5 Great Cookbooks that Began as Blogs

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, by Deb Perelman
Deb Perelman may not have any professional culinary experience, but when it comes to cooking in her tiny Manhattan kitchen, she’s enthusiastic, meticulous, and dedicated to perfecting recipes that even less experienced cooks will be able to pull off without a hitch. With her award-winning blog, Smitten Kitchen, Perelman made a name for herself as a trusted resource for home cooks who like making tasty food with a dash of panache. Her long awaited book was named one of Cooking Light magazine’s top 100 cookbooks in the last 25 years, among other prestigious recognitions—and, as an added bonus for fans, it contains mostly new recipes, along with the stunning, mouth-watering food photographs fans have come to expect from Perelman. You’ll love her accessible, humorous, and no-nonsense approach to the joys (and tribulations) of cooking.

The Skinnytaste Cookbook: Light on Calories, Big on Flavor, by Gina Homolka
When Gina Homolka began her Skinnytaste blog, she was a busy parent who was hoping to lose a few pounds while still eating meals that tasted good. Her blog quickly became the go-to recipe site for gourmands looking for a way to cook delicious, indulgent dishes at home, all while helping their pants fit better. From Cheesy Baked Penne with Eggplant to Double Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Homolka’s recipes are healthy yet flavorful. With 150 recipes, 125 of which are all-new, and beautiful photographs, this cookbook should be part of any health-conscious (yet discriminating) eater’s library.

Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook: Eat Like You Give a F*ck, by Thug Kitchen
With the official Thug Kitchen cookbook in your life, things are about to get REAL…nutritious. Tired of home cooks cutting corners and avoiding actual vegetables (ketchup doesn’t count), the outrageous cooks behind the popular Thug Kitchen blog, with its take-no-prisoners and leave-no-kale-behind approach, have come out with a cookbook featuring 100 brand new recipes (but fortunately, the attitude is the same). If you have been trying to eat healthier (Roasted Beer and Lime Cauliflower Tacos, anyone?) and need a bit of a friendly, motivating kick in the pants, then these are the recipes for you. And don’t worry, the creators of Thug Kitchen are cheap and lazy as the rest of us, so they’ve made sure these recipes won’t break the bank or take too much effort. Simple, healthy, and hilarious: does it get any better than that?

Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans, by Michelle Tam and Henry Fong
Packed with recipes that leave out the gluten, soy, and added sugar, the folks behind the hit blog Nom Nom Paleo prove not only that the Paleo diet is a smart, health-conscious way to get back to basics and avoid processed foods, but that it can be done in a fun and delicious way—and any way that includes Bacon and Guacamole Wrapped Sammies is just fine by us. Refreshingly unpretentious, written in an engaging and lighthearted style, and filled with recipes that are perfect for busy families, Nom Nom Paleo is the perfect introduction to a healthier lifestyle at home, without stress or judgment.

100 Days of Real Food: How We Did It, What We Learned, and 100 Easy, Wholesome Recipes Your Family Will Love, by Lisa Leake
Many of us read Michael Pollan’s watershed book, In Defense of Food, and were shocked to realize how many processed foods have become part of our diets. Lisa Leake was among the shocked, and she resolved to do something about it: she and her family of four pledged to go 100 days without eating highly processed or refined foods. Fortunately, the rest of us can reap the benefits of those efforts, and the astonishingly positive life changes they brought about for her family, in the book based on her beloved blog. 100 Days of Real Food is filled not only with great recipes that use whole foods, like Whole Wheat Pasta with Kale Pesto Cream Sauce, but also with gentle guidance. From helpful meal plans to tips and advice on choosing healthy ingredients, Leake’s book will encourage you and your family to embark upon a bold new way to eat healthily.
What’s your favorite blog-based cookbook?
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