Now We’re Cookin’

Elevate your holiday meals with unique cookbooks

Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves

by Stephen Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert

Stephen Colbert has worn many hats: comedy writer, Daily Show correspondent, anchor of the Colbert Report, and finally, host of the American late-night staple, The Tonight Show. What more could he possibly add to his resume? How about cookbook author? Does This Taste Funny: Recipes Our Family Loves, co-authored with his wife, Evie, is a self-described “love letter to the Lowcountry.” During the pandemic, the couple returned home to Sullivan’s Island, and like many of us, found comfort in the kitchen preparing meals with their family. You’ll be chuckling your way through these beloved family recipes (or receipts, as Evie calls them) and witty banter between husband and wife. The Colberts provide readers a peek into their world as they share family stories and 16 “party food” recipes, otherwise known as appetizers, because sometimes “that’s your dinner.” Favorites include Patti McGee’s Cheese Biscuits, Sullivan’s Island Shrimp Paste, Chicken L’Orange (Stephen’s favorite) and Huguenot Torte. Come hungry, leave laughing. — Lindsay Hope Kesten

Open Wide

by Benny Blanco with Jess Damuck

Benny Blanco is not your traditional cookbook author. He is not a James Beard award-winning chef; he does not own a restaurant and he does not have any Michelin stars to his name. He's a pop music super-producer, artist and actor (currently dating actress Selena Gomez) who has a love for cooking a desire to share it. What he does have is a love for cooking and the desire to share it. As you read through the book, you can feel that his passion about food and cooking is genuine. The stories he shares will make you laugh out loud. From thoughts we have all had such as “Why Do We Only Have Thanksgiving Once a Year?” and “I Wish I Was an Italian Grandma” to a chapter entitled, “Too Good Not to Include,” you only need to read a few paragraphs to realize this is not your traditional cookbook. Open Wide is worth the read. — Michelle Martin

Korean American

by Eric Kim

Korean American is a debut cookbook from fan favorite New York Times food writer Eric Kim. His mother, Jean, shines as the expert in this cuisine, setting the bar to which Kim aspires. What emerges is as much a portrait of their relationship as a cookbook. Developed by both mother and son and written during the COVID-19 pandemic when the author moved back into his family home in Georgia, the recipes blend Korean flavors with Southern and American classics and range from weeknight TV dinners to a Thanksgiving feast. Kim’s background as a New York Times food writer comes through in the clarity and accessibility of the recipes, and his own background comes through in the personal essays sprinkled in. Korean American is perfect for anyone looking to spice up their cooking routine and learn a bit more about an underrepresented facet of the American experience in the process. — Debbie Clark

Rhett & Link Present The Mythical Cookbook: 10 Simple Rules for Cooking Deliciously, Eating Happily, and Living Mythically

by Josh Scherer with Noah Galuten

Will it taco? Rhett and Link have been asking this question, and others of a similar nature, since their 2012 Good Mythical Morning web series debut. While the North Carolina natives have come a long way from their humble beginnings, they’ve kept us hooked with their spicy, deep fried, “does this really go together?” culinary concoctions. Their recipes are crafted for the adventuresome eater, with 100 recipes for every occasion, broken down into ten sections, including the practical: Appetizers, aka “Share Food with People to Trick Them into Liking You”; and the adventurous: Curious, aka “Eat Something That Scares You.” Highlights include the sweat- inducing Carolina Reaper BBQ Sauce, Animal-Style Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Oreo Biscuits and Gravy, and Cheez-It Ravioli. These recipes are audacious and delicious, practical and whimsical. And they will, indeed, taco.— Lindsay Hope Kesten