simple shui | gift well #2

in the south of france years ago, my friend and i would slip away from our sleepy chateau just as morning broke, head down the cobblestone road, and wander into the warm bakery nestled at the very bottom of the hill. our eyes would feast on so much deliciousness — we often left with almost everything the baker was selling that day. she never had an abundance of treats; rather, she seemingly baked what flattered her fancy and when it was gone, she closed shop to devour the rest of the day.

i am wont to think that if this shui thing didn’t work out, i’d set up shop much like mademoiselle. waking each morning to concoct whatever sugar or spice was tugging on my taste buds. . .

cookbooks hypnotize me into the kitchen where i eagerly swirl with hope at what concoctions i might bake. and today, i share a few favorite additions to my library this year.

if there is a foodie in your life or you need a dollop of fresh inspiration, might i suggest these? after all, the kitchen is where we inspire the feeling of plenty…so, in shui, baking + cooking + congregating in its hearth is a VERY good thing.

SUNDAY SUPPERS: RECIPES + GATHERINGS by karen mordechai

the simplicity of her idea is genius + intoxicating — her gatherings are gorgeous + visually gratifying. with every new recipe my eyes drifted upon, i found myself quietly making commitments to try it. the best part? nothing disappoints. rather, it has been an arms in the air celebration for *holy smokes* good food. SO good that i’m compelled to keep taking bites just to savor the taste again…even when i’m stitches beyond full. and now, i understand why people rushed to her table when they received an invitation. one bite, and you would gallop, too.

*my favorites so far include her apple cider cakes, the whiskey-glazed ribs {oh. my. goodness.}, and a winter slaw.

 

BREAD & WINE: A LOVE LETTER to LIFE AROUND the TABLE with RECIPES by shauna niequist

i’ve once confessed to my girl crush, but why not spread my LOVE like wild fire? if you’ve never read any of her books, get on it. like, right now. her stories + familiar voice pairs perfectly with her deep LOVE for food + wine + community. every sentence is both comfortably casual and so well-crafted. turning the next page is a likely addiction. here’s what you ought to expect: {a} the impulse to dog-ear over half the pages in the book; {b} the compulsive leap into your kitchen to whip up a batch of cookies; and {c} an unprecedented desire to make several more batches of these cookies because you {and your family} can’t.get.enough.

*currently, i cannot stop making her Gaia cookies. except i leave out the coconut + walnuts and use dried cherries + dark chocolate instead. the density + chewiness of this cookie is unrivaled.

 

HAND MADE BAKING: RECIPES to WARM the HEART by kamran siddiqi

i pre-ordered this book forever ago and had practically forgotten when it arrived a few days before thanksgiving. i set it aside, expecting to explore it after our holiday meal. except. on thanksgiving morning, i realized i was out of the main ingredient for pecan pie. contemplating a shameful run to the store, i grabbed his book for a possible alternative. and like magic, it opened to a pecan pie recipe. angels must’ve been singing because the recipe called for maple syrup in place of my missing ingredient. i detoured with relief. and after making both his pecan pie AND pumpkin pie recipe, i will never go back to what i used before… bottom line: slice after slice was everything you expect in a pie and somehow more.

 

i love how cookbooks remind us of the magic we can make with our own hands. they are a portal connecting us with family + friends, inviting us to gather round a table. at its epicenter, anything we make from scratch is wonderfully rooted in nourishment and LOVE, the two primary ingredients for a truly wealthy life. and that’s always a gift perfect for any one on your list.

 

xo