In this weekly podcast, host Maggie Green celebrates cookbook readers, buyers, collectors, and clubs, with interviews and conversations about the role of cookbooks in our lives. Her mission is to build and celebrate a community of people who would rather read, buy, and put on their shelf a cookbook over any other genre of book.
In today’s episode, I am excited to welcome Jonathan Stevens, co-owner of Hungry Ghost Bread in Northampton, Massachusetts, and the author of The Hungry Ghost Bread Book. Jonathan approaches sourdough bread with a unique philosophy: sourdough isn’t a style of bread—it is bread. His method revolves around three essential tenets: more hydration, more fermentation, and more heat in the oven.
Today on the show:
Jonathan’s Philosophy on Sourdough:
Why sourdough is the essence of bread, not just a style.
Insights into his three tenets: more hydration, fermentation, and heat.
Recipes and Inspiration from The Hungry Ghost Bread Book:
Jonathan’s formulas honed over 30 years of working with sourdough for loaves, flatbreads, crackers, and more.
How the book and bakery merge ancient bread-making traditions with modern techniques and favorite like cookies and scones.
Jonathan’s Publishing Journey:
The story behind getting a book deal and bringing his bread-making philosophy and formulas to print.
Whether you're a bread-making enthusiast or simply love the smell of fresh sourdough, I hope this episode inspires you to get baking.
Things We Mention In This Episode:
Christmas Cookie Baking Guide by Maggie Green
The Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens
Flatbread and Flavors: A Baker’s Atlas by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford
In today’s episode, I am excited to welcome Elana Pearlman, author of With Love and Babka: 50 Sweet and Savory Recipes for Everyone’s Favorite Braided Bread. Inspired by her grandmother's love of traditional bread, this book explores the versatility of babka, featuring doughs for every preference—from classic and chocolate to gluten-free.
Topics of Discussion:
From Cakes to Babka: Elana shares her journey from running a wedding cake business to launching a mail-order babka business.
The Publishing Path: Insights into Elana’s journey of writing and publishing a cookbook, including her tips for building habits and routines while writing.
Mastering Babka: Elana’s expert advice on making babka less intimidating and how she created her unique flavor profiles.
Business Meets Cookbook: How Elana merged her baking business with the creative process of writing a cookbook.
This episode is a must-listen for bakers, cookbook enthusiasts, and anyone curious about blending a baking business with cookbook creation!
Things We Mention In This Episode:
Christmas Cookie Baking Guide by Maggie Green
With Love and Babka by Elana Pearlman
With Love and Babka on Instagram
In today’s episode, I am excited to welcome Sarah Frison, the author of The Festive Belgian Bakery, a delightful book celebrating chocolate, biscuits, cakes, and desserts enjoyed during the holiday season. Sarah shares her insights into Belgian holiday traditions, culinary techniques, and the journey of writing a cookbook.
Topics of Discussion:
Belgian Holiday Traditions: From St. Nicholas Day in December to Candlemas in February, Sarah walks us through the festive season in Belgium.
The Art of Tempering Chocolate: Why tempering is crucial for achieving the perfect shine and snap in chocolates.
Resources for Belgian Baking: Tips on sourcing equipment and ingredients for traditional Belgian recipes and candies.
Cookbook Writing and Publishing: Sarah’s advice on creating and publishing a successful cookbook.
This episode offers a rich exploration of Belgian holiday baking and provides inspiration for anyone dreaming of writing their own cookbook!
Things We Mention In This Episode:
In today’s episode, I am excited to welcome Morgan Bolling. Morgan is the the Executive Editor of Creative Content for Cook’s Country and a cast member of the Cook’s Country TV show. Morgan spearheaded the book When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes in collaboration with Toni Tipton-Martin. This compelling book celebrates the ways food has sustained and empowered Southern women throughout history. This episode is a thoughtful dive into:
The Intersection of Southern Food and History: Inside Southern culinary traditions.
Behind the Book: The process of creating When Southern Women Cook and how women writers and cooks were selected to share their stories.
Food as a Lens: How food provides insight into shared history and cultural understanding.
Empowering Women Through Food: The role of food as a tool for resilience and empowerment in the South.
Things We Mention In This Episode
Gourmet’s vintage 1960s cookbook
In today’s episode, I welcome Jessie-Sierra Ross. Jessie is a former professional ballerina turned food and lifestyle blogger. She’s the creative mind behind the blog Straight to the Hips, Baby, where she shares her elegant yet approachable style of cooking, cocktails, and home entertaining.
We dive into Jessie’s transition from the world of ballet to the arena of home entertaining, discussing:
Transition from Ballet to Blogging: Jessie shares her journey from ballet slippers to blogging, detailing how her background in the performing arts shaped her approach to food and entertaining.
Building a Brand: Jessie’s advice on developing a distinct brand style, centered on content pillars and being true to your interests.
Highlights from Seasons Around the Table: A look at Jessie’s new book, which celebrates seasonal cooking, floral tablescapes, and effortless entertaining.
Thanksgiving Tips: Jessie’s top tips for a seasonal Thanksgiving feast, including ideas for tablescaping and decor that will bring warmth and sophistication to the holiday table.
Things We Mention In This Episode
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
In today’s episode, I interview Erica Walker, one of the four sisters behind Favorite Family Recipes, a blog that has grown from a family recipe swap into a platform featuring over 1,000 recipes and reaching more than 2 million visitors each month. Erica shares insights from their newest cookbook, Most Requested Copycat Dishes: 101 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Restaurant Recipes, along with tips on recreating restaurant-quality dishes at home.
