Tuesday at the Table

After our son traveled to Germany during college, I remember he told us about how one of his classmates chose what to order at any given restaurant. Not being familiar with the local language, he would order the dish with the longest name, and apparently that strategy served him quite well.

That anecdote came to mind as I began cooking from my newest cookbook, Alison Roman's Dining In.

Truth be told, I tried the Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread, or Why Would I Make Another Chocolate Chip Cookie Ever Again? before ever purchasing the book. And they were delish. So much so that I didn't pause to snap a photo. But they and all the the hubbub on social media [here, here, and here] persuaded me to go for it, and already I'm glad I did.

So far we've tried two more recipes: Baked Summer Squash with Cream and Parmesan Bread Crumbs.... (you can't see the zucchini and garlic, but it's in there and my oh my)

and then Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Hot Honey Browned Butter.

Both dishes used familiar ingredients in a unique way and are dishes we'll make again. And dare I say, this is one beautiful book. I have oodles of cookbooks(!) but this one is unique, with an engaging tone that I'm enjoying (and need right now). It's like it's inviting me in, and I fully plan to keep accepting the invitation.

This is not a sponsored post. I'm just doing my darndest to spend more quality time in the kitchen, and recently, this book has helped!