Writing that pasta is “like having a blank slate to cook with,” Bastianich, the Emmy Award–winning host of Lidia’s Kitchen, exudes enthusiasm in this valuable compendium of more than 100 recipes cowritten with her daughter (with whom she previously collaborated on Lidia’s Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine). A chapter on tomato sauces covers the classics, such as marinara, amatriciana, and alla vodka, followed by a chapter on vegetable-forward dishes, which notes that authentic Italian recipes generally feature a “higher ratio of vegetables to pasta than in the U.S.” Seafood pastas include linguine with clam sauce, while meaty dishes run the gamut from familiar spaghetti and meatballs to duck sauce paired with bigoli, a thick noodle with a “great mouthfeel.” Other sections cover filled pastas, baked pastas, and gnocchi variations. A final chapter on fresh pasta offers instructions for mixing dough by hand or in a food processor with several types of flour. Personal anecdotes and handy tips—including a recommendation to use both domestic and aged pecorino in cacio e pepe—round things out. Much of the dicing and prep work appears within the ingredient lists, making some recipes seem breezier than they will be in execution, but Bastianich is a capable instructor and provides step-by-step illustrations when necessary. Italophiles will relish this essential guide. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

Wellness podcaster DeLana (Do Walk) celebrates cold water immersion as a source of joy and resilience in this inspiring guide. Early research, she explains, suggests cold plunges—the act of submerging oneself in cold water (typically below 60 degrees Fahrenheit) for a short period—may have health benefits, like improving alertness, increasing metabolism, and decreasing stress. DeLana, who regularly hops into the Merrimack River and the stock tank in her backyard, views the activity as a ritual that brings calm to her body and mind, noting she sleeps better, doesn’t get sick, and responds better to stress. The biggest benefit, she says, is the “sense of embodiment” the coldness brings her, forcing her to pay attention to her breath and all her senses. She shares practical tips for those ready to take the plunge, including consulting a doctor first and never dipping alone, as well as how to get in (submerge quickly feet first, up to the neck) and how to warm up afterward (drink hot tea). With striking photography capturing her icy dips around the world and affirming language (she sees the activity as “an expression of self-love”), DeLana effectively frames cold plunging as a practice meant to be savored. Anyone curious about the benefits of cold water will enjoy diving into this beautiful volume. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

“I consider myself a storyteller, and chocolate is my love language,” writes debut author Rix, the founder of Phillip Ashley Chocolates, in this irresistible collection of melt-in-your-mouth recipes. Rix opens with a crash course on “Chocistry 101,” covering chocolate’s origins (the cacao tree’s Latin name means “food of the gods”), types (dark, milk, semi-/bittersweet), necessary equipment (thermometers, scales, and molds), and foundational techniques, including an in-depth breakdown of how to temper chocolate. Bold flavor combinations—including bonbons infused with barbecue smoke or coconut curry—draw from Rix’s Memphis culinary roots and family favorites. Recipes range from sweet to savory and classic to avant-garde, with standouts including champagne-infused truffles; chocolate-dipped sweet potatoes inspired by Rix’s grandmother’s farm; peanut butter caramel cayenne brownies that pack a kick; and, as a vegan option, an avocado-based chocolate pudding. Chocolate-for-breakfast dishes, cocktails, and sample menus for “chocuterie” round things out. Some recipes require tricky techniques, but Rix proves a reliable guide through even the most challenging concoction. This stuns. (Sept.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

McEwan, a home bartender and debut author, teams up with his mother, bestselling children’s book author Boynton (Barnyard Dance), to whip up a charmingly silly collection of holiday-themed drinks. The pair take an irreverent tone, never passing up an opportunity for a linguistic or visual pun. The recipes themselves take some entertaining risks: there’s a blue cheese rim on a michelada for Super Bowl Sunday, freeze-dried astronaut ice cream in a New Year’s Day quaff, and jelly beans as a garnish for a tiki cocktail that pays homage to both Easter the holiday and Easter Island. Some of the more theatrical propositions include a tiered red, white, and blue slushy of frozen negroni, margarita, and mai tai for July 4; and a Halloween drink finished with an orange peel garnish in the shape of a jack-o’-lantern and a rum flight that gets set on fire. For the less daring, there’s a straightforward jalapeño-infused margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and a Mother’s Day play on a whiskey sour inspired by the flavors of breakfast in bed, with Earl Grey honey, grapefruit juice, and sausage-washed bourbon. Every recipe is followed by a zero ABV version. Festive, fun, and fanciful, this will make a great gift. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

Garden designer Vater (The Elegant and Edible Garden) offers an overly broad range of suggestions for bringing beauty into one’s home and community. Divided by the four seasons, each section contains a series of vignettes about small projects or practices, like setting up a hot beverage station in the kitchen during winter, hanging flower bouquets on neighbors’ doors in spring, keeping Popsicles on hand for neighborhood kids in the summer, and marking the start of fall by serving soup around a fire. Many of the activities can be done in any season, like the recommendation to organize books on a shelf by color or give a picnic basket for a wedding gift. Simple, colorful sketches accompany each ritual. While the projects are often sweet and easy to execute, Vater’s goal—“to capture some of the small but important moments of beauty, fun, thoughtfulness, charm, and creative imagination”—lacks specificity, and many of the suggestions feel random, like the tip to motivate oneself to tackle neglected chores by setting a timer or the idea to buy a new hat to boost one’s mood. The result is a well-intentioned but scattershot resource. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

