Arts

Cookbook Club

Each month I cook through one cookbook and share my favorite recipes, my not-so-favorites, and what I’ll make again. Then you cook along, send me a short voice memo, and I weave listener voices right into the episode. Sometimes friends from my real-life cookbook club in Portland join in too. New episodes monthly. Follow along on Instagram @cookbookclubshow.

Latest Episodes:

42: Chocolate Chip Cookies Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

The chocolate chip cookie is an American classic, one we threw some shade on back in season one. But let’s talk about them, give some great recipes a time to shine, and dream about gooey, warm, buttery treats studded with chocolate chips.

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Toll House chocolate chip cookies (NYT)
Chocolate chip cookies (Good to the Grain)
Chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (Allrecipes)
Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (Grand Central Baking Book)
Salted tahini chocolate chip cookies (NYT)
Brown butter chocolate chip cookies (100 Cookies)
Chewy chocolate chip cookies (America’s Test Kitchen)
Salted chocolate chunk shortbread cookies (NYT)
Bourbon sablés (100 Cookies)
Rosemary olive oil shortbread cookies (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)
Cowboy cookies (The Campout Cookbook)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 3/22/2023): Provisions, by Suzanne & Michelle Rousseau

41: Amá: A Modern Tex-Mex Kitchen Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

A bold and beautiful book full of bright photographs, this one certainly caught our attention — but how is it to cook from? We take on this chef-written cookbook and share our victories and our fails from it.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Albondigas with tomatillo salsa (page 86)
Borracho beans (page 145)
Cowboy Beans (Hello, My name is Tasty)
Huevos rancheros (page 52)
Refried borracho beans (page 147)
Borracho bean dip (page 208)
Queso (page 185)
Turkey chili (page 176)
Cornmeal pancakes with maple-molasses syrup (page 75)
Mom’s rice (page 148)
Mom’s green enchiladas (page 93)
Chicken and chile tortilla soup (page 83)
The Nacho (page 220)
Tex-Leches chocolate coconut cake (page 259)
Cinnamon fennel conchas (page 248)
Sopapillas (page 246)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 3/22/2023): Provisions, by Michelle and Suzanne Rousseau

40: Salad Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Let’s talk about salad! Generally raw, generally cold, but can be defined in a million ways. Join us as we explore some ways to make salad more delicious and share some favorite recipes and strategies.

Salad strategies mentioned in this episode:

Make a salad bar in your fridge
Make a house dressing
Make salads ahead
Use fresh herbs
Add a protein

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Craveable creamy brussels sprouts slaw with apples and toasted almonds (Naturally Nourished)
Brussels sprouts caesar salad (NYT)
Tex-Mex caesar salad (Amá)
Chopped salad with apples, walnuts and bitter lettuces (NYT)
Lentil and tomato salad with mustard vinaigrette (It's All Good)
Sesame cucumber and avocado salad (NYT)
Carrot salad with tahini, crisped chickpeas and salted pistachios (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)
Sweet and tangy carrot and tuna salad (Japanese Cookbook for Beginners)
Shaking tofu & Shaking beef (Vietnamese Food Any Day)
Romaine and celery salad with buttermilk ranch (Now & Again)
Vietnamese salad bowl (Vietnamese Food Any Day)
Taco salad
Cilantro raisin vinaigrette (Grains for Every Season)
Blue cheese dressing (Salt Fat Acid Heat)
Miso-ginger dressing (NYT)
Crunchy greens with carrot ginger dressing (NYT)
Perfect herby salad (Nothing Fancy)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 2/22/2023): Amá: A Modern Tex Mex Kitchen

39: Japanese Cookbook for Beginners Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

A small, humble cookbook that took us by surprise. This Japanese cookbook from Azusa Oda is full of heavy-hitting simple recipes with clean flavors. Hear us talk about a whole pile of recipes we’ve made — and let us know if you’ve cooked from it too.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Humble Bean blog

