in this episode: Digaag Qumbe...

  24. 77: Weekday lunches

    The kids are back in school, and you need to get yourself fed during the day. Join us for some strategies for weekday lunches, whether you are at home or in the office. Renee works from home, Sara often works from her car, and we offer solutions for every situation in-between. Cookbooks mentioned...

  25. 76: I Dream of Dinner (so you don't have to)

    Ali Slagle wrote our dream weeknight cookbook in “I Dream of Dinner.” We talk about Ali Slagle’s camper van adventures and the flexibility in these recipes while we celebrate bringing the podcast back after Renee’s cancer treatment! Recipes mentioned in this episode: Shrimp cocktail for dinner...

  26. 75: Mi Cocina

    Rick Martinez brings his warm, fun and exuberant personality to this collection of Mexican cuisine from different regions of Mexico. We love the color and texture throughout this book and talk about one of the yummiest meals we’ve shared together. Somebody book us a trip to sunny Mexico! Recipes...

  27. 74: Pie

    Pie is wonderful. Dessert pie is the best. And it makes us feel downright patriotic. Join us as we geek out on crust, fillings and baking techniques in this episode all about pie. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Tart and pie dough (The Art of Simple Food) All butter crust (America’s Test...

  28. 73: Vegetable Kingdom

    Bryant Terry is a visionary in the vegan cooking world, and we tried out this well-known cookbook. We talk about nesting doll recipes, brilliant vegan flavor boosters and decide whether this book could ever work on a weeknight. (And yes, we know we sound a little breathy in the audio on this...

  29. 72: Quickbreads & Muffins

    We love to bake — so today, we talk about some favorite recipes for these easy go-to bakes. Sara won a prize for quickbread at the Oregon State Fair, Emily brings us tips on making these treats gluten free, and Renee, as always, loves Melissa Clark. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Carrot loaf...

  30. 71: Persiana Everyday

    This book grabbed Renee’s eye over the summer when she was traveling in the UK, so she brought it back and we dove in to this ingredient-focused, easy weeknight book from our neighbor across the pond. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Persian saffron chicken, fennel & barberry stew (Persiana)...

  31. 70: Things on Buns

    There are very many things you can put on buns. Make your own buns, buy some at the grocery store, make a thing on a bun! We give you a whole list of ideas you can use for a meal on a bun! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Beautiful burger buns (King Arthur Flour) English muffins (King Arthur...

  32. 69: Modern Comfort Food

    Season three of our podcast and we’re finally cooking from the Barefoot Contessa! We talk about our fabulous cookbook club dinner, and whether we like cooking Ina Garten’s classic, entertaining-friendly recipes. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Warm spinach & artichoke dip Ultimate bloody marys...

  33. 68: Birthday cakes

    We make a lot of cakes! In this episode, we weigh the pros and cons of cake mixes vs. homemade cakes, kid cakes vs. adult cakes and talk about decorations and give you some of our best birthday cake strategies. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Pineapple upside down cake (Snacking Cakes)...

  34. 67: Mastering the Art of French Cooking

    One of the most famous cookbooks of all time, Mastering the Art of French Cooking was a revelation at the time, bringing French cuisine to American cooks. This huge collection of recipes is a little intimidating — but in this episode, we break it down to share the things we’ve made and loved…

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  35. 66: What We're Cooking Now

    We are coming off the holidays, entering a new year, battling winter weather and sitting down to share how cooking is going in our homes these days. Freezer clean-outs, fresh new year recipes and more! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Indecision grilled chicken (Small Victories) Shepherd’s pie...

  36. 65: Ever Green Vietnamese

    We loved Andrea Nguyen’s first book, “Vietnamese Food Any Day.” How does her new release stack up for us? Renee and Sara talk about building block recipes, too-long-descriptions, eating cake until our stomachs hurt and more. Recipes mentioned in this episode: 10-10-10 Perfect Rice (page 65) Umami...

  37. 64: Weeknight dinners

    The holidays are over and weeknight cooking is back. If you’re like us, maybe you’re feeling a little overwhelmed and worn out on it — in that case, tune in for some easy weeknight dinner inspiration to get your dinner mojo back. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Shakshuka (Dinner in an…

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  38. 63: Smitten Kitchen Keepers

    This week we’re coming back for more Deb Perelman with her newest book, Smitten Kitchen Keepers. Are they keepers? How do we like these compared to her other books? Tune in to find out. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Devil’s food cake with salted milk chocolate frosting (page 267) Luxe…

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  39. 62: Babka

    Have you ever made a babka? We tried a number of recipes for this enriched-dough bread with a ribbon of flavor, and we came up with very mixed results. Listen in on to see what we baked and our favorite babka recipe! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Babka (America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking...

