Vol. 1, The Kitchen Library
Julia Turshen's new cookbook, fast + slow reads, and a rushed cheesecake
January was a tender month. We lost my father-in-law, a wonderful man we loved so much, someone who walked a long and difficult health journey over the past few years. We lost my aunt, a dear woman who was a fun, loving, constant presence in my life. It’s been a lot.
In the midst of loss and grief, we’ve been nourished and cared for with love, support, and food. Friends and family sent flowers, dropped off meals, mailed cards, and showed up in profoundly tangible ways. I continue to be so grateful for a community and who sees and cares.
I’m learning that grief and joy definitely co-exist, and feeding those you love is an offering of comfort + hope. I spent the month deep-diving into Julia Turshen’s new cookbook, trying to resurrect my sourdough starter (we’re getting there!), attempting to rush a cheesecake (not advised, ha!), and reading a few books that will stick with me for a long time.
Here’s what I’ve been up to!
Cookbooks:
I’ve been excited about this new cookbook by for a long time. Her previous cookbook, Simply Julia, is a staple in my kitchen. This new book is smart, simple, and full of delicious ideas. This book has six sections and tons of helpful charts to think about the essential elements that make up a recipe.
I ended up making 13 recipes from this book over the past month. Overall, I really liked this cookbook and I’ll certainly be pulling it out again. It’s fresh, easy, approachable, and really solves the “what’s for dinner” problem. I would totally gift it to a friend and gush about several recipes inside.
What I loved:
The Chicken Fajitas are THE BOMB. We adored them, they cook up pretty quickly in a skillet and are full of flavor. I appreciate not having to pre-make a marinade or fuss with much. Everything comes together in one cast-iron skillet, which makes you feel like you are eating at Chili’s, but in the year 2025. BLESS.
The Easiest Almond Cake is delicious. One bowl, in the truest sense, and super easy to whip up for simple dessert. Very good topped with a bunch of powdered sugar!
easiest almond cake! The Chicken Scarpariello dish surprised me in the best way. You basically brown some sausage + chicken, sauté a bunch of onions + peppers, add some wine + broth and then let all those flavors simmer together for a while. I was skeptical and shouldn’t have been; it was delicious! We ate it with spaghetti noodles and garlic bread.
The Olive Oil Buttermilk Loaf is SO good. Another easy recipe, one that would be fantastic to bake + gift to a friend along with a jar of jam (because yes, I layered some peach jam on mine and it was delightful!). I will say, if you don’t love the taste of olive oil in baked goods, this one might not be for you.
Honorable mentions:
Roasted Chicken Pot Pie: a pretty straightforward recipe for a cozy, comforting meal. Really easy to double the recipe—make one for you, and one for someone you love!
Roasted Broccoli w/ Carrot-Miso Dressing: I’m always a fan of roasted broccoli; this carrot-miso dip offers a bright, punchy flavor to complement the broccoli.
look at the happy color of this carrot-miso dressing! Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread: I’ll be honest: this one didn’t blow me away, BUT my kids devoured it, which is a win in my book. Simple to throw together; the chocolate chips really make it shine!
Italian Sausage + Ricotta Meatballs: I’m always rotating between meatball recipes and I think this one is a good one to add to the lineup. It’s great if you don’t want to stand over a hot pot and fry up a bunch of meatballs. However, I did miss the browned, crispy crust that comes from that step. The meatballs are the size of golf balls, and I ate them for leftovers several days in a row. Hearty and filling!
THE BIG BOOK OF BREAD | King Arthur Baking Company
I wish I made a better dent in this, but the past month didn’t offer a lot of margin for diving deep into bread. I did make the Focaccia (delicious!) and then I’m using all their tips for reviving my sourdough starter.
—> I have a bunch of recipes on deck next month; I’m so glad to be traveling with this book throughout the year! Stay tuned for more bread adventures.
I wasn’t intending to pick this book up this month, but then my mother-in-law had a birthday and she loves cheesecake and no one has a better cheesecake recipe than . I stand by that … and also heartily recommend reading recipes in advance and not assuming you can make a cheesecake a few hours before a party. 🤦🏼♀️
My theory: You know how bears in the wild can sense fear, so you’re supposed to remain calm? I’m pretty sure that cheesecake can sense a rush job, and in turn decides to sabotage your efforts.
In the end, I made the cheesecake, because even though I did the math and knew it was hopeless, I was committed. WHY AM I LIKE THIS. Cue several panicked texts to a dear friend, who cheered me on and reassured me it would still be delicious. I definitely overbaked it, there was a giant crack in the top, and it didn’t chill nearly long enough. All of that was somewhat still okay because I made a cream layer + some chocolate sauce and drizzled it on thick.
Tldr: good cheesecake takes time. But you can put it in a freezer to firm up, in a pinch. ;)
Books:
I can’t start this section without mentioning , who writes a fantastic monthly Substack that includes her current reads. Her writings inspired me to talk about the books I’m reading, too. Give her a follow if you want some great book recs & gorgeous cake pics!
Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
📚 Oh, I ADORED this book. The characters are absolutely delightful and they quickly became my dearest friends. I didn’t want this book to end and I’m already checking out other books by Clare Pooley! The audiobook is perfect; I would recommend listening, if you can. A powerful story about noticing people around us in our everyday encounters and cultivating friendship wherever we find ourselves.
The Little Book of Living Small by Laura Fenton
📚 I loved flipping thru this book to see how other people style their small spaces. This book inspired me to declutter a shelf in my bedroom and think about other areas in my house that could be set up better. Great photos, gorgeous design, smart ideas!
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy
📚 This book is about a woman who befriends a mouse. Yes, really. And I loved it. Helen Cartwright is 83 years old and lives alone, spending most of her days sitting deep in her grief. An unlikely friendship with a mouse opens up her world to connection, hope, and purpose. A really sweet story, read beautifully on audio!
Brightly Shining by Ingvild H. Rishø
📚 I read this in one day. And I’m not entirely sure if I liked it. It’s a short story that’s an engaging, fast read. It’s also heavy, dealing with themes of alcoholism and neglect. A loose retelling of The Little Match Girl, it’s heartbreaking, but also intentionally ambiguous at the end to remain somewhat hopeful. I know a lot of people LOVE this one, so don’t let me be the one to stop you!
Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel
📚 I joined a slow read this year with
Other enthusiasms:
French press coffee, homemade play-doh, Severance season 2 (!!!), these baskets from Target, happy mail from friends, snow days, this album.
See you next month for more kitchen library chronicles!
-Amanda
“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”
-Mary Oliver
Thanks Amanda! I appreciate how much time you've spent with WGWW!!!
Tara O’Brady’s chocolate chip cookies in Seven Spoons (slightly different from what you can find online) are hands down, the best chocolate chip cookies. I’ve made that olive oil cake from Julia Turshen’s new book probably 8 times. Given it as a gift to several different people. It simple and has a “quiet” flavor which sometimes is very necessary. Also, separately, I am listening to Wolf Hall on Audible. I’ve tried to read the book with my eyes since it came out and always put it back to the shelf as it puts me to sleep. HOWEVER, I’m moving along nicely with the Audible book!