About Favorite Family Recipes
Highlights from Most Requested Copycat Dishes
Discussion Points
Things We Mention In This Episode
Most Requested Copy Cat Dishes
In today’s episode, I’m excited to have an interview with Rose Levy Beranbaum. Rose is a legendary baking expert and author whose books have been translated into multiple languages, including Mandarin, Czech, Russian, and Spanish. Known as the "diva of desserts" and "the most meticulous baker who ever lived," Rose has published thirteen award-winning books, including The Cake Bible, Rose’s Heavenly Cakes, and Rose’s Christmas Cookies.
Today, we dive into the exciting release of the 35th Anniversary Edition of The Cake Bible, which Rose has fully revised and updated with her husband, Woody Wolston. This edition brings fresh photography, essential new content, and special occasion cakes designed for weddings or to serve large groups.
In this episode, we discuss:
Revising The Cake BibleThings We Mention In This Episode
Connect with Rose Levy Beranbaum online
The Cake Bible 35th Anniversary Edition
In today’s episode, I’m excited to have an interview with Sonja Overhiser, one of the creative minds behind the award-winning blog A Couple Cooks. Along with her husband Alex, Sonja has built a global following for their healthy, plant-based recipes and expertise in cocktails. Their work has been featured in Food & Wine and The Washington Post, and their blog receives millions of visitors each month. We dive into their journey from fast food to cooking from scratch, the growth of their blog, and the behind-the-scenes process of pitching and reconfiguring their book idea to land a publishing deal. Sonja also shares insights on their new book, A Couple Cooks, offering practical tips for aspiring cookbook writers along the way.
In this episode, we discuss:
The Evolution of A Couple CooksThings We Mention In This Episode
Join the From Kitchen to Keepsake Bootcamp which begins Monday, November 4th
The Way to Cook by Julia Child
Welcome to this special announcement edition of the Cookbook Love Podcast.
Do you want to turn your recipes, stories, and memories into a beautiful keepsake cookbook? I am hosting a bootcamp from Monday, November 4th - Thursday, November 7th at 11:00 AM EST called From Kitchen to Keepsake Bootcamp.Don’t wait any longer to create the cookbook you’ve always dreamed of. This bootcamp gives you the structure, support, and tools you need to turn your favorite recipes and stories into a keepsake you’ll be proud to share. Let’s make this the year you finally get it done!
Here’s What You’ll Learn Over 4 Days:In today’s episode, I’m excited to bring you an interview with Jessica Battilana. Jessica is the staff editor at King Arthur Baking company and the co-author of The Big Book of Bread. Along with Martin Philip and Melanie Wanders, Jessica helped write and create their newest book that offers a comprehensive collection of over 125 bread recipes for bakers of all levels.
During our conversation, Jessica shares insights into the King Arthur Baking Company, the inspiration behind The Big Book of Bread, and what it was like to collaborate on a cookbook for such a renowned brand. We also dive into some of the book’s unique features, including an index organized by time, flour type, and baking timelines for each recipe—plus, we explore the helpful King Arthur Baker’s Hotline, designed to support bakers at every step.
In this episode, we discuss:
About King Arthur Baking Company
The history and mission of King Arthur Baking Company
Why they are a trusted name in baking and cookbooks
Creating The Big Book of Bread
The inspiration behind the book and its focus on bread
The collaborative process with co-authors Martin Philip and Melanie Wanders
Key Features of the Book
User-friendly design for bakers of all skill levels
Indexing by time, flour type, and recipe difficulty
Detailed timelines to help bakers plan their day around bread-making
Baker’s Hotline & Extra Support
How the King Arthur Baker’s Hotline supports bakers with expert advice
Tips on how to get the most out of the hotline for troubleshooting and guidance
Jessica’s Personal Insights
Jessica’s favorite recipes from The Big Book of Bread
Her personal tips and tricks for perfecting your bread-baking skills
Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this incredible bread bible and get inspired to bake your next loaf!
Things We Mention In This Episode
In today’s episode, I’m excited to interview Ryan Alvarez and Adam Merrin, the duo behind the popular blog Husbands That Cook. Since 2015, Ryan and Adam have been cooking together in their cozy kitchen in Eagle Rock, California, and their blog has earned numerous accolades, including being a finalist for Saveur magazine’s Best How-To Cooking Blog Award and a nominee for Taste Talks’ Best Food Blog Award.
Their debut cookbook Husbands That Cook was published in 2019, and now they’re back with their latest release, That Takes The Cookie, which hit shelves on November 12, 2024. This beautifully designed book offers 85 brand-new cookie recipes for every craving and occasion—from classic favorites to inventive new twists. Whether you’re a fan of sweet, salty, chocolatey, or fruity treats, this book has something for everyone!
In this episode, we discuss:
The Journey Behind That Takes The CookieHow Husbands That Cook evolved from a blog to a cookbook
Inspiration behind their second book, That Takes The Cookie
What sets this cookie book apart from others on the market
85 brand-new cookie recipes, covering:
Sweet and salty combinations
Crispy, chewy, and chocolatey options
Fruity and nutty variations
Creative spins on timeless classics
A chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the book, highlighting their favorite recipes
How Ryan and Adam test, write, and photograph each recipe
The challenges of ensuring consistency in cookie recipes
Their approach to making the book both visually appealing and easy to use
Baking tips for fall-inspired cookies, perfect for the current season
Ideas for customizing and experimenting with your cookie creations
Their clever method for making endless vanilla extract at home
Things We Mention In This Episode
The Cookie Book by Rebecca Firth
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