Hello dear friends. Happy start of summer (which doesn’t officially start until June 21, but school is out and it’s 100 degrees here so I’m going with it).
It feels so goog to sit here and take a break from packing up my life… again. We have moved every year for the past several years and as much fun as it is, I’m so ready to not move. But, I’m looking forward to living in beautiful Palo Alto, California. I think it is going to be a fantastic adventure for my family. Before that happens, though, I will be living out of a suitcase will we visit family all over Utah for 2 months. It’s a bit tricky to pack the house for the move and pack us up for a 2 month road trip at the same time. I will do my best to share with you the madness!
We are really downsizing this fall. I hesitate to even say it… 800 sq. ft! You might not believe it, but I am actually looking forward to it. I love small spaces and am thrilled to only have to manage keeping a shoebox sized townhouse clean – a feat I have a chance for success at. I have gone through every drawer and closet purging out anything we don’t need or love. It was hard work, but feels so good. It is unbelievably freeing.
It was a bit sad, however, to edit all my lovely cookbooks. I do so much online now that I find I don’t use cookbooks as much as I used to. I still love them and had to force myself to keep only the best and most beautiful. Here are 5 that I am loving right now:
1. Gwyneth Paltow’s My Father’s Daughter
is awesome. I love the layout and brightness. The photos are incredible. I have made several recipes from this cookbook that were delicious, which is rare. Paltrow also has a new even healthier cookbook out, It’s All Good
, that I haven’t tried, yet, but can’t wait to get my hands on.


2. Nourishing Traditions
. This is more of a textbook than a cookbook, not something I would normal recommend. However, I have learned so much from this classic. It really gets you back to your roots and the old fashioned way of eating. It has some of the most interesting recipes such as making your own cheese curd and fermenting your own veggies. She also explains the why of eating the “old-school” way, which I appreciate. Nothing quite like this one. A great reference.


3.At the Farmers’ Market with Kids
. My mom got me this one a while back and although it’s small, it’s a gem. Lots of healthy simple fresh recipes for the whole family.


4. The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast
. I have been learning about the health benefits of natural starters and want to really get good at this. You know what makes San Francisco sourdough so famous? It’s the natural yeast in the air over the bay. Each area will have a little different flavored starter because the air is difference. I’m a huge nerd, I know. But, I am excited to make my own Palo Alto sourdough.


5. “Mary’s homemade cookbook”. I have a large 3 ring binder that I constantly add to and edit. It is by far my most used “cookbook”. When I find recipes I want to try or make up on my own, they go into the binder. If you don’t have your own “binder”, you need one. It keeps me organized and trying new fun things. I make sure to go through it periodically to get rid of recipes that didn’t turn out or ones I will never make. It is fun to see the evolution of the binder, it is certainly a healthier cookbook now that it was a few years ago.
What are your favorite cookbooks?