Hold tight, folks: it's almost Memorial Day weekend. That means the unofficial start of the summer and lots of long holiday weekends—plus morefruitsandvegetables to cook with, more opportunities to grill, and more celebrations that serve as excuses to eat dessert. Every season brings a whole class ofnew cookbooksto choose from, but we've gone through the latest and greatest releases to bring five cookbooks worth cooking from this weekend (and the cake cookbook to have on hand for weeknight cravings). Check them out below.
Perfect Pan Pizzaby Peter Reinhart
Bread-baking legend Peter Reinhart's latest release (it just came out on May 14) is all about pizza for home cooks. His recipes don't require any special equipment because the key to making effortless pizza at home is making it in asheet pan. The book offers three master dough recipes, then delves into making different types of pan pizza, including focaccia.
Madhur Jaffrey's Instantly Indian Cookbookby Madhur Jaffrey
Also out this month? Madhur Jaffrey'sInstantly Indian Cookbook,in which the beloved Indian cookbook author tackles the Instant Pot (the toolthat just might be the secret weapon for the best home-cooked Indian food). In her latest, Jaffrey has created new recipes and adapted old ones,all for the Instant Pot. The dishes are quick and easy to make thanks to the multi-cooker, and they retain the richness and complexity Jaffrey's cooking is known for.
Ruffageby Abra Berens
This April release lives up to its promise as "a practical guide to vegetables." If you're excited about all the vegetables that are finally back in season—asparagus!Peas!Rhubarb!—but want to learn new ways to cook them, look no further thanRuffage. Author Abra Berens offers recipes for almost 30 vegetablesandriffs on those same recipes, so you'll never tire of the same flavors.
Buy it:Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables, $32 on Amazon
Simple Cakeby Odette Williams
It's Sunday night and you just finished dinner, but you're not quite satisfied. You need a cake, or chocolate, or acombination of both—and you need it fast. (This is a feeling our digital director, David, is very familiar with, by the way. Herecently tried to keep his kitchen stocked with cake, every day.) That's whereSimple Cakecomes in. This baking book is all about delivering on your cake craving with simple and achievable recipes. Author Odette Williams offers 10 base cake recipes and 30 ways to top and/or adapt them—and as long as you use a 9x13-inch rectangular pan, many of the cakes can be baked in 30 minutes.
Buy it:Simple Cake: All You Need to Keep Your Friends and Family in Cake, $11 on Amazon
Thank You for Smokingby Paula Disbrowe
Grillingdoesn't have to be a big production, and as expert Paula Disbrowe shows you in her March cookbook, it can easily be done on a weeknight.Thank You for Smokingoffers a collection of simple meals that can be made on a smoker or grill in 30 minutes or less. Think: Ginger-garlic chicken and flank steak tacos, plus tons of vegetable-forward options. There's also an intriguing section dedicated to smoked cocktails.
