The Nourished Kitchen Cookbook Review
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When we were running the family catering business, we often repeated the phrase, “The eyes eat first” – meaning that our food had to look good as well as taste good. “The Nourished Kitchen: Farm-to-Table recipes for the Traditional Foods Lifestyle” is a feast for the eyes as well as an inspiration to savor traditional recipes with a modern twist. I have the pleasure of receiving a review copy as we head into the perfect time to experiment with these farm to table options.
The Nourished Kitchen cookbook is written by Jennifer McGruther of www.nourishedkitchen.com, an award winning traditional foods website. Her years of managing a farmers market and teaching traditional food preparation shine through in this beautiful new book.
What’s in the book?
The book is divided into eight chapters with 160 recipes, plus a glossary, resources, a listing of food advocacy groups and measurement conversion charts. The chapters include:
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- From the garden, featuring salads and seasonal vegetables
- From the pasture, featuring milk, cream and eggs
- From the range, featuring pasture-raised chicken and poultry, grass-fed meats, pasture-raised pork, offal and bones
- From the water, featuring “finfish” – including roe, and shellfish
- From the fields, featuring flours, grains and beans
- From the wild, featuring wild fare from greens and mushrooms to pheasant and venison
- From the orchard, featuring fruit, nuts and honey
- From the larder, featuring fermentation and preserving in oil and vinegar
Recipes focus on seasonal cooking of locally available foods, and are based on the Weston A. Price traditional foods diet. You won’t find pre-packaged products assembled into “recipes”. This cooking starts with real food. Jenny offers detailed cooking instructions, and also provides insight into why and how the recipes were created. There are charts and gorgeous full colored photos sprinkled throughout the text.
At times “The Nourished Kitchen” reminds me of the work of Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Barbara Kingsolver (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life) in the way it examines the history and the ethics of food. It is more than just a recipe book – it tells a compelling story that makes you want to be a part of it. If you just want to cook great food from your garden or farm market finds, you can use it for that, too, but you’ll be missing out. 🙂
We’re trying to incorporate local fresh foods into our diet but we’re having so much trouble making it work on our budget. I know in the long run with less sickness and being healthier its cheaper but when you seriously dont have it to spend you just dont. What’s the most important thing to make sure is local organic if you cant be sure you can do it all?
You may find the post “Practical Ways to Eat Well When You Can’t Afford Organic Food” useful.
Thank you so much! I just got done reading it and it was very helpful!
I would love to win this book
can’t wait to get a copy of this book. tried to buy it on amazon today, but only paperback was available. i want the hard copy so i can pass it down to my daughter some day!
big fan of local and seasonal!!!! would love to win this cookbook 🙂
I try to frequent farmer’s markets as much as possible. Many are not certified organic farmers due to costs, but then from talking with them, I worry about what I am actually buying from them. I do find some of them seem to not really understand my questions or that they are mislabeling and mis-communicating facts about their foods. I am wondering if anyone has tips on getting the most honest and direct answers to my questions…such as: are your animals pastured or fed corn or soy, are the grains gmo, is this dairy or beef grass fed or grass finished, how do the pesticides you use on your vegetables differ from those in a grocery store (these are just examples of questions to which I seem get unclear answers). I feel like I am direct and clear, but maybe I am confusing and need to simplify my questions.
Keep asking until you find someone who understands what you’re asking. In my experience, a typical vendor won’t even understand your concerns, but those who grow organically/sustainably will.
Would LOVE to have a copy of this cookbook!!! I’m slowly but surely venturing out there and trying to find new recipes to incorporate our homegrown, ORGANIC veggies and meats we raise and process ourselves!
Any tips on making kombucha?
We have a number of posts about kombucha brewing on the site – https://commonsensehome.com/brew-your-own-kombucha/
I would love to have this book!
Would LOVE to read this book!
Her cookbook looks amazing!!! We love eating with the season in our home.
I already made a recipe (spinach and potato soup) from this book, so I would love to win a copy!
I am a SAHM of 4 kids, ages 3, 5 1/2, 7 1/2, and 11. We make EVERYTHING at home because of some pretty major food allergies / sensitivities, and I am always looking for more new things to make and new recipes to try. I am teaching our children about the importance of food as nourishment for our bodies and that the preparation is just as important as the ingredients. Cook with love!
I would love to have this book! I am a mother of three, and I’m working really hard to learn how to cook real food… This would be so wonderful!
What are the fruits/veggies to look for around this time of year? Would like to try making jam for the first time from produce from the farmers market – could use some tips on what is “in season” right now.
Epicurious has an interactive Seasonal Ingredient map that will help you find what’s in season where you live.
What a wonderful giveaway! Have really loved what Jenny is bringing to the table (pun very much intended!) 🙂
Thanks so much for the two of you doing this!
Jessica
I enjoy reading all about your ideas and creations. There is a whole world out there waiting to be a better idea. Thanks for your input.
This would just be an awesome addition to my simpler life and better eating makeover.
Thank you and The Nourished Kitchen for doing this giveaway! My library already has a copy and it’s a great book!
This looks like just the cookbook I’ve been searching for!
This would be a wonderful addition to my family’s kitchen!