Summer cookbooks to keep you in the kitchen

The new crop of cookbooks speaks volumes about food today. The emphasis continues to be on ingredients fresh and seasonal, as you’d expect in a world where farmers markets have practically become a religion. And we can’t remember when we’ve seen so many vegan and vegetarian volumes fly over the transom. They came, we saw, we read. And here are 10 of our favorites. — Jane Touzalin

5 Seconds

00:00

“The Brokeass Gourmet Cookbook: Recipes to Keep Your Taste Buds Happy and Your Wallet Thick,” by Gabi Moskowitz (Egg & Dart, 2012, $16.95, paperback). The voice of this budget-concious lifestyle blogger is engaging, and her recipes are basic, appealing and cost-itemized. She includes cocktails, wine and suggested menus. But the price of seemingly inexpensive foods, such as green onion nan with chutney, works out to almost $2 per portion. And about that recipe: Girlfriend could have spent a little more time proofreading.

Dynamic Housewares /

Green Onion Nan With Yogurt-Mint Chutney from "The Brokeass Gourmet Cookbook" by Gabi Moskowitz

Deb Lindsey / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

“The Farm: Rustic Recipes for a Year of Incredible Food,” by Ian Knauer (Hirsheimer & Hamilton, 2012, $30). Former Gourmet magazine recipe tester Knauer draws inspiration from his family farm in Pennsylvania to create straightforward dishes that are greater than the sum of their uncomplicated parts. Some of the recipes came from, or were inspired by, his grandmother, and Knauer’s reminiscences about her and his grandfather are poignant and sweet.

Hirsheimer & Hamilton

Beet and Snap Pea Salad With Ricotta from "The Farm" by Ian Knauer

Deb Lindsey / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

“La Tartine Gourmande: Recipes for an Inspired Life,” by Beatrice Peltre (Roost, 2012, $35). In her first cookbook, this Boston blogger gives us creative food with big flavors that draw on her French childhood. Her writing is personal and charming. Although not advertised as a gluten-free recipe collection, it largely uses non-gluten flours. Bonus: a brush-up for your high school French, with phrases and translations scattered here and there. For example: “ ‘Vous resterez bien pour diner?’ (‘You’ll stay for dinner?’)” Mais oui!

Roost Books

Salmon With an Exotic Spiced Carrot Sauce from "La Tartine Gourmande" by Beatrice Peltre

Beatrice Peltre

“Making Artisan Pasta: How to Make a World of Handmade Noodles, Stuffed Pasta, Dumplings, and More,” by Aliza Green (Quarry, 2012, $24.99, paperback). Here’s all you need — probably even more than you need — to start you on your way to making professional-quality pastas. Detailed elementary instruction shares the pages with more complex techniques; for those so inclined, there are even directions for grinding your own flour. But basically, Green says in her introduction, to use this book “you’ll need only a few well-made tools, reasonable kitchen skills, and some upper body strength.”

Quarry Books

“The Meat Free Monday Cookbook,” edited by Annie Rigg (Kyle, 2012, $29.95). The Meatless Monday campaign has picked up steam as celebrities, and celebrity chefs, have jumped onboard. This book, with a foreword by Paul, Stella and Mary McCartney, plans out every meal and snack for a year’s worth of Mondays. You’ll recognize some of the recipe contributors, who include Woody Harrelson, Pink, Kevin Spacey and Mario Batali.

Kyle

Sicilian Cauliflower Pasta from "The Meat Free Monday Cookbook," by Annie Rigg

Deb Lindsey / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

“Pure Beef: An Essential Guide to Artisan Meat With Recipes for Every Cut,” by Lynne Curry (Running Press, 2012; $27). The author was a vegetarian until her first transporting bite of grass-fed beef led her down a new path. Her book combines a thorough tutorial — how to buy, butcher, cook and taste artisan beef — with 140 recipes. The focus is on grass-fed cattle, but Curry gives you permission to try her recipes with any kind of beef.

Running Press

Flank Steak Spirals With Spinach, Figs and Fontina from "Pure Beef" by Lynne Curry

Deb Lindsey / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

“Pure Vegan: 70 Recipes for Beautiful Meals and Clean Living,” by Joseph Shuldiner (Chronicle, 2012, $29.95, paperback). No preaching, just striking, elegant food in this substantial book that organizes recipes by time of day. French toast is made with soy milk and topped with a cardamom pear compote; a stunning cake is made with olive oil; seared tofu is glazed with date barbecue sauce. The photo of the fig-topped polenta cake will make you want to eat the page. That’s okay; it’s plant-based.

