Casa Marcela: Recipes and Food Stories of My Life in the Californias

In Valladolid’s latest cookbook, the Food Network host warmly welcomes readers into her new southern California home. Her two prior cookbooks (Mexican Made Easy and The Kitchen) focused on quick and easy Mexican home cooking; in contrast, this lushly photographed book brings the reader into Valladolid’s dream house (it even includes an essay from her interior designer) and the organic garden that provides much of the produce for her recipes. Valladolid has put together an inspiring blend of everyday recipes, along with more time-consuming dishes meant for special occasions. She offers up classics and “house favorite” dishes such as picadillo-stuffed jalapeño peppers; crispy potato and poblano tacos; and oxtail, bean, and chili stew. Some of her most interesting recipes are mash-ups of different cuisines, including huitla waffles, pork shoulder in morita-hoisin sauce, and Mexican ramen. Her healthy and nutritious recipes are balanced by luscious-looking dessert offerings, including a chocolate cajeta brownie pudding and an upside-down mango cake. For readers without a kohlrabi-filled garden or access to the markets in Tijuana (Valladolid frequently crosses the border for Mexican specialties), she usually recommends substitutions. Valladolid’s fans will enjoy reading this book as much as they enjoy cooking from it. (Apr.)