While South Carolina has been experiencing freezing temperatures, the Corgis and I have been hiding indoors. Every time I look up, the Corgis seem to have made one more nest, burrowing under blankets and curling into golden-fried or chocolate-covered donuts. My response has been perfecting my chicken soup recipe that I make from scratch. During these cold winter days, I always feel inspired to read more food writing and books about food. So today’s newsletter is all about heartwarming recipes perfect for your next cooking adventure.
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Bookish Goods
Virginia Woolf A Room Of One’s Own Book Poster by Beyond the Shelf Shop
I own several copies of A Room of One’s Own. I can’t help but buy every edition I see. But this illustration is something new. It definitely needs to be hanging in my library. $20
New Releases
Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks by Crystal Wilkinson
“Part memoir, part cookbook, Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts celebrates the culinary legacy of generations of Black Appalachian cooks. Former Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson shares her treasured family recipes, telling the stories of the generations of Black women who perfected them.” You can read more about my most anticipated books of the first half of 2024 here.
The Heirloomed Kitchen: Made-From-Scratch Recipes to Gather Around for Generations by Ashley Schoenith
With gorgeous photos by Heidi Harris, The Heirloom Kitchen presents recipes that have stood the test of time. These Southern-inspired recipes span from buttermilk biscuits to Derby Mint Juleps. Taken as a whole, Schoenith has created a beautiful cookbook.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
I Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cook by Miguel Trinidad and Nicole Ponseca
This incredible cookbook is a 2019 James Beard Award Finalist. Plus, it was named a Best Cookbook of the Year by The New Yorker, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Times Book Review, Houston Chronicle, Food52, PopSugar, and more. This cookbook invites readers into the diverse range of Filipino cuisine with all of its many influences, including Chinese, Arab, Mexican, and Spanish cooking techniques. The authors invite readers to learn more about the origins of their recipes through a cookbook that is such a wonderful celebration of Filipino cooking.
The Taste of Country Cooking: The 30th Anniversary Edition of a Great Southern Classic Cookbook by Edna Lewis
One of the most famous cookbook writers from Southern Appalachia, Edna Lewis is a true treasure of the region. Her recipes are structured around the four seasons. She encourages readers to cook with what is in season and to cherish every flavor. When reading her recipes, I can’t help but think that Lewis’ recipes harken back to another time. With recipes like Cornpone and Brandied Peaches, I can’t help but wonder if my own Southern grandmother would have cooked these dishes too. Lewis is such a phenomenal cornerstone for Southern Appalachian cuisine.
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy Reading, Friends!
~ Kendra