Joanna Gaines' New Cookbook Is Out — and We Want to Make Everything!
Seriously, don't make us pick just one recipe.
Rachel Whyte
If you've already remodeled your home to shiplap perfection, wait ‘til you get your hands on Joanna Gaines' new cookbook, Magnolia Table. The HGTV star's debut cookbook is chock-full of 125 recipes vetted by Jo, Chip and the kids. According to the book's introduction, Chip's had a part in the vetting process for a while. For one of their first meals as newlyweds, Jo made Chip one of her favorite recipes: her mom's spaghetti. The problem? It didn't taste like his mom's spaghetti. "I almost choked on my noodles," Jo writes in the book. Needless to say, it was a learning experience for the couple that has only made their marriage stronger.
That night, Jo learned that "Food is personal," and it's a mantra that's woven into the fabric of Magnolia Table. Jo shares everything from how she views cooking — "I'm not trying to achieve perfection in the kitchen" — to how she stocks her pantry (see her must-have ingredient list in the introduction). Each of the seven sections starts with a note from Jo about what this group of recipes means to her and her family. For example, Jo says breakfast is "Chip's love language." (We love pancakes too, Chip.) But the best part of the book is the recipes that Jo shares. They're clearly made with love and are an integral part of the Gaines' household. Here are the ones we're most excited to try.
Jojo's Biscuits: Jo spilled the secret ingredient for her biscuits on a recent Today Show appearance. Turns out she adds eggs to make them super light and fluffy. Her favorite way to eat them is in the Strawberry Shortcake recipe you'll find in the Dessert section.
Syrian Doughnuts: This recipe is a nod to Jo's heritage and was passed down to her from her grandfather when she was just 12 years old. "These doughnuts have since become our own family's favorites, and every time we make them, I think about that memorable day with my grandfather," Jo told USA Today.
Chicken Pot Pie: If it's good enough for the Gaines kiddos it's good enough for us. Jo has been serving this recipe topped with crescent roll dough to her children since they were toddlers. The filling can be somewhat soupy, so Jo likes to ladle it on top of a helping of mashed potatoes to soak up the good stuff.
Mom's Bulgogi with Cucumber Kimchi Salad: Even more beloved in the Gaines household than Chicken Pot Pie is Jo's mom's bulgogi recipe. "It's my kids' very favorite food in the world, so I knew I had to include it in the book," Jo writes.
Chocolate Chip Cookies: Not to be outdone by her mom, Jo's dad also knows his way around the kitchen. When Jo was 10 years old he enlisted her help to make Toll House chocolate chip cookies and the rest is history. Now Jo makes her own recipe, which calls for a surprisingly small amount of butter (just one stick). "No one is more surprised than I am about how amazing these taste even though they're made with less of the good stuff than most traditional chocolate chip cookies," she says.
Magnolia Table is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target (with bonus recipes!), and other major booksellers.
Related Links:
