Cookbook Club

It’s that time again! The super bowl of the cook’s calendar. We talk about not making it a one-woman show, our plans for Thanksgiving this year and strategies for keeping it together during this food and family-filled holiday. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Cranberry curd tart (NYT) Mango pie (NYT) Vegan mushroom gravy (NYT) Carrot pie (Six Seasons) French onion stuffing (NYT) Pecan pie bites with gravy (NYT) Jennie’s Chicken Pelau (Small Victories) Chicken and black-eyed pea chili (Now & Again) 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 sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 11/27/2024): Scandinavian from Scratch, by Nicole Accettola

Instagram sensation turned cookbook author Dan Pelosi gave us a gem of a cookbook filled with comfort food, family and fun here. Sara is obsessed with the breakfast mushrooms and eggs, Renee isn’t sure whether these recipes are that great, but we love how Dan brings his whole personality to the book. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Grossy’s vodka sawce (page 193) Spinach & mushroom baked eggs (page 60) Mushroom bolognese (page 190) Vegan mushroom gravy (NYT) Roasted fennel, orange & olive salad (page 115) Four seasons salad (page 103) Italian gay wedding soup (page 85) Chocolate anise biscotti (page 249) Grandma Katherine’s rice pudding (page 276) Cinnamon sugar knots (page 138) The only dough you’ll knead (page 123) Live, Loaf, Love (page 229) Aioli have eyes for you (page 35) Mom's stuffed artichokes (page 112) Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 11/27/2024): Scandinavian from Scratch, by Nicole Accettola

A weeknight savior, a delicious favorite for kids and adults alike, and yet we made it to episode 79 before we had an episode about it?! We’re getting to it, thanks to a great listener request. Join us to talk about delicious pasta. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Spaghetti with garlicky bread crumbs and anchovies (NYT) Bacon & egg spaghetti, with greens & herbs (Dinner in One) Fettucine alfredo (Cook for Love) Pasta with garlicky broccoli raab (Dinner in One) Creamy corn pasta with basil (NYT) Charred corn pasta salad (What’s Gaby Cooking: Grilling all of the things) Disappearing zucchini orzo (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle) Instant Pot pasta bolognese (Julia Turshen) Caramelized shallot pasta (NYT) Kale sauce with any noodle (Six Seasons) Green angel hair with garlic butter (Smitten Kitchen Keepers) Llubav’s green spaghetti (Simply Julia) A Nice Lasagna (Small Victories) A Very Good Lasagna (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 sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 10/30/2024) will be about Let’s Eat! by Dan Pelosi

This James Beard-award winning cookbook features a collaboration between Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen, and tells the stories of many women across eight African countries. We love the storytelling aspect of this book. Will we keep it on our shelves? Recipes mentioned in this episode: Digaag Qumbe (page 73) Xawaash spice mix (page 74) Somali beef stew (page 93) Ma Gehennet’s Shiro (page 45) Berbere spice mix (page 50) Ma Kauthar’s Mango chile sauce (page 116) Date bread (page 158) Bolo Polana (page 189) Ginger spritz (page 245) Iced Rooibos tea with orange, cloves and cinnamon (page 214) Resources mentioned in this episode: In Bibi’s Kitchen, by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen Indian Instant Pot, by Urvashi Pitre Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 10/30/2024) will be about Let’s Eat! by Dan Pelosi

The kids are back in school, and you need to get yourself fed during the day. Join us for some strategies for weekday lunches, whether you are at home or in the office. Renee works from home, Sara often works from her car, and we offer solutions for every situation in-between. Cookbooks mentioned in this episode: That Cheese Plate will Change Your Life, by Marissa Mullen Vegan boards, by Kate Kasbee It’s All Easy, by Gwyneth Paltrow Resources mentioned in this episode: Planetbox lunch boxes Lunchbots lunch boxes Copycat Bitchin’ sauce Copycat Yumm sauce Copycat Toby’s dip Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (airing 10/2/2024): In Bibi’s Kitchen, by Hawa Hassan & Julia Turshen

Ali Slagle wrote our dream weeknight cookbook in “I Dream of Dinner.” We talk about Ali Slagle’s camper van adventures and the flexibility in these recipes while we celebrate bringing the podcast back after Renee’s cancer treatment! Recipes mentioned in this episode: Shrimp cocktail for dinner (page 365) Gochujang gravy (page 337) Smoky white beans and cauliflower (page 82) Marbella chicken salad (page 277) Ricotta frittata with lemon crumbs (page 32) Sesame chicken meatballs (page 263) Tahini herb pasta salad (page 162) Sticky chicken with pickled vegetables (page 297) Resources mentioned in this episode: Ali Slagle’s cute cooking videos from her camper van Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 10/2/2024) will be about In Bibi’s Kitchen, by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen.