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Basic dashi, page 18
Vegan dashi, page 19
Miso soup, page 20
Coconut, almond & matcha granola, page 32
Easy cucumber pickles, page 35
Miso-marinated salmon, page 94
Salted salmon, page 92
Alison Roman buttered salmon dish
Green salad with sesame-miso dressing, page 38
Stir-fried broccoli with crispy garlic, page 52
Furikake popcorn, page 33
Potluck ready crunchy cabbage salad, page 40
Sweet and tangy carrot and tuna salad, page 42
Buttery sweet potatoes, page 54
Super simple ramen, page 86
Slow cooker shoyu chicken, page 115
Sweet and savory chicken and egg bowl, page 108
Hamburger steak, page 112
Citrus soy sauce, page 26

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 2/22/2023): Amá: A Modern Tex-Mex Kitchen by Josef Centeno and Betty Hallock

38: Instant Pot Round-Up Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

It’s a new year, and for us, we’re feeling a draw toward simplicity and ease in our cooking. This week we’re talking about all our favorite easy, delicious things to cook in the Instant Pot.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Instant Pot egg bite mold

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Spicy pork shoulder (NYT)
Pressure cooker beef pho (NYT)
Oven-braised beef with tomatoes and garlic (Smitten Kitchen)
Pressure cooker classic beef chili (NYT)
Harissa, butternut and chickpea stew (Instant Pot Miracle Healthy Cookbook)
Instant Pot vegetable soup (Nom Nom Paleo)
Tempeh with teriyaki greens and cilantro yogurt (Martha Stewart's Pressure Cooker)
Pressure cooker carnitas (Allrecipes)
Carnitas (Dinner in an Instant)
Easiest-ever pasta bolognese (Julia Turshen)
Egg bites (The Kitchn)
One-pot turmeric rice with greens (NYT)
Spiced chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric (NYT)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 1/11/2023): Japanese Cookbook for Beginners

37: Super Natural Every Day Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

We’re a split vote on this natural, whole foods cookbook from award-winning author Heidi Swanson — it has shown us some new things, but does it offer enough to stay on our cookbook shelves?

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Granola (page 26)
Baked oatmeal (page 44)
Millet muffins (page 41)
Chickpea stew (page 134)
Open-faced egg sandwich (page 60)
Rye soda bread (page 96)
Summer squash soup (page 60)
Spiced chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric (NYT)
Green lentil soup (page 149)
Wild rice casserole (page 155)
Miso-curry delicata squash (page 158)
White beans and cabbage (page 86)
Macaroon tart (page 192)
Oatcakes (page 204)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 1/11/2023): Japanese Cookbook for Beginners, by Azusa Oda

36: Holiday cookies Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Oh boy, how can two ladies have so many opinions about holiday cookies? You’re about to find out. Join us as we dig into our history eating and baking these cookies, and a roundup of some of our favorite recipes.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

How to Make the Perfect cookie box (NYT)

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Eggnog snickerdoodles (NYT)
Dirty chai earthquake cookies (NYT)
Rosemary olive oil shortbread (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)
Fudgy bourbon balls (NYT)
Nut brittle (The Campout Cookbook)
Double coconut meltaways (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)
Aunt Ginny’s molasses cookies
Holiday cookies (America’s Test Kitchen)
Shortbread cookies (Grand Central Baking Book)
Confetti cookies (Smitten Kitchen)
Thin and crispy gingerbread cookies (America’s Test Kitchen)
Cowboy cookies (The Campout Cookbook)
Chocolate sandwich cookies (100 Cookies)
Neapolitan cookies (100 Cookies)
Jam thumbprints (Cook for Love)
Cornmeal lime shortbread fans (NYT)
Chocolate sugar cookies (100 Cookies)
Russian tea cakes (Gourmet)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 12/28/2022): Super Natural Every Day

