The Lewis & Clark Library doesn't have everything you will need to make your culinary dreams come true, for example, we can't supply the ingredients or the cooking space, however, we do have a wide variety of cookbooks that will inspire and delight you! Here are a few favorites recommended to you by Lewis & Clark Library staff -- Enjoy!

Maddy recommends . . .

Bean by Bean: a Cookbook by Crescent DragonwagonCover Art

"The author clearly states how important beans are--often overlooked and underappreciated, beans can be the main part of a meal. Don't let the 175 recipes intimidate you, the recipes are so clear and uncomplicated--and delicious!"

Has there ever been a more generous ingredient than the bean? Down-home, yet haute, soul-satisfyingly hearty, valued, versatile deeply delectable, healthful, and inexpensive to boot, there's nothing a bean can't do--and nothing that Crescent Dragonwagon can't do with beans. From old friends like chickpeas and pintos to rediscovered heirloom beans like rattlesnake beans and teparies, from green beans and fresh shell beans to peanuts, lentils, and peas, Bean by Bean is the definitive cookbook on beans. It's a 175-plus recipe cornucopia overflowing with information, kitchen wisdom, lore, anecdotes, and a zest for good food and good times. Consider the lentil, to take one example. Discover it first in a delicious slather, Lentil Tapenade. Then in half a dozen soups, including Sahadi's Lebanese Lentil Soup with Spinach, Kerala-Style Dahl, and Crescent's Very, Very Best Lentil, Mushroom & Barley Soup. It then turns up in Marinated Lentils De Puy with Greens, Baked Beets, Oranges & Walnuts. Plus there's Jamaica Jerk-Style Lentil-Vegetable Patties, Ethiopian Lentil Stew, and Lentil-Celeriac Skillet Sauce. Do the same for black beans--from Tex-Mex Frijoles Dip to Feijoada Vegetariana to Maya's Magic Black Beans with Eggplant & Royal Rice. Or shell beans--Newly Minted Puree of Fresh Favas, Baked Limas with Rosy Sour Cream, Edamame in a Pod. And on and on--from starters and soups to dozens of entrees. Even desserts: Peanut Butter Cup Brownies and Red Bean Ice Cream.
Find Bean by Bean in the library catalog Here
Hoopla eBook
 
Holly recommends . . .
Cover ArtDuck, Duck, Goose by Hank Shaw
A lush, illustrated cookbook devoted to preparing and cooking ducks and geese, both domestic and wild, from the author of the award-winning blog: Hunter Angler Gardener Cook. Duck is having a renaissance in American restaurants and kitchens as cooks discover that diverse breeds, species, and cuts of meat offer an exciting range of flavors and textures. Many cooks-and even hunters-have a fear of cooking fowl. Duck, Duck, Goose shows you how to cook duck and goose like a pro- perfectly crisp skin crackling with each bite, succulent confit, impeccable prosciutto, and more. Hank Shaw, an award-winning food writer, hunter, and cook on the forefront of the marsh-to-table revolution, provides all you need to know about obtaining, cleaning, and cooking these flavorful birds. Duck, Duck, Goose includes detailed guides on species and breeds, selecting a duck in the market, and plucking and hanging a wild bird. Shaw's delicious and doable recipes include basics such as Grilled Duck Breast and Slow-Roasted Duck; international favorites like Duck Pho, Sichuan Fragrant Duck, Mexican Duck with Green Mole, and Cassoulet; and celebration-worthy fare such as Perfect Roast Goose. It also features an array of duck and goose confit and charcuterie, from fresh sausages to dry-cured salami. The most comprehensive guide to preparing and cooking both domestic and wild ducks and geese, Duck, Duck, Goose will be a treasured companion for anyone who wants to free themselves from the tyranny of chicken and enjoy perfectly cooked waterfowl.
Find Duck, Duck, Goose in the library catalog Here
 
 Beth recommends . . .

Cover ArtNom Nom Paleo - Let's Go! by Michelle Tam; Henry Fong

"I highly recommend checking out Michelle Tam's unique cooking guides to paleo or paleo-ish cooking. She has two previously published cookbooks in this series. Great photographs and illustrations make this family-oriented cookbook a favorite"

Michelle Tam and Henry Fong know that the healthiest meal is the one you make yourself, so they're all about getting you off your butts and into the kitchen. Whether you're cooking for yourself, whipping up a family dinner, or preparing a special-occasion feast, Nom Nom Paleo: Let's Go! will inspire you with deliciously nourishing meals. Weeknight suppers should be healthy and flavor-packed but also fast and simple. Weekends and celebrations, on the other hand, are the perfect excuse to craft elevated (but easy!) crowd-pleasers. This cookbook offers crazy-delicious recipes for all occasions, and every single one is free of grains, gluten, dairy, and refined sugar. Better yet? No one in your family will notice what's missing! As always, Nom Nom Paleo's recipes reflect the diverse cuisines Michelle grew up with and culinary ideas from her travels. Often Asian-inspired, Michelle's unfussy recipes maximize flavor, optimize whole foods, and are presented with photos of each step so they're absolutely foolproof - even for novice cooks! New recipes include: Cantonese Roast Duck, Nom Nom Chili, Crisp Bacon Cheeseburger, Casserole Chicken Karaage, Instant Pot Balsamic Beef Stew, Paleo-Friendly Cream Puffs.  So what are you waiting for? LET'S GO!
Find Let's Go in the library catalog Here
 
