You Don’t Need Another Cookbook

Pondering the cookbook graveyard + why “pretty” isn’t enough.

You probably don’t need another cookbook.

There. I said it.

Most of us already have plenty.

Whenever I’m thrift shopping (which is a LOT these days) I’m struck by the sheer volume of cookbooks for sale. Sometimes entire boxes of them. Often barely used.(And always a copious number of those Taste of Home compilation volumes. Remember those??)

So when I wrote The Old-Fashioned on Purpose Cookbook, I was adamant:

This would not be another book that takes up shelf space for a few years before landing in the donation box.

Because none of us simply need more recipes. We need our actual kitchen problems solved, like:

“I have food in the house, but I still don’t know what to make.”

“I’m bored with the same meals I make over and over.”

“I tried the whole-hog homesteading thing and it wasn’t for me—but I still want real, nourishing food.”

“I don’t want to buy one weird ingredient I’ll never use again.”

“I like cooking from scratch, but I also have a life and a schedule.”

“I want old-fashioned skills… but I’m not trying to cosplay 1892.”

Same, friend. Same.

So if you’re considering grabbing a copy of my new cookbook but wondering, Will I actually use this?

Here’s my promise to you:

This book was built for real life.

Breakfasts for mornings when nobody has time for nonsense

These are simple, non-fussy, and either quick to make or easy to prep ahead:

• Egg & Sausage Breakfast Bites
• Sourdough Breakfast Pizza
• Black Bean Breakfast Burritos
• Tomato Poached Eggs
• Sourdough Crepes
• Creamed Chard & Egg Skillet
• From-Scratch Breakfast Sandwiches
• Homestead Breakfast Bake
• Buttermilk Blueberry Buckle
• Icebox Oatmeal
• Overnight French Toast Bake
• No-Fuss Granola
• Tomato Poached Eggs

These are the kind of breakfasts that work when you’re heading out the door for school, sports, events, horse stuff, chores… or all of the above.

Main dishes that don’t require loads of brainpower

These taste good, use familiar ingredients, and can quickly become part of your regular rotation:

• Hamburger Helper—without the box
• Cheeseburger Salad
• One-Pot Beef Stroganoff
• Slow-Cooker Taco Meat
• Hearty Ham & Kraut Bake
• Slow-Cooker Sausage & Potatoes
• Homestyle Chicken Pot Pie
• Garden Stir-Fry Framework
• Mix-and-Match Empanadas
• Supper on a Sheet Framework
• Bacon Corn Chowder
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Creamy Meatball Soup
• Versatile Meatballs
• Cheesy White Bean Skillet
• From-Scratch Chicken Nuggets
• Salty Roast Chicken
• Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Plus several extremely flexible meal frameworks designed to help you use what you already have.

Sides that make ordinary dinners feel better

• Garlic Butter Rice
• Potato Gnocchi
• Homestead Wedge Salad
• Rustic Caesar Salad
• Farmhouse Salad v/ Lemon Vinaigrette
• Cauliflower Gratin
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Sauerkraut w/ Kimchi variation
• Slow Roasted Onions
• Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
• Dutch Oven Baked Beans
• Ginger Slaw
• Simple Mexican Rice
• Melting Potatoes
• Creamy Jalapeño Corn Dip

Nothing wildly complicated. Just the kinds of things that make a basic roast chicken or grilled steak feel like an actual meal.

Breads for when you want the from-scratch feeling without turning it into a full-time job

• Essential Everyday Dough
• Homestyle Cinnamon Rolls
• Maple Brown Sugar Scones
• Sweet Potato Biscuits
• Homemade Corn Tortillas
• Parmesan Dinner Rolls
• Easy Sourdough Boule
• Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread
• Old-Fashioned Homestead Doughnuts
• Rustic Homemade Bagels
• English Muffins
• Soft Flatbreads
• Garlic Focaccia

They take a little more time than opening a package, obviously—but they’re approachable enough to actually make again.

Desserts that feel fancy without requiring culinary school

• Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie
• Peanut Butter Pie
• Cherry Pie Bars
• Cast-Iron Fruit Pizza
• Chocolate Pudding Cake
• The Best Boxless Brownies
• Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Orange Buttermilk Sherbet
• Maple Marshmallows
• Slow-Cooking Hot Chocolate
• Classic Milkshake
• Ice Cream Soda
• Mason Jar Panna Cotta with Berry Coulis
• Banana Sheet Cake
• Best Boxless Brownies
• Oatmeal Cream Pies
• Lemon Curd Custard

And as always, I packed in a ridiculous number of guides and how-tos, because I want this book to teach—not just give you another list of instructions:

• How to cook the perfect fried egg
• How to make homemade mayo and aioli
• How to make homemade coffee creamer
• How to stretch a whole chicken for 3 meals
• How to cook for a crowd
• How to make all-purpose tomato sauce (canned or not)
• How to quick-pickle vegetables
• How to mill and use whole-wheat flour
• How to make sourdough for normal people

And plenty more.

Because more than anything, I wanted this book to be useful, not just impressive.

I’ve already tried the ultra-hardcore version of an old-fashioned/homestead life: Cooking nearly everything from scratch. Growing it. Milking it. Canning it. Fermenting it.

And while I still love many of those things, I’ve also learned that

Capability is incredibly valuable, but exhaustion isn’t.

So no. You probably don’t need another cookbook.

But if you need easier breakfasts and dinners, fresh ideas, and a little more confidence using what you already have, this book will earn its keep.

And just for launch week: if you order by 11:59 PM Mountain Time on October 6, I’ll also give you my full $147 Heritage Cooking Crash Course FREE.

How it works:

1. Preorder the Old-Fashioned on Purpose cookbook from your favorite online retailer or local bookstore.
2. Upload your proof of purchase here.
3. We’ll email you access to the full course within 24 hours and you’ll get all the other bonuses delivered via email.

(Already preordered? You’re included too!)

Tomorrow, I’ll show you exactly what’s inside the course—because there is a LOT. Stay tuned….

-Jill