Rick Martinez brings his warm, fun and exuberant personality to this collection of Mexican cuisine from different regions of Mexico. We love the color and texture throughout this book and talk about one of the yummiest meals we’ve shared together. Somebody book us a trip to sunny Mexico! Recipes mentioned in this episode: Enchiladas mineras (page 74) Aguachile (page 242) Gaspacho moreliano (page 90) Arroz blanco con mantequilla (page 50) Pozole verde, estilo Guerrero (page 116) Chiles jalapeños en escabeche (page 64) Salsa macha (page 60) Tacos árabes (page 93) Tortillas árabes (page 44) Pan de muerto (page 102) Resources mentioned in this episode: Tajín Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Next episodes coming in September 2024 after a summer break!

Pie is wonderful. Dessert pie is the best. And it makes us feel downright patriotic. Join us as we geek out on crust, fillings and baking techniques in this episode all about pie. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Tart and pie dough (The Art of Simple Food) All butter crust (America’s Test Kitchen) The only pie crust (Alison Roman) Lime pie with Anzac biscuit crust (Family) Carrot pie (Six Seasons) David Liebovitz’s salted honey pie (Grains for Every Season) Banana cream pie (NYT) Coconut cream pie (America’s Test Kitchen) Salted lemon cream pie (Sweet Enough) Apple ombre pie (NYT) Cookbooks mentioned in this episode: The Book on Pie, by Erin Jeanne McDowell Baking with Dorie, by Dorie Greenspan Dessert Person, by Claire Saffitz Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 6/12/2024 most likely — thanks for your patience!): Mi Cocina, by Rick Martinez

Bryant Terry is a visionary in the vegan cooking world, and we tried out this well-known cookbook. We talk about nesting doll recipes, brilliant vegan flavor boosters and decide whether this book could ever work on a weeknight. (And yes, we know we sound a little breathy in the audio on this episode, we’re working on it!) Recipes mentioned in this episode: All-green everything salad with creamy sage dressing (page 148) Cornbread muffins (page 37) Dill pickled fennel (page 44) Red rice with spring vegetables (page 74) Sweet potato, russet potato and tempeh hash (page 183) Millet, red lentil and potato cakes (page 175) Lentil soup (page 215) Creamy carrot coconut soup (page 208) Resources mentioned in this episode: Spotify dinner playlist Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 6/12/2024 most likely — thanks for your patience!): Mi Cocina, by Rick Martinez

We love to bake — so today, we talk about some favorite recipes for these easy go-to bakes. Sara won a prize for quickbread at the Oregon State Fair, Emily brings us tips on making these treats gluten free, and Renee, as always, loves Melissa Clark. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Carrot loaf cake with tangy lemon glaze (NYT) Banana bread (Weeknight Baking) Spiced banana brown bread (Now & Again) Gluten free zucchini muffins (Sprouted Kitchen) Pumpkin bread (Smitten Kitchen) Most adaptable one-bowl cornmeal pound cake (NYT) Pumpkin maple muffins (NYT) Caramelized brown butter rice krispies treats (NYT) Perfect blueberry muffins (Smitten Kitchen Every Day) Blueberry muffins (Grand Central Baking Book) Cranberry crumb muffins (NYT) Morning glory muffins (NYT) Toasted oat & apple muffins (Small Victories) Sled dog muffins (Simply Julia) Lunchbox harvest muffins (NYT) Figgy buckwheat scone (Good to the Grain) Cookbooks mentioned in this episode: Weeknight baking, by Michelle Lopez Good to the Grain, by Kim Boyce Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Our guest: Emily Pagliarulo, @ejmaletz on Instagram Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 5/15/2024): Vegetable Kingdom, by Bryant Terry

