I had kicked around the idea of starting a food blog for awhile, but Orangette was the blog that tipped the scales. When I found Molly’s blog, I spent an entire weekend reading it from start to finish. Every month, I find myself enjoying her column in Bon Appetit, even before I know that it’s hers.

She’s a talented writer, with a passion for food. And I hope, someday, I can grow up to be just like her.

In the meantime, I have her latest book to enjoy.

Through a series of essays, anecdotes, and vignettes, Molly reminices about her life, love,  and family. The stories are funny, touching, even heart-warming at times. And each one is punctuated by a fabulous recipe. So far I’ve made a version of her Banana Bread, and her dad’s take on French Toast (coming soon!). But I find myself wanting to bookmark or dogear nearly every recipe–even the ones that I wouldn’t normally consider (Hello, Cider-Glazed Salmon).

I’ve found myself moved to tears by Molly’s writing, and inspired to get into the kitchen nearly every time I pick up the book.

I’d recommend the book to nearly anybody who likes what they see here, though I don’t dare compare my writing to hers. Molly’s better at this food writing thing than I could ever hope to be. There are enough recipes to say that it qualifies as a cookbook, but to be honest, it reads more like fiction.

The book is broken into 45 small chapters, each one followed by a recipe.

The following is a list of recipes found in A Homemade Life:

1. Burg’s Potato Salad
2. Blueberry-Raspberry Pound Cake
3. Banana Bread with Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger
4. Coeur a La Creme with Raspberry Puree
5. Burg’s French Toast
6. Chocolate Cupcakes with Bittersweet Glaze
7. Stewed Prunes with Citrus and Cinnamon
8. Hoosier Pie
9. Bread and Chocolate
10. Buckwheat Pancakes
11. Fresh Ginger Cake with Caramelized Pears
12. Fruit-Nut Balls
13. Espresso-Walnut Toffee
14. Vanilla Bean Buttermilk Cake with Glazed Oranges and Creme Fraiche
15. Coconut Macaroons with Chocolate Ganache
16. Bouchons Au Thon
17. Tarte Tatin
18. Bread Salad with Cherries, Arugula, and Goat Cheese
19. Roasted Eggplant Ratatouille
20. Dutch Baby Pancakes with Lemon & Sugar
21. Jimmy’s Pink Cookies
22. Italian Grotto Eggs
23. Dried Fruit Pie
24. Rum Cream Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
25. Ed Fretwell Soup
26. Doron’s Meatballs with Pine Nuts, Cilantro, and Golden Raisins
27. Scottish Scones with Lemon & Ginger
28. Cider-Glazed Salmon or Saumon Gelee a La Louis XIV
29. Cream-Braised Green Cabbage
30. Slow-Roasted Tomatoes with Coriander
31. Slow-Roasted Tomato Pesto
32. French-Style Yogurt Cake with Lemon
33. Cranberry Chutney with Crystallized Ginger and Dried Cherries
34. Radishes and Butter with Fleur De Sel
35. Red Cabbage Salad with Lemon and Black Pepper
36. Butternut Soup with Pear, Cider, and Vanilla Bean
37. Chana Masala
38. Fennel Salad with Asian Pear and Parmesan
39. Sliced Spring Salad with Avocado and Feta
40. Custard Filled Corn Bread
41. Tomato Soup with Two Fennels
42. Frisee wth Ham, Eggs, and Mustard Vinegarette
43. Caramelized Cauliflower with Salsa Verde
44. Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
45. Pistachio Cake with Honeyed Apricots
46. Vanilla-Black Pepper Ice Cream
47. Spicy Pickled Carrots with Garlic and Thyme
48. Pickled Grapes with Cinnamon and Black Pepper
49. Arugula Salad with Pistachios and Chocolate
50. Little Corn Cakes with Bacon, Tomato, and Avocado
51. The Winning Hearts and Minds Cake (Or, Our Wedding Cake)

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