Farmhouse Weekends: Menus for Relaxing Country Meals All Year Long

Lulu the Baker blogger Bahen (Scandinavian Gatherings) makes a convincing case in this winsome outing that one doesn’t have to live in the country to “slow down and enjoy good people, delicious food, and experiences worth savoring.” Though she and her family moved into their “dream farmhouse” in 2014, she and her husband have kept up their regular nine-to-five lives during the week, but during the weekend things take a bucolic turn, with much time spent in the kitchen. Here, Bahen lays out the kinds of things that occupy her weekend, and which she suggests are just as easy to do for city-bound cooks. Recipes are arranged by season and lean toward classic comfort fare, with, for instance, parmesan risotto for spring, a “Height of Summer Salad,” two kinds of chili for fall, and a potato-leek soup for winter. Dishes cover the bases, from sweet and savory breakfast options to both light and heavy desserts, with a number of salads, sides, and soups to sit alongside the mains. Recipes feature easy-to-find ingredients, are accompanied by gorgeous photographs, and include options that will appeal to any palette (kids might especially appreciate the pan-fried chicken tenders). Home chefs with picky eaters, or those craving good-old-fashioned comfort food should take a look. (Apr.)