This book grabbed Renee’s eye over the summer when she was traveling in the UK, so she brought it back and we dove in to this ingredient-focused, easy weeknight book from our neighbor across the pond. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Persian saffron chicken, fennel & barberry stew (Persiana) Harissa & lemon roasted chicken thighs (page 80) Bloody Mary spatchcocked chicken (page 58) Butternut, cardamom & tahini soup (page 27) Tahini cinnamon swirls (page 222) Halloumi, bacon, date and apple salad (page 31) Spicy nutty roasted cauliflower (page 160) Zucchini, apple, peanut and feta salad (page 46) Persian flatbread (Persiana) Yogurt, marjoram & pul biber flatbreads (page 209) Cheat’s dhal (page 144) Zesty mackerel pate (page 24) Pistachio feta dip (Persiana) Cookbooks mentioned in this episode: Persiana, by Sabrina Ghayour Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Our guest: Emily Pagliarulo, @ejmaletz on Instagram Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 5/15/2024): Vegetable Kingdom, by Bryant Terry

There are very many things you can put on buns. Make your own buns, buy some at the grocery store, make a thing on a bun! We give you a whole list of ideas you can use for a meal on a bun! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Beautiful burger buns (King Arthur Flour) English muffins (King Arthur Flour) Crispy oven pulled pork (Smitten Kitchen Keepers) Turkey burgers (Food Health & Happiness) The ultimate veggie burger (NYT) Jamie Oliver’s vegetarian black bean burger (NYT) Potato chip fish cakes (Simply Julia) Homemade merguez with herby yogurt (Small Victories) Superiority burger’s crispy fried tofu sandwich (NYT) Cookbooks mentioned in this episode: Mooncakes & Milk Bread 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 4/17/2024): Persiana Everyday, by Sabrina Ghayour

Season three of our podcast and we’re finally cooking from the Barefoot Contessa! We talk about our fabulous cookbook club dinner, and whether we like cooking Ina Garten’s classic, entertaining-friendly recipes. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Warm spinach & artichoke dip Ultimate bloody marys Green salad vinaigrette Creamy tomato bisque Split pea soup with crispy kielbasa Charred carrots with orange and balsamic Baked rigatoni with lamb ragu Brussels sprouts pizza carbonara Salted pistachio meringues Chocolate dipped brown sugar shortbread Bittersweet chocolate cake Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 4/17/2024): Persiana Everyday, by Sabrina Ghayour

We make a lot of cakes! In this episode, we weigh the pros and cons of cake mixes vs. homemade cakes, kid cakes vs. adult cakes and talk about decorations and give you some of our best birthday cake strategies. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Pineapple upside down cake (Snacking Cakes) Strawberry summer cake (Smitten Kitchen) Devil’s food with salted milk chocolate frosting (Smitten Kitchen Keepers) Chocolate Midnight cake (Salt Fat Acid Heat) Toasted coconut cake (Now & Again) Cookbooks mentioned in this episode: Momofuku Milk Bar Mary Berry’s Baking Bible Resources mentioned in this episode: Erin McDowell’s rainbow frosting The Kitchn’s funfetti cake recipe roundup Unicorn cake topper 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 3/20/2024): Modern Comfort Food, by Ina Garten

One of the most famous cookbooks of all time, Mastering the Art of French Cooking was a revelation at the time, bringing French cuisine to American cooks. This huge collection of recipes is a little intimidating — but in this episode, we break it down to share the things we’ve made and loved along the way. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Pissaladière niçoise (Vol 1, page 151) Salade niçoise (Vol 1, page 542) Eggs En Gelee (Vol 1, page 547) Meringue-nut layer cake with butter-cream frosting and filling (Vol 2, page 497) Cream puffs (Vol 1, page 177) Baked cucumbers/parslied cucumbers (Vol 1, page 500) Fondue de poulet a la creme (Vol 1, page 262) Scrambled eggs (Vol 1, page 125) Chocolate souffle (Vol 1, page 619) Oeufs en Cocotte (Vol 1, page 123) Resources mentioned in this episode: Killing It, by Camas Davis Gordon Ramsay cooking scrambled eggs Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 3/20/2024): Modern Comfort Food, by Ina Garten

