With a new year comes renewed energy. We make resolutions and lists, set goals for ourselves and vow to detox. We at LinenMe thought we would help kickstart your year by picking 5 fabulous cookbooks to bring some joy to your kitchen and help you on your path to health.
These books will give you inspiration for easy, quick and nourishing food. Food for your soul as well as your body. After the cookathon of Christmas and Thanksgiving the kitchen can feel like the last place you want to be, but these cookbooks will give you back your healthy-eating mojo.
Diana Henry Simple
This beautiful book goes under the strapline, 'effortless food, big flavours'. There are vegetable-based main dishes, wholegrain ingredients, as well as recipes like Parmesan roast chicken with cauliflower and thyme; Breton tuna and white bean gratin; and Turkish pasta with feta, dill and spiced butter. Diana Henry used a simple test to see if a recipe would get in the book: would she cook it on a Wednesday night? If not, it didn't make it in there. So you can be sure that each recipe is straightforward, stress-free and requiring minimal effort. She uses inspiration from a wide range of cultures and cuisine, so whilst this book is simple it is certainly not ordinary. We think you will love it. Diana Henry is also a big fan (read about it here ) of our tablecloths, napkins and aprons so we love it even more.
The book is out now and is published by Octopus Books.
Anna Jones A Modern Way to Eat
This book might just change your life. There are over 200 recipes, all vegetarian and using wholesome, nutritious ingredients. Anna Jones is one of those cookery writers who seems to emanate a radiant glow, and she shows you how in this go-to book. With sections divided according to the time each recipe takes to prepare, you can find meals that fit in around your schedule, how ever busy you are. Fast food does not need to be junk food. Anna Jones will free up your time and wallet with these budget-friendly, vibrant, healthy recipes. You will reach for this one again and again.
Buy it here.
Heidi Swanson Super Natural Every Day
This is a family favourite of ours (in fact, this is our copy - can you tell from the well-used cover? Recognise the lovely linen tablecloth behind it?!). It is also the source of a new-found staple meal, zucchini linguine, which we eat every week without fail. With advice on stocking your pantry and an emphasis on whole food, this book is a must if you are trying to detox your kitchen. Heidi also runs a fab website, where you can search by ingredient or meal if you need more culinary inspiration.
The book is published by Ten Speed Press and available here.
Gwyneth Paltrow It's All Easy
Another fan of LinenMe tea towels, table runners and napkins, GP has developed a reputation for being a bit of a supermom. This book is a family-friendly cookbook, full of wheat/gluten-free recipes and low-sugar options that kids will love. Some of the recipes are more involved but there is plenty here to try, such as the almond orange overnight oats, or her Thai-style crab cakes. Just the thing if you are trying to wean yourself off all the holiday-season cakes and sweet treats. There's also a handy section titled 'Unexpected Guests' which is fab if you suddenly find yourself feeding hungry visitors. Get your mitts on one here.
Amelia Freer Cook. Nourish. Glow
Packed full of beautiful photos and mouth-watering recipes, this is another book that aims to offer you food that will make you feel amazing. Freer is a trained nutritionalist and comes at her cooking with a detailed, informed knowledge of how our body responds to different foods. She advocates 'clean eating' but with common sense. There is nothing restrictive or bland about these recipes, just food that is bursting with goodness and flavour. Try her coconut pancakes; spiced winter stew with orange blossom water, apple and lime; or genius seasonal 'salads in a jar' - great for taking to work (no more tedious sandwiches for you).
Hopefully this will give you some inspiration and take the sting out of any new year healthy eating plans. And there's no need for drastic juice fasts or fad diets - these books will help you eat well and make you feel great, all year round. We're off to devour some of Heidi Swanson's tasty cauliflower soup with mustard croutons. Bon appétit!