 Deby recommends . . .
Cover ArtHalf Baked Harvest Super Simple: More Than 125 Recipes for Instant, Overnight, Meal-Prepped, and Easy Comfort Foods  by Tieghan Gerard
"Everyone must try Grown Up Tomato Parmesan Pasta!"
We all want to make and serve our loved ones beautiful food, but we shouldn't have to work so hard to do it. With Half Baked Harvest Super Simple, Tieghan Gerard has solved that problem. On her blog and in her debut cookbook, Tieghan is beloved for her freshly sourced, comfort-food-forward recipes that taste even better than they look. Half Baked Harvest Super Simple takes what fans loved most about Half Baked Harvest Cookbook and distills it into quicker, more manageable dishes, including options for one-pot meals, night-before meal prep, and even some Instant Pot or slow cooker recipes. Using the most important cooking basics, you'll whip up everyday dishes like Cardamom Apple Fritters, Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese, and Lobster Tacos to share with your family, or plan stress-free dinner parties with options like Slow Roasted Moroccan Salmon and Fresh Corn and Zucchini Summer Lasagna. Especially for home cooks who are pressed for time or just starting out, Half Baked Harvest Super Simple is your go-to for hassle-free meals that never sacrifice taste.
Find  Half Baked Harvest Super Simple in the library catalog Here
 
Katy recommends . . .

Cover ArtDinner Then Dessert: Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5, or 7 Ingredients by Sabrina Snyder

"Great traditional American food with some lightly exotic flavors and dishes. Everything I have cooked from this book has been lovely, easy, and mild enough for my whole family to eat. The author also has an excellent website where they include variations of the recipes for different methods of cooking, like a crock pot instead of a Dutch oven for example. My favorite recipe (so far) is Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Apricots."

Learn how to make easy, practical, mouth-watering meals in this first-ever cookbook featuring over 100 full-color photos from the genius chef behind the very successful, no-nonsense food website Dinner Then Dessert. "How do you make interesting and tasty meals for every member of the family?" That question inspired former private chef and mom Sabrina Snyder to post practical, reliable, and taste-tested recipes to the website she created, Dinner Then Dessert. Five years later, her website is one of the biggest food sites in America with millions of monthly views and more than 900,000 followers on social media. Incredibly, Sabrina's famous Philly Cheese Steak recipe, which she posted the day before the Super Bowl, racked up 45,000 hits within the first five minutes! Now, in Dinner Then Dessert, Sabrina has selected some her favorite dishes from her vast trove of recipes, along with new fare to help cooks of all levels get great meals on the table every member of the family will love. Sabrina knows that cooking delicious meals day after day can be a challenge, even for professional chefs. Add in picky eaters, dietary restrictions, a busy schedule, and children, and it feels easier to order take out. But cooking at home doesn't have to be difficult or boring. Inside Dinner Then Dessert you'll find flexible fail-safe recipes; 3, 5, and 7 ingredient meals; skillet dinners; classic side dishes, slow-cooker recipes, irresistible desserts, and more. Enjoy sausage and fennel pasta, salmon with plum sauce, garlic honey chicken, easy breezy pot roast, sweet and spicy tilapia, roast pork loin, steak and potato hash, vegetable green curry, cilantro lime shrimp, and much, much more. Serve them up with tasty sides, including easy Mexican rice and rotisserie chicken potatoes, as well as flavorful desserts such as Nutella brownies and salted caramel chocolate tart. Dinner Then Dessert is packed with more than 100 full-color photos, easy-to-follow directions that teach you how to cook each recipe to match your skill level, variations of recipes made with ingredients you have on-hand, and advice on the best ingredients to stock your fridge and pantry. With Dinner Then Dessert, you'll never have to struggle over what to make for dinner again!
Find Dinner then Dessert in the library catalog Here

Lisa recommends . . .

Cover ArtThe Perfect Cake by America's Test Kitchen (Editor)
Cakes are the all-occasion dessert--the center of attention at birthdays, holiday celebrations, and dinner parties, and the most welcome brunch, after-school, or teatime snack. America's Test Kitchen's first all-cake book is the definitive guide to any cake you crave from Classic Pound Cake to enjoy anytime to a stunning and impressive Blueberry Jam Cake with brilliant jam stripes and ombre frosting. In addition to foolproof recipes are features that make towering 24-layer Hazelnut- Chocolate Crape Cake as approachable as Applesauce Snack Cake. Sidebars include step-by-step photography for cakes with more advanced techniques like piping the ribbons of frosting that help give beautiful Rhubarb Ribbon Cake its name. Our years of test kitchen knowledge on the art and science of baking cakes provide all the tips and tricks you need for executing perfect cakes every time.
Find The Perfect Cake in the library catalog Here 
 
We hope you'll find plenty to satisfy your appetite in the cookbook section of our wonderful library. As always, if you need help finding anything at the library, just ask-- we are here to serve you. Below are a few cookbook-related photos from Kady, Beth, Terri, Lisa and Holly.

photo collage from staff cookbooks