35: Nothing Fancy Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

Big bold flavors and a big bold personality — Alison Roman brings it all in this book about “having people over” and not “entertaining,” thank you very much. Renee thinks Roman shows her immature side and we look past the very 1970s photography style to get to the meat of this popular cookbook.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Creamy goat cheese with lemony za’atar (page 53)
Seeded breadsticks with parmesan (page 66)
Labne with sizzled scallions and chile (almost ranch) (page 22)
A better garlic bread/Caramelized garlic on toast with anchovies (page 73)
Frizzled chickpeas and onions with feta and oregano (page 168)
Roasted squash with yogurt and spiced, buttered pistachios (page 148)
The perfect herby salad (page 86)
Celery salad with cilantro and sesame (page 100)
Summer squash with basil, parmesan and toasted buckwheat (page 108)
Smashed cucumbers with sizzled turmeric and garlic (page 107)
Spicy caramelized leeks with fresh lemon (page 140)
Buttered turmeric rice with crushed almonds and herbs (page 173)
A very good lasagna (page 256)
One-pot chicken with dates and caramelized lemon (page 194)
Buttered salmon with red onion and dill (page 247)
Salmon with soy and citrusy charred scallions (page 238)
Lemony turmeric tea cake (page 309)
Crushed blackberry and cornmeal cake (page 272)
The only pie crust (page 311)
Casual apple tart with caramelized buttermilk (page 284)
Sweet and salty cream cheese tart (page 292)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 12/28/2022): Super Natural Every Day, by Heidi Swanson

34: Holiday breakfasts Nov 16, 2022

Show notes

Yes, the big cooking holidays are coming — but before you feed a crowd and get to your oven schedule, what are you eating for breakfast? Sara and Renee detail their strategies for how to keep themselves and house guests fed before the big meal.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Baked pumpkin doughnuts (NYT)
Cranberry crumb muffins (NYT)
Apple cider baked doughnuts (NYT)
Sweet potato & sausage breakfast hash (One Pan & Done)
Fluffy pumpkin pancakes (NYT)
Buckwheat pancakes (The Campout Cookbook)
Overnight french toast (NYT)
Fluffy eggnog cinnamon rolls (Half Baked Harvest)
Baked oatmeal (Super Natural Every Day)
Strata (America’s Test Kitchen)
Bacon, egg and cheese breakfast casserole (NYT)
Cheesy breakfast egg and polenta casserole (NYT)
English muffin breakfast casserole (NYT)
Bagel morning plate (That Cheese Plate will Change your Life)
That morning marmalade plate (That Cheese Plate)
Backcountry breakfast boards (The Campout Cookbook)
Eleven Madison Park granola (NYT)
Union Square Cafe chocolate biscotti (NYT)
Overnight yeasted waffles (Kitchn)
Green eggs with or without ham (Small Victories)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 11/30/2022): Nothing Fancy, by Alison Roman

33: The Flavor Equation Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

Sort of like the love child of J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, Christopher Kimball and Samin Nosrat, The Flavor Equation is a cookbook unlike many others. Join us as we share some of the things we learned and the delicious things we cooked from this nerdy food-science book that dives deep on flavor.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Recipes mentioned in this episode:

Stir-fried cabbage (page 219)
Shaved brussels sprouts salad (page 112)
Green beans with preserved lemons + crème fraîche (page 76)
Baked sweet potatoes with maple crème fraîche (page 177)
Herb + paneer pulao (page 80)
Paneer (Indian Instant Pot Cookbook)
Blueberry + Omani lime ice cream (page 98)
Roasted cauliflower in turmeric kefir (page 83)
Sweet potato honey beer pie (page 129)
Paneer + beet salad with mango-lime dressing (page 147)
Potato pancakes (page 249)
Garlic + ginger dal with greens (page 256)
Dal makhani (page 292)
Parathas + masala parathas (page 297)

Join our Cookbook Club!

Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow
E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com
Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray
Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 11/30/2022): Nothing Fancy, by Alison Roman

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