Earlier in the year, I compiled a list of cookbooks due to be released in the first half of 2022, that I was really looking forward to.

Now that all of them have been released, and I’ve had time to bake a couple of things and read through the books, I thought it would be nice to come back to the list and see how they faired after looking forward to them so much.

Cinnamon and Salt: Cicchetti in Venice by Emiko Davies - This book is as lovely as you might expect if you have any of Emiko’s other books. I especially like the in depth history about cicchetti in Venice, it is clear a lot of time and research has gone into this book. The recipes are interesting, but I have to say there aren’t many I will probably make. Sometimes down to the fact that I can never be bothered to deep fry anything, and also they are things that I would enjoy in small quantities at a restaurant, but maybe not make myself - here is a recipe from the book Emiko shared via her newsletter which will give an idea of the types of recipes in this book. Having said that, I don’t think this book is any less useful. As I said the history is very interesting, and it’s almost like being in Venice again when I am immersed in it all.
Around the Kitchen Table by Sophie Hansen and Annie Herron - As I suspected, I am really enjoying this book. It has a cosy calm vibe and there quite a few recipes I want to make. I have already made the Pot-Roasted Rhubarb (p.70) which was a great way to cook up some rhubarb very easily. We also made Angela’s Chicken (p.162), however was a little underwhelmed by the flavour (feedback was maybe it needed some dried black olives to up the flavour, or my personal favourite capers and/or anchovies). I guess some recipes won’t hit the spot with everyone, but I am still looking forward to trying more from this book, and would still highly recommend it.
A Good Day to Bake by Benjamina Ebuehi - Benjamina has done it again! I am really loving this book, Benjamina’s use of flavour is so exceptional, and again (like her first cookbook, A New Way to Cake), makes this book different from other baking books. I have already made the Miso and White Chocolate Cookies (p.168), and the rhubarb Ginger and White Chocolate Cake (p.80) - both will be made again! To find out more about this book check out this review from Shipshape Eatworthy which I found really helpful.
The Year of Miracles by Ella Risbridger - The most recent release of all in this list, so I haven’t made anything from this book yet. There are of course many recipes I would like to try, but beyond that I am so enjoying Ella’s writing and the beautiful illustrations by Elisa Cunningham as well. I have been enjoying reading though the book so much, that I ended up purchasing the hardcover version of Midnight Chicken (Ella’s first cookbook) - I already own the paperback version, however after seeing Ella’s new book in all its hardcover full colour glory, I could see how much I was missing out on in her first cookbook!
Nistisima by Georgina Hayden - When I added this to my cookbooks worth waiting for list, I said I had a feeling that this book, being all vegan recipes, would be the exception to my general distain for all vegan cookbooks. I was right, and would recommend this book to everyone. I have really enjoyed getting to know more about the process of fasting as part of the religious year, and the variety of recipes there are in this book. This book was picked as one of the cookbooks of the month in Jamie Oliver’s Cookbook Club on Facebook in April, so if you are interested to see some more you can find more there - here is Jamie introducing the book for April.

Did you add any of these books to your collection too? Let me know what you think of them in the comments below!

Keep an eye out for my next cookbooks worth waiting for list, which will feature the cookbooks I am most looking forward to in the second half of 2022.

Links to books on Booktopia removed 15/07/2024.

As I’m sure many of you have already seen, last week I was lucky enough to attend an amazing workshop hosted by Sophie Hansen, of Local is Lovely. The workshop was held at her family’s farm, Kimbri, in Rydal. It was a lovely place, and I surprisingly enjoyed being outside and on a farm (for those who know me well, know that I am not much of an outdoors person!). It was calming being out of Sydney for a few days, and like always with such workshops, invigorating to be around like minded creative people.

By now it must seem like I’m a bit of a ‘workshop junkie’, having attended 4 workshops in the last few months. I cannot properly explain how much I have learnt from these workshops. They have been exactly what I needed, and each has added to my photographic skills and most importantly, creative confidence.

When I first saw Sophie’s post announcing the workshop, I knew that I 100% had to go. There are times when something like this comes up, and I just know that it will be fantastic and exactly what I need. One of those things that you get so excited about, that not being able to go just can’t be an option! This was especially so when I saw that the lovely Luisa Brimble was going to be at the workshop, along with stylist extraordinaire Stephanie Stamatis. I was also rather excited about getting an art lesson from Sophie’s Mum Annie Herron.

The time I spent at Kimbri was just amazing, and I had a really great time. It was wonderful meeting new people, and catching up with those I had met at previous workshops. The food Sophie cooked, with the help of her friend Willa, was amazing. Before attending the workshop, I was in somewhat of a ‘food rut’. I had no motivation to cook anything much, particularly things that would be appropriate of lunch or dinner (read: you can’t have cake for lunch/dinner every day). After enjoying a couple of cooking-free days where I didn’t spend half the day deliberating what to make for dinner (then giving up at about 5:30pm and just having Vegemite on toast…again), I felt ready to tackle the daily dilemma of dinner again. First point of call was re-creating the zucchini galette made for lunch on the first day of the workshop. Luckily, after an ok first attempt, Sophie posted the recipe on her blog, so I could make it again properly!

Now, a week on, I am still in a slight workshop day-dream, re-living those couple of days through the photos and reading others blog posts about it. So now, I’ll add to those other posts, and go get myself a second helping of zucchini galette!