This inviting guide from Japanese embroidery artist Higuchi (Seamless Embroidery) shows how to embroider images inspired by each of the four seasons. For winter, there is a Christmas tree snow globe, a snowball fight scene, and mittens. Spring features a pot of herb flowers, gardening tools, and a wreath. A coral forest, an array of cocktails, and a wedding scene are recommended for summer, while fall designs include a pumpkin patch, fallen leaves, and a cat cozying up on a couch. Higuchi also includes designs inspired by Japanese culture, including kadomatsu, traditional Japanese pine decorations for welcoming the new year. In her review of the basics, Higuchi recommends stitching on plain-weave linen for its smooth texture, and shares step-by-step instructions for creating straight stitches, lazy daisy stitches, satin stitches, and other fundamentals. Crafters who are up for a challenge can delve into projects that combine sewing and embroidering, including a sachet decorated with violets, a book cover with fallen leaves, and a ring pillow decorated with botanicals. Instructions are easy to follow, and the adorable designs effectively capture the changing seasons. Embroiderers of all levels will find inspiration here. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

Paper artist Hiebert (The Art of Papercraft) provides an inspiring guide to paper weaving, in which strips of paper are interlaced to create decorative designs. She begins by chronicling the history of the craft, noting it was popularized by Friedrich Froebel (1782–1852), who founded the first kindergarten, and then outlines the few materials needed to begin: any type of paper (including junk mail, old books, and magazines), glue, scissors, a ruler, and a craft knife. Hiebert covers the basics, like how to cut, weave, and secure strips, as well as how to add variations, like curves and gaps. Readers will also learn how to set up a paper loom—one solid piece of paper with slits through which loose strips of paper are woven in. There are 30 prompts to help readers get started. For example, they can create an image of their home state using strips of a map or weave shapes like a silhouette of a person or pet. Throughout, Hiebert includes creative examples of paper weaving projects from professional artists, including a remarkable installation by Audrey Pinto that weaves together recycled magazine covers, honeycomb packaging paper, sari silk threads, and tree branches. This is sure to get crafters’ creative juices flowing. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

McFadden follows his James Beard Award–winning Six Seasons with this substantial and highly informative treatise on pasta. He opens with a detailed dive into pasta fundamentals, listing sensory cues that can help determine when noodles are cooked (“the closer they are to al dente, the more water they absorb, and the quieter they become,” he notes) and tips for ensuring that they are then fully coated in a smooth, unified sauce (he recommends adding a bit of pasta water and gently tossing with tongs). Sauce recipes range from rich ragus—including one with pork, beef, kale, and chile, and another with green lentils—to “build-in-the-skillet” options like aglio e olio and cacio e pepe. Most are organized by season, with summer divided into three parts, taking advantage of peak vegetable ripeness. In spring, there’s leek alfredo with shrimp. Early summer brings fennel, mascarpone, and arugula; midsummer features a broccoli fra diavolo; and late summer offerings include eggplant with garlic, capers, raisins, and herbs. For fall there’s mushrooms with sausage, spicy chiles, and burrata, while winter offerings include charred cabbage with pork shoulder ragu and lemon. While McFadden’s guidance is meticulous, his detail-dense prose demands careful reading before readers break out any pots or pans. Still, this encyclopedic resource is sure to become an essential tool for home cooks looking to elevate their pasta skills. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

Actor Offerman (Good Clean Fun) and woodworker Buchanan deliver a humorous guide to woodworking projects for kids and adults. Instead of purchasing corporate products out of convenience, the authors encourage readers to make things themselves, using tools and their “magic human brain.” They give instructions for 12 projects that vary in difficulty, from simple “toast tongs” to the more complicated sawhorse. An opening chapter instructs readers on how to set up their workshop, including what tools they’ll need, like a handsaw and utility knife, and safety tips, like ensuring kids wear protective goggles and particulate masks. Each project is marked with the targeted age range, the approximate time expected for the craft’s completion, and whether an adult should be present. Standouts include an elaborate planter station, where readers can make “mud pies,” as well as easier “carved creatures,” twigs and tree branches carved to resemble animals like pigs or sheep. Step-by-step directions for each project are provided, and Offerman’s signature wit is on display in the text and the plethora of photos of him hamming it up with kids in the workshop. The result is a boon for parents seeking to get their kids away from screens and immersed in the world around them. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink

Dietitian Huber offers an approachable guide to diet and meal planning aimed at alleviating perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. After entering perimenopause—the transitional phase between one’s reproductive years and menopause—in her late 30s, Huber explored hormonal treatments, but ultimately saw her symptoms improve after embracing a diet rich in protein, fiber, calcium, soy, phytoestrogens, and omega-3 fatty acids. She clearly outlines the stages of menopause—early perimenopause, late perimenopause, and postmenopause—and their common symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, and weight gain. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, she explains, create such short-term changes as brain fog and vaginal discomfort. They can also affect long-term health by increasing the risk of heart disease and bone density loss. The latter half of the book comprises 55 recipes that put into practice the guidance offered in the first half of the book. Divided into categories such as breakfast, salads and small plates, and sweets and snacks, the recipes are plant-forward and easy-to-follow. This is a welcome resource for any woman entering midlife. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 10/03/2025 | Details & Permalink