Half Baked Harvest Every Day

Starred review from February 21, 2022
Food blogger Gerard (Half Baked Harvest Cookbook) ably delivers on her promise “to make food that is delicious, usually healthy... and always satisfying” in this excellent collection. Rather than educate readers on what they “should” be consuming, Gerard offers up a guide to “healthy-ish” eating with comforting recipes that find their “balance” in using nonprocessed ingredients. Even lighter fare—such as a spiced lentil soup with curried acorn squash, and gluten-free salmon cobb salad—prove gratifyingly flavorful. Throughout, Gerard employs simple tricks to revitalize classics: putting a healthier spin on Mongolian beef, she uses a leaner cut of meat and coats it in a “less-sugary-than-usual” sauce by replacing the brown sugar with a smaller amount of honey. Home cooks in the mood for something a bit more indulgent will find it in delectable dishes like her giant spinach and artichoke soft pretzel, and malted milk cookie dough cups made with almond flour. Meanwhile, those crunched for time will rejoice in specially notated dishes—including a sheet pan french toast with whipped lemon ricotta and berries—that can be ready in 30 minutes or less. A little adjustment goes a long way with these wholesome and mouthwatering recipes. Agent: Andrea Barzvi, Empire Literary.

February 4, 2022

Produce-forward food blogger Gerard is back with her third cookbook, which is sure to be a hit with current fans and new devotees alike. She offers more than 120 "healthy-ish" recipes that follow her trademark formula for balancing the nutritional benefits of whole foods and fresh produce with surprisingly rich and satisfying flavors. Recipes focus largely on dinner options, including side dishes, breads, and salads, but also include a small range of breakfast and sweet options. Gerard's devotion to homemade condiments, sauces, and dressings sometimes results in overly complex methods for simple dishes, but she encourages home cooks to use store-bought ingredients if that's all they have time for. Icons identify dishes that are vegetarian and free of gluten, dairy, and refined sugar, while multiple recipes have the flexibility to be prepared either on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or pressure cooker. Many home cooks will discover new favorites in this wide-ranging collection of creative, family-friendly dishes. VERDICT Gerard's best cookbook to date. Her farm-fresh interpretation of modern comfort food should appeal to a wide range of home cooks.--Kelsy Peterson

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