  40. 61: The Grand Central Baking Book

    Inspired by a classic Pacific Northwest bakery, this book tells us how to make those beloved treats at home. This week we talk about the bakery and the cookbook, and which recipes we enjoy (or maybe not so much!) Recipes mentioned in this episode: Grand Central Bakery jammers (page 22) Pecan…

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  41. 60: New York Times Cooking Roundup

    It’s not a cookbook, but the New York Times Cooking section is a huge source of recipes for both of us. In this episode, we break down some favorites for fall and Thanksgiving. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Pumpkin maple muffins (Alison Roman) Pumpkin crumb cake (Yossy Arefi) No-bake…

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  42. 59: New Native Kitchen

    We dig in to Freddy Bitsoie’s ode to Indigenous cuisine and ingredients on this episode, with a recap of a delicious meal we shared together with our in-person Cookbook Club. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Hominy with bacon bits (page 76) Alaskan King Salmon with crushed pecans (page 226)...

  43. 58: Kitchen organization

    Cooking is one thing, but it takes a whole lot of logistics to plan, shop, organize and keep track of the groceries, recipes and cookbooks in our kitchens. Today we’re joined by Kirsten Collins to chat about how we organize our kitchens and our deeply personal ways of organizing cookbooks....

  44. 57: Dinner in One

    We return to Melissa Clark in this episode, to dig in to her one-pan, one-pot, one-skillet, one-sheet-pan wonder. Joined by our friend Kirsten Collins, we go through the recipes we are loving from this collection of weeknight dinners. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Spiced pearl couscous with...

  45. 56: Pancakes & Waffles

    Let’s talk about pancakes and waffles! They’re a classic breakfast food, but spoiler alert, we eat them for dinner very frequently. We’ll share our favorite recipes and give you some tips for making these delicious treats. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Dutch baby (Grand Central Baking Book…

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  46. 55: Everyone's Table

    An elevated but health-focused book with a Paleo bent, this cookbook is different from a lot of other books we’ve cooked from, as well as being extremely personal. In this episode, we talk about entertaining people with dietary restrictions, which recipes we like from this book and the...

  47. 54: Season Two Wrap-up

    It’s been two years of Cookbook Club! On today’s episode, we tie up loose ends from the season, talk about what’s coming next and take some listener questions. Recipes, authors and cookbooks mentioned in this episode: Julia Turshen Melissa Clark Samin Nosrat Yotam Ottolenghi Deb Perelman Heidi...

  48. 53: Indian-ish

    This cookbook feels like an embodiment of Priya Krishna’s sunny disposition, and serves as a love letter to her mom’s “Indian-ish” cooking which she ate growing up. We talk about what we made from this book, including a dump cake and some other very interesting recipes! Recipes mentioned in this...

  49. 52: Grilling

    Grilling is a laid-back kind of summer cooking where you can sip a cold beverage and cook outside. This week we talk about our favorite things to grill and why we love grilling. Get outside with us! Recipes mentioned in this episode: Lamb arayes (Simply Julia) Ginger lime chicken (NYT) Spicy...

  50. 51: Colombiana

    This vibrant, beautiful cookbook celebrates Colombia and its flavors, women, music and more. We talk about how beautiful the food is, and whether the flavors kept up with that beauty. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Refajo a la Brooklyn (page 124) Coquito mio (page 152) Alegrías de coco y anis...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Join us as we cook from a different cookbook every month and deep dive into cooking topics, like finding the perfect meatball recipe and our favorite kitchen tools. New episodes are released every other Wednesday.

HOSTED BY

Sara Gray & Renee Wilkinson

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Cookbook Club have?

Cookbook Club currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Cookbook Club about?

Join us as we cook from a different cookbook every month and deep dive into cooking topics, like finding the perfect meatball recipe and our favorite kitchen tools. New episodes are released every other Wednesday.

How often does Cookbook Club release new episodes?

Cookbook Club has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Cookbook Club?

You can listen to Cookbook Club on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Cookbook Club?

Cookbook Club is created and hosted by Sara Gray & Renee Wilkinson.
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