At the Table :: 2024 Rainy Day Bites January to April

Our Rainy Day Bites Cookbook Club 2024 cookbook club theme is “Food for Thought.” Hosted by Deborah Balint on Instagram, each month we're exploring cookbooks that spark conversation on a range of topics. Our baking books are going global with country specific books. So far it's been a busy but delicious few months! I'm keeping track of this quarter's recipes here. Enjoy, or skip, as you wish.

Note that I linked to each IG post, in case you wanted to read what I wrote about each recipe.

January

Featured book: The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope by José Andrés @chefjoseandres of World Central Kitchen @wckitchen

Topic: Building longer tables through humanitarian efforts

chilaquiles

baleadas sencillas

braised pork al pastor

February

Featured book: Cucina Provera: The Italian Way of Transforming Humble Ingredients into Unforgettable Meals by Giulia Scarpaleggia @julskitchen

Topic: cooking seasonally and using certain ingredients to stretch meal cost

pasta and bean soup (pasta e fagioli)

tomato and bread soup (pappa al pomodoro)

January & February baking: Dark Rye & Honey Cake Festival Baking from Belgium, the Heart of the Low Countries by Regula Ysewijn @missfoodwise

dikke speculaas

zoute krakelingen

doornikse appeltaart

waffles with beer

New this year - our last day of the month baking party will be global desserts using any recipe from any cookbooks we already have. 

January end of the month baking party challenge | Japan: milk bread from The Woks of Life @thewoksoflife by Bill, Judy, Sarah, and Kaitlin Leung

February end of the month baking party challenge | France: [chocolate] madeleines from pure chocolate by Fran Bigelow of Fran's Chocolates @franschocolates

March: Yiayia: Time Perfected Recipes from Greece’s Grandmothers by Anastasia Miari @anastasia_miari 

Topic: The role of the matriarch in cooking and family legacy.

egg and potato omelet

Yiayia Koula's lemon roast chicken from Andros

April

One Pot, Pan, Planet: A Greener Way to Cook for You and Your Family by Anna Jones @we_are_food

Topic: Cooking for our planet including reducing waste and sustainable cooking.

kale, lemon & crunchy breadcrumb Caesar

roasted carrots with beans and salsa rustica

March & April baking: Torta Della Nonna: A Collection of the Best Homemade Italian Desserts by Emiko Davies @emikodavies.

apple cake

Nonna Vera's almond cake

almond biscotti

pear and chocolate cake

March end of the month baking party challenge | USA: Pies - grasshopper pie from The Seattle Times Cookbook

April end of the month baking party challenge | Spain: Basque cheesecake from Love is a Pink Cake by Claire Ptak @violetcakeslondon

One thing I really love about being in this club, is learning about new dishes, places, and techniques. Anyone can join. Just follow @rainydaybites to see what we're cooking each month!