Cookbook Club // Month 10

I couldn't be more excited for today! After taking the summer off of cookbook club due to traveling, we're back! Month 10 is here and I'm not exaggerating when I say this could be the best cookbook of the year!

Here’s the deal if you’re new to cookbook club... each month I announce the cookbook of the month and then we can buy it, borrow it, check it out from the library and cook! Cook by yourself, invite your friends over, host your own cookbook club with the assigned book, whatever floats your boat. The idea is for us all to cook recipes from the same book in the same month. Pick one or two or three recipes. Whatever you can manage! THEN… for one of my Instagram Live posts we’ll cook a recipe from the cookbook together and you guys can tune in, share your own pics from the recipes you’ve made, share your friends photos, you name it!!

We can talk in real time about the cookbooks, what we loved about certain recipes, what you have questions about, what worked, what didn’t…. the whole nine yards. And then we do it all over again next month. Fun, right? We get to virtually eat our way through a different cookbook every single month. I’m so jazzed about this idea and I hope you will be too. So let’s get round 10 rolling!

Istanbul and Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey could be my favorite cookbook to date. First - let's start with the fact that I've been to Turkey before but it was when I was a kid which means I was the pickiest eater on the planet. I missed out big time as I'm pretty sure I just ate bread the entire time I was there. I've been plotting my way back ever since. And while I figure out my trip, at least I have this book to help pass the time.

Turkish food is a cross between Mediterranean, Middle Eastern cuisine, and a touch of Asian. This book takes you on an unforgettable food adventure, starting in Istanbul and moving onto the lesser-known areas of Turkey influenced by neighboring countries like Syria, Iran, Iraq, Armenia, and Georgia.

The recipes in this book are beyond. Truth be told, I started cooking from it the second it arrived last month and I couldn't WAIT to share it for cookbook club. It's been the star of 6 dinners so far and the end isn't in sight. Some recipes on my upcoming agenda include,  “The Imam Fainted” Stuffed Eggplant, Pillowy Fingerprint Flatbread, Pot-Roasted Chicken with Caramelized Onions, Stovetop Lamb Meatballs with Spice Butter and more!

And the recipes that have already graced my kitchen are:

Strained Yogurt  

Salmon with Garlic, Herbs and Lemon (this was what I made on insta-stories last weekend and I'll never cook salmon any other way ever again. Changed my world)

Corn Salad with Eggplant and Dill. OMG this was insane.

Tahtakale Market Chicken Wings. Thomas basically died he said these were the best he's ever had.

and lastly eggs poached in chunky tomato and pepper sauce

Oh I lied! There's a boat load of dips / sauces that I've been making on the regular. I hadn't ever made baba ganoush until this book and it's my new favorite thing on earth.

Here's the link to the book on Amazon Istanbul and Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey if you want to have it delivered or go grab it from your local bookstore or library! I’m continuing to cook my way through this week!! Feel free to leave any comments here if you have questions.

PS…. when you make something from the book, if you post it on insta use the hashtag #WGCcookbookclub so we can see!!

PSS – here’s cookbook club month 1 in case you’re interested! And month 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9!