Recipe Station

Here are our top four picks for Mother's Day gift cookbooks. Even better, why not pick a recipe to make Mom for a luxurious Mother's Day brunch?

1. Unforgettable: The Bold Flavors of Paula Wolfert's Renegade Life by Emily Kaiser Thelin, $35
This exquisite volume is part cookbook and part culinary biography. It features Paula Wolfert, a brilliant food writer who is not as well-known as she deserves to be. No doubt, this book is going to change that. Through stories and recipes, Unforgettable traces Wolfert's life, from her early years in New York City during the 1950s to her travels to Tangier, France, Morocco, and the Mediterranean. For her entire adult life, she crisscrossed her way across the ocean until finally settling in Sonoma County, California. And all along the way, she wrote about food, producing nine cookbooks in all.

Unforgettable pulls its recipes from Wolfert's classic books, chosen with an emphasis on brain-healthy ingredients in response to her Alzheimer's diagnosis. The photographs (by the very talented Eric Wolfinger) beautifully capture Wolfert's food while Emily Thelin's prose tells her story. This was a labor of love (the book was funded through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign) and it shows on every page. If you're looking for a gift for a curious, bold, genuine, passionate cook who loves adventure, this is it. But be sure to buy two because you're going to want to keep one for yourself.

2. Kebabs: 75 Recipes for Grilling by Sabrina Baksh and Derrick Riches, $22
It makes me sad that there's still gender bias when it comes to who tends the grill. I know plenty of women who love the smoke and drama of cooking over fire, yet 99 percent of the time, grilling cookbooks are obviously marketed towards dudes. In light of this, I felt compelled to include at least one stereotype-defying cookbook on this list and Kebabs, a fun look at the many ways to cook food on a stick, is the best choice.

The authors take a global approach to kebabs, so while there's obviously recipes from the Middle East, you will also find things from Japan, France, the U.S., West Africa, Thailand, and just about every country in between. All the proteins are represented, plus there are vegetarian/vegan substitutes and of course, lots of straight-up vegetable options, too. There's also a great general how-to section on the skewers, the fire, marinades, and mops — and many recipes come with accompanying sauces and dips. If your mama is happy to stand before a mighty grill, bathed in sweat, smoke, and the delicious perfume of charred meat, then this book is for her!

3. Candy Is Magic by Jami Curl, $35
Everyone knows someone who makes amazing caramels, loves homemade marshmallows, or has always wanted to make their own uniquely flavored gummy candy. This is cookbook is for the sugar mamas, for sure. But it's also for that person who thinks candy making is too scary or too hard, because author Jami Curl (owner of Quin Candy in Portland, Oregon) makes it clear that the opposite is true: Candy is fun, creative, easy, and yes, magical.

Curl's is a modern candyland, where bold, intriguing flavors meet classic and not-too-intimidating candy-making techniques. Recipes for lollipops, caramels, marshmallows, chews, sauces, and gumdrops cover the basics. Then, the excitement kicks in with flavors like black pepper, balsamic vinegar, smoked salt, roasted fruit, Aleppo pepper, and popcorn. Practical things like flavorings and tools are covered as well, and a source guide for ingredients and equipment helps a sweet-toothed mom find everything she will need to take her own magical journey.

4. In My Kitchen by Deborah Madison, $33
A new cookbook by Deborah Madison is always a delight, but this one in particular lights up the kitchen with its beautiful photography and design — and Madison's very personal voice. After decades of developing recipes and thinking about food, this is the stuff she cooks today, at her New Mexico home. The book is truly an invitation into her kitchen and garden, and a glimpse into the heart of a lifelong cook.

This book has a broad appeal. A beginner can pick it up and find wise and practical instruction; a more seasoned cook will page through, nodding and finding new inspiration. Madison's recipes are minimal and straightforward, making it possible for the busiest mom to bring bright, vibrant food to her family table any day of the week. A beautiful offering, inside and out.

What do you think about giving your mother a cookbook this Mother's Day? Do you think she'd like it? Have you read any of these cookbooks? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Article Source: The Kitchn