Ben Mims

Cooking Columnist, The Los Angeles Times

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Book Recommendations:

Recommended by Ben Mims

This book is my new cake bible. The recipes in this book scratch the itch for just the type of cake I want to eat all the time. True to her brand, Yossy’s cakes are beautiful in their simplicity and refreshingly simple to make. (from Amazon)

Find sweet satisfaction with 50 easy, everyday cake recipes made with simple ingredients, one bowl, and no fuss. IACP AWARD WINNER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Bon Appétit • The New York Times Book Review • Epicurious • Town & Country “[Snacking Cakes] hits the sweet spot. . . . Cake for breakfast? Yes, please!”—Martha Stewart Living In Snacking Cakes, the indulgent, treat-yourself concept of cake becomes an anytime, easy-to-make treat. Expert baker Yossy Arefi’s collection of no-fuss recipes is perfect for anyone who craves near-instant cake satisfaction. With little time and effort, these single-layered cakes are made using only one bowl (no electric mixers needed) and utilize ingredients likely sitting in your cupboard. They’re baked in the basic pans you already own and shine with only the most modest adornments: a dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of glaze, a dollop of whipped cream. From Nectarine and Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake and Gingery Sweet Potato Cake to Salty Caramel Peanut Butter Cake and Milk Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cake, these humble, comforting treats couldn’t be simpler to create. Yossy’s rustic, elegant style combines accessible, diverse flavors in intriguing ways that make them easy for kids to join in on the baking, but special enough to serve company or bring to potlucks. Whether enjoyed in a quiet moment alone with a cup of morning coffee or with friends hungrily gathered around the pan, these ever-pleasing, undemanding cakes will become part of your daily ritual.

Recommended by Ben Mims

Andrea Nguyen['s] techniques are simple and smart, and I know eating more plants will be an even tastier endeavor now that she is my guide. (from Amazon)

JAMES BEARD AWARD FINALIST • IACP AWARD WINNER • Plant-based cooking meets the dynamic flavors of Vietnamese cuisine in these 125+ recipes and variations—from the James Beard Award–winning author of Vietnamese Food Every Day A BEST COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Food Network, Good Housekeeping, San Francisco Chronicle, Epicurious Although many people think of Vietnamese cooking as beefy pho and meat-filled sandwiches, traditional Vietnamese cooking has always involved a lot of plants and seafood and a little meat. In Ever-Green Vietnamese, Andrea Nguyen details how cooks in her home country draw on their natural resourcefulness and Buddhist traditions to showcase a wide array of herbs and vegetables in flavorful, comforting recipes. Filled with the brilliant advice and exceptional teaching Nguyen is known for, the book offers recipes for flavor-boosting condiments and sauces (her incredible DIY vegan fish sauce), exciting ways to enjoy tofu, and dozens of vegetable-driven sides and mains, including a few that incorporate a bit of meat (many with vegetarian or vegan options). Home cooks will revel in Nguyen's ingenious recipes for: • favorite snacks, like Smoky Tofu-Nori Wontons and Steamed Veggie Bao • Vietnamese classics, like Fast Vegetarian Pho and Banh Mi with Vegan Mayonnaise and Bologna • simple sides, like Nuoc Cham Cabbage Stir-Fry and Green Mango, Beet, and Herb Salad • wholesome hacks, like Sweet Potato and Shrimp Fritters and Oven-Fried Crispy Shiitake Imperial Rolls Full of cultural context, loads of instruction, and practical cooking tips, Ever-Green Vietnamese is perfect for anyone looking to incorporate plant-based Vietnamese cooking into their busy lives.