My favorite cookbook of 2019 is perfect for home cooks like me who want to prepare quick and easy meals. This beautiful book is filled with practical, healthy recipes that will inspire you to get cookin’! Plus, other notable cookbooks of 2019 worth taking a look at!
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I’m a huge fan of cookbooks! I love to hold an actual book in my hands, flip through the pages, and peruse recipes that I may, or may not, actually make. Sure, browsing recipes online is fun too, but there’s something about a hard-cover book that draws me in more.
I used to have a large collection of cookbooks, until one day I decided to de-clutter and get rid of stuff I never used. Several of the cookbooks I purchased over the years just sat on my shelf, collecting dust, never to be opened. I photocopied one or two recipes from each that I really wanted to make and then donated most of them to the library.
Now I own just a few cookbooks (I still haven’t made all the recipes in them yet!). Mostly, I use recipes from my own “homemade cookbook” (an organized binder) that is filled with the successful, most-loved, most-used recipes that my family and I enjoy. These are the recipes that I’m sharing with you on this blog!
I still enjoy browsing through all the latest cookbooks! But, I’ve learned to be smart about it and save my money. Now I like to borrow cookbooks from the library! (My library even delivers them straight to my front door!) Once in awhile I find a cookbook that I think is worth purchasing!
Criteria for a Favorite Cookbook
- Value: There must be at least 20 recipes in the book that I would make.
- Quick & Easy Recipes: The recipes must be fairly easy, have a short ingredient list, and short instructions. I’m a realist and I’m practical… those long recipes aren’t for me!
- Healthyish: I try to stick to recipes that are mostly healthy, so those are the types of cookbooks I gravitate toward. Although, it’s still fun to look through a cookbook like Delish Insane Sweets: Bake Yourself A Little Crazy, even though I know I won’t buy it.
- Photos: There definitely needs to be a photo of almost every recipe. It’s so disappointing when a cookbook only has a few pictures. I like visuals, plus its human nature to eat with our eyes first. No pictures… no purchase!
- Inspiration: I like to learn something new, or at least feel inspired to broaden my horizons. I may also be inspired to create my own version of something that I hadn’t thought of before.
My Favorite Cookbook of 2019
After reviewing several cookbooks that I borrowed from the library over the year, I absolutely loved one cookbook which met all of my criteria and was definitely worth purchasing! Drumroll…
Damn Delicious Meal Prep by Chungah Rhee
I discovered this cookbook while browsing on Amazon! The cover is very eye-catching, as well as the name. So, I looked to see if it was available at my local library (not all books are). Yes! Once I received it, I plopped on my couch with a notebook and pen and enjoyed the book from cover to cover!
When I review a cookbook for the first time, I like to write down the pages and names of all the recipes I feel I would absolutely make (or modify to make my own).
I jotted down 27 recipes that are right up my alley, plus there are several others that I would possibly make eventually too. A few of the recipes that sound great to me…
- All-American Breakfast (use sweet potatoes)
- Breakfast Quesadillas
- Black Forest Smoothie
- Harvest Cobb Salad (use beets instead of brussel sprouts)
- Chicken Salad
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Greek Chicken Bowls
- Antipasto Snack Box
- Veggie Pinwheels
- Lentil Detox Soup
- Honey Mustard Chicken
Some of these recipes are not all that new to me and many of them are kinda simple (which I like). What really sold me on this book is the way she presented the recipes… in meal prep containers!
I’m a huge believer in prepping as much as possible ahead of time because when mealtime comes along, 9 times out of 10, I’m not going to be in the mood to cook! I always, always prep lunches ahead of time because that is the one meal that we’re not home for. And if I am home, I’m apt to skip it if I don’t have something quick I can grab.
This cookbook inspired me to get more creative with my lunch prep! I’m also inspired to prep more for breakfast, snacks, and dinner. The photos are gorgeous. They make me want to eat more fruits and veggies! The recipes are attainable and realistic for busy people.
I highly recommend this book whether you like to meal prep or not! It’s definitely worth purchasing for the recipes, tips, inspiration, and photos!
My Favorite Meal Prep Containers
I’ve been using meal prep containers for lunches since my kids were in Kindergarten (they’re High Schoolers now)! Whether you check out this cookbook or not, I highly recommend investing in some reusable containers to help make meal prep easier and more fun.
Easy Lunchboxes 3-Compartment Bento Lunch Box Containers are my favorite to use when I make lunch for my kids, husband and myself. I often photograph many of my meals on this blog using them. You’ll never use another plastic baggie again!
Evolutionize Healthy Meal Prep Containers are another option for meal prep. Several of the pictures in Damn Delicious Meal Prep show containers like this. You can buy them with single or double compartments. What’s great is that they’re fairly small, so although you can still fit plenty of food in one, you’re also controlling your portion size. These are microwaveable, which is convenient.
Other Notable Cookbooks of 2019
Although I enjoyed browsing through these cookbooks, they did not meet all of my “criteria”, so I didn’t end up purchasing them. Still very inspirational, educational, well-done, and worth a look if you love cookbooks like me…
- Whole In One: Complete Healthy Meals in a Single Pot, Sheet Pan, or Skillet
- Naturally Sweet Baking: Healthy Recipes for a Guilt-Free Treat
- 5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food by Jamie Oliver
- Tasty Every Day: All of the Flavor, None of the Fuss
- The Domestic Geek’s Meals Made Easy
- Mostly Plants: 101 Delicious Flexitarian Recipes
- Keto Meal Prep By FlavCity
Cookbook Wishlist
Damn Delicious Meal Prep is available on Amazon for about $22. It’s a perfect gift for the holidays to add to your wishlist and/or to give to family and friends.
Although I like to limit the number of cookbooks I buy each year to one or two (there are only 365 days in a year, so how many recipes do I really need?!), I also like to give my family an idea for a cookbook they can give me for Christmas! The cookbook on my wishlist this year (which is not available at my library, so I haven’t previewed it)…
I’m hoping to be inspired to create some healthy, fun boards, which seem to be very popular on Pinterest and Instagram! I’ll let you know how that goes! Another great gift idea for yourself, friends and family and perfect for a hostess gift!
What’s your favorite cookbook? Send me a comment, I’d love to hear from you!
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