We are coming off the holidays, entering a new year, battling winter weather and sitting down to share how cooking is going in our homes these days. Freezer clean-outs, fresh new year recipes and more! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Indecision grilled chicken (Small Victories) Shepherd’s pie with a sweet potato crust (Whole30) Roasted red pepper sauce (Whole30) Roasted pork shoulder with butternut squash and tomatoes (Whole30) Cinnamon rolls (NYT) Bacon and egg spaghetti (Dinner in One) Cranberry-orange “snow” scones (Alexandra’s Kitchen) Slow-roasted salmon (Salt Fat Acid Heat) Recipes from In Bibi’s Kitchen Tangy braised short ribs (NYT) Recipes from Evolutions in Bread Recipes from Elements of Pizza Vanilla meringues (NYT) Pavlova wreath (Leigh Ann Wilkes) Chewy pumpkin chocolate chip cookie bars (NYT) Coconut curry chickpeas with pumpkin and lime (NYT) Pumpkin crumb cake (NYT) Baked pumpkin donuts (NYT) Seeded nut loaf (Mary Berry’s Baking Bible) 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 2/21/2024): Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child

We loved Andrea Nguyen’s first book, “Vietnamese Food Any Day.” How does her new release stack up for us? Renee and Sara talk about building block recipes, too-long-descriptions, eating cake until our stomachs hurt and more. Recipes mentioned in this episode: 10-10-10 Perfect Rice (page 65) Umami tofu crumbles (page 50) Nuoc Cham dipping sauce (page 32) Fast-fried shallots (page 46) Chicken-vegetable pho (page 161) Pressure cooker beef pho (NYT) Char siu pulled jackfruit (page 229) Baked char siu pulled-jackfruit bao (page 121) Gingery vegetable and beef stir fry (page 254) Char siu roasted cauliflower (page 227) Greens with magical sesame salt (page 201) Vietnamese mocha cake (page 266) Spice-citrus marble cake (page 269) Egg coffee (page 287) Resources mentioned in this episode: David Chang on MSG & umami (YouTube) MSG as a misunderstood ingredient (CNN) MSG’s bad rap (Five Thirty Eight) Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 2/21/2024): Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child

The holidays are over and weeknight cooking is back. If you’re like us, maybe you’re feeling a little overwhelmed and worn out on it — in that case, tune in for some easy weeknight dinner inspiration to get your dinner mojo back. Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Shakshuka (Dinner in an Instant) Shakshuka (Dinner in One) Green shakshuka with avocado and lime (NYT) Rao’s meatballs (NYT) Pasta alla Gricia (NYT) Curried chicken with cauliflower, apricots and olives (Sheet Pan Suppers) Lemony chicken with potatoes and oregano (NYT) Garlicky chicken with lemon-anchovy sauce (NYT) Spicy honey chicken thighs (Cooking Light) One-pot turmeric coconut rice with greens (NYT) Oven-baked polenta (NYT) Spiced chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric (NYT) Turkey burgers (Food, Health & Happiness) Beautiful burger buns (King Arthur Flour) Furikake salmon (Japanese Cookbook for Beginners) Reverse seared steak (Serious Eats) 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 1/24/2024): Ever-Green Vietnamese, by Andrea Nguyen

This week we’re coming back for more Deb Perelman with her newest book, Smitten Kitchen Keepers. Are they keepers? How do we like these compared to her other books? Tune in to find out. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Devil’s food cake with salted milk chocolate frosting (page 267) Luxe s’mores bars (page 235) Carrot cake with brown butter and no clutter (page 263) The blondie chipwich (page 237) Tomatoes with cottage cheese and bagel seeds (page 32) Blueberry pancake cobbler (page 41) Endive salad with apple matchsticks (page 53) Double shallot egg salad (page 59) Carrot tarte tatin (page 119) Winter squash soup with red onion crisp (page 77) Cozy chicken and dumplings soup (page 85) Braised winter squash wedges (page 111) Deepest dish broccoli cheddar quiche (page 145) Honey thyme baked feta (page 284) Spicy crushed olives with pistachios (page 287) Toasted sesame almonds (page 288) Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Next cookbook episode (releasing 1/24/2024): Ever-Green Vietnamese, by Andrea Nguyen

Have you ever made a babka? We tried a number of recipes for this enriched-dough bread with a ribbon of flavor, and we came up with very mixed results. Listen in on to see what we baked and our favorite babka recipe! Recipes mentioned in this episode: ⁠Babka (America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book) Cinnamon babka (Claire Saffitz, NYT) Savory babka with ricotta and herbs (Melissa Clark, NYT) Better chocolate babka (Smitten Kitchen) Chocolate babka (Melissa Clark, NYT) Sprinkle butter babka loaf (Nadiya Hussein) Birthday cake babka (What Jew Wanna Eat) 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 12/27/2023): Smitten Kitchen Keepers, by Deb Perelman