Running Press

Jicama Salad from "Pure Vegan" by Joseph Shuldiner

Deb Lindsey / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

“Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts: Quicker Smarter Recipes,” by Alice Medrich (Artisan, 2012, $25.95). The baking maven presents simple yet inventive desserts that, in her words, “require fewer steps, less equipment, less measuring, less precision, less fuss.” Every page tempts.

Artisan

Crunchy Almond Butter Meringue With Berries and Cream from "Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts" by Alice Medrich

Deb Lindsey / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

“The Sunset Edible Garden Cookbook: Fresh, Healthy Cooking From the Garden,” from the editors of Sunset (Oxmoor House, 2012, $24.95, paperback). The focus is on food from the garden — ideally your garden. There are suggestions on what to plant, plus growing and harvesting tips. But anyone who shops at a farmers market or otherwise has access to excellent fresh produce can use these recipes, which also include plenty of meat. All have nutritional analyses.

Oxmoor House

“Vegetarian: A Delicious Celebration of Fresh Ingredients,” by Alice Hart (Lyons Press, 2012; $24.95, paperback). “You won’t miss the meat” is a cliche, but here, it applies. Breakfast to dessert, these are universally appealing dishes, beautifully photographed. The author pitches the book not just to vegetarians but to all those thinking of reducing their meat intake. The meat substitutes that tend to make carnivores nervous — tofu, tempeh — barely make an appearance. Illustrated DIY tips and a chapter on basics round out the book.

Globe Pequot Press

Summer Vegetable Carpaccio With Horseradish Dressing from "Vegetarian" by Alice Hart

Lisa Linder / Lisa Linder

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

epa03708924 Franziska (C) wears a helmet and carries a shield during the recreation of The Battle of the Teutoburg Museum in Bramsche, Germany, 20 May 2013. The everyday life of Romans and the Germanic people is depicted at Museum Park Kalkriese during the Romans and Germanic people days. EPA/Friso Gentsch

Photos of the day

Battle of Teutoburg Forest reenactment, Mars Curiosity rover drilling, massive tornado strikes Moore, Oklahoma and more.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Animal views

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

The Herndon Climb

The Herndon Monument climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

This combination of Associated Press photos shows left, a neighborhood in Moore, Okla., in ruins on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, after a tornado flattened many houses and buildings in central Oklahoma, and right, flattened houses in Moore on Monday, May 20, 2013. Monday's powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the region in May 1999. (AP Photo)

Okla. tornado loosely followed path of 1999 twister

Monday’s powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the area in May 1999.

Lea Bessinger salvages a picture of Jesus as she and her son Josh Bessinger sort through the rubble of the elder Bessinger's tornado-ravaged home Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Moore, Okla. A huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening an entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tornado near Oklahoma City causes more damage

Rescue workers are searching for survivors after a twister carved a long path of destruction in a suburb of Oklahoma City. It was part of the...

FILE - In this undated publicity file photo, members of the Doors, from left, John Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison, pose for a portrait. Manzarek, the keyboardist who was a founding member of The Doors, has died at 74. Publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald says in a news release that Manzarek died Monday, May 20, 2013, at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family. (AP Photo, File)

Ray Manzarek, founding member of the Doors, dies at 74

Manzarek co-founded the Doors after meeting then-poet Jim Morrison in California. The band went on to become one of the most successful rock-and-roll...

US actress Rosario Dawson smiles on May 20, 2013 as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Wara No Tate' (Shield of Straw) presented in Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. Cannes, one of the world's top film festivals, opened on May 15 and will climax on May 26 with awards selected by a jury headed this year by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLIALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images

Eye on entertainment

Rosario Dawson, Alec Baldwin, Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Bow Wow, Amy Poehler and more.

A man walks on sulphur and mineral salt formations near Dallol in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia April 22, 2013. The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and harshest environments on earth, with an average annual temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 Celsius). For centuries, merchants have travelled there with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted and shaped into slabs, then loaded onto the animals before being transported back across the desert so that it can be sold around the country. Picture taken April 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola (ETHIOPIA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 2 OF 30 FOR PACKAGE 'ETHIOPIA'S ANCIENT SALT TRAIL'
SEARCH 'DANAKIL DEPRESSION' FOR ALL

Ethiopia’s salt trail

For centuries, merchants have traveled to Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted...

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.