Basic Bitchen: 100+ Everyday Recipes—From Nacho Average Nachos to Gossip-Worthy Sunday Pancakes—For the Basic Bitch in Your Life

In this humorously irreverent debut cookbook, Chowhound editor-at-large Skladany presents over 100 “tried-and-true recipes that are not only delicious but super easy to make.” He opens with beverages—including a frosé, made with rosé and frozen strawberries, and a nonalcoholic pumpkin spice latte—and quick appetizers that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less, such as avocado toast and caprese salad with burrata cheese. Many of the entrees are healthy options, including sheet pan salmon with lemon-dill dressing and black bean-quinoa burgers, but there are also plenty of indulgent dishes as well, grilled cheese with cheesy fries and truffle macaroni and cheese among them. Desserts feature palatable fare such as chocolate chip cookies and strawberry macaroons, while a chapter on brunch offers classic dishes like chicken and waffles and quiche. Less experienced cooks will appreciate the tips that Skladany sprinkles throughout (“I opted for margarine... because it has a higher melting point than butter”), and may chuckle at some racy recipe introductions (“My grandma says if she’s not dead by ninety, she’ll become a heroin addict”; “Boys on Grindr looking for ‘friends’ are like me walking into a Chinese restaurant and looking for bok choy”). The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow, making this book a reliable resource for home cooks looking to build a repertoire. (May)