The Commonsense Kitchen

I’m sure I’ve mentioned The Commonsense Kitchen: 500 Recipes + Lessons for a Hand-Crafted Life by Tom Hudgens at least a few times now. I checked this cookbook out from the library a while back, and it has now earned itself a permeant place in my personal collection. I’ve cooked many of the recipes “as is” right from the cookbook, and plain been completely inspired by others; which then became a launching pad for some of my own recipes. I think what I enjoy most about this cookbook, is the down home, everyday, hearty, every person’s food, style of recipes this book contains. I feel like you could make anything in this cookbook and it would be widely liked, and devoured. The recipes have a hearty, satisfying approach about them. My Mom and I often refer to this type of food as shovel food. And yet… These recipes are also elevated. Each recipe yields a scratch made favorite, from fresh ingredients. And old favorites are shared along with interesting variations that transform a standard dish into something new. 

Though perhaps it’s not even that complicated. Perhaps Tom Hudgens is just a my-type-of-food-kinda-guy. The cookbook has not one but 6 chocolate chip cookie recipes after all! Clearly he and I are on the same page about things. Other recipes I’ve been intrigued by include Fresh Breakfast Sausage, Ricotta Pancakes, Oatmeal Scones, Blueberry Coffeecake, Dinner Bread, White Bean Gratin With Fennel, Brussel Sprouts With Brown Butter, Polish Sausage Soup, Apple Marinated Pork Chops, and waaay too many dessert recipes to count. Honestly, I think I might try darn near everyone of the 500 recipes at some point. Anyhow my point being, if you’re in the market for a new cookbook, I can’t recommend this one enough!