At the Table :: 2025 Rainy Day Bites May to August

Whew! Another third of the year with Rainy Day Bites Cookbook Club @rainydaybites is over, so I'm again documenting my participation by sharing all the new-to-me recipes I've tried since May 1. Throughout this last season, the overall theme has continuously been #budgetbakesandbites, and the two featured cookbooks reflect that. Though we did indeed have featured books, it was also allowed to cook from other books we had, so that gave us a lot of freedom. Unless noted, the recipes shared are from the featured books. Note that I linked to each IG post, in case you wanted to read what I wrote about each recipe. And if this post isn't of interest, thank you for indulging me, and I'll be back with more creative content soon!

May & June

Featured book: You Got This by Diane Morrisey @dianemorrisey

Tuscan Beans with Vegetables

Spicy Carrot Rigatoni from by Heart: Recipes to Hold Near and Dear by @haileecatalano with Ultra-Creamy Fresh Homemade Ricotta recipe coincidentally by @theclevercarrot

Sloppy Joe Hand Pies

Thai-Style Chicken and Vegetable Salad

cilantro lime grilled chicken bowl from Easy Everyday by Jessica Merchan @howsweeteats

smashburger salad also from Easy Everyday by Jessica Merchan @howsweeteats

Hummus Crunch Bowl from Easy Everyday by Jessica Merchant @howsweeteats 

Turkey Taco Salad from What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking by @carochambers

Chicken BLT with Golden Shallots 

Roasted Delicata Squash with Pomegranate Glaze 

Greek Turkey Meatball Bowls 

Sheet Pan Lasagna

Farro, Apple, Pomegranate, and Pistachio Salad

Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Salsa Verde from Cooking in Real Life by @lideylikes 

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Herby Goat Cheese from Easy Everyday by @howsweeteats

One-Skillet Chicken Burrito Bowls from What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by @carochambers

Angel Hair with Chunky Roasted Tomato Sauce and Burrata 

Firecracker Salmon Rice Bowls

July & August:

Featured book: Cook What You Have by Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street @177milkstreet

Bulgur and Chicken Salad with Pomegranate Molasses

Fettuccine with Corn, Tomatoes, and Bacon

Cheesy Tex-Mex Migas

Stir-Fried Broccoli and Noodles

Fish Baked with Tomatoes, Capers and White Wine 

Risotto with Sausage and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Chicken and Tortilla Soup

Garlic Fried Rice with Chicken

Eight-Ingredient Beef and Bean Chili

Braised Sausages and Lentils with Parsley-Caper Relish

May–August 

Baking Book: 100 Afternoon Treats by Sarah Kieffer @sarah_kieffer

Freezer Friendly Bakes
May: any recipe from the brownies, blondies, and bakes chapter

Chocolate Chip Bars

Blueberry Muffin Cake - from the One-Bowl Bakes chapter, oops!

Pecan Espresso Bars

S'mores Bars

Pantry Recipes

July: any recipe from the One Bowl Bakes

My Perfect Afternoon Snacking Cake

Individual Chocolate Chip Cookies from Sweet Tooth @bromabakery

August: our choice of any recipe from the Pie, For a Crowd, or Weekend Projects chapters

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

End of Month Baking Challenges:

May 5/30: Citrus - Rhubarb Spoon Cake from The Lost Kitchen: Recipes and a Good Life Found in Freedom, Maine by Erin French @thelostkitchen

June 6/30: Herbs or Floral - Lemon, Rosemary & Olive Oil Cake from Cooking in Real Life by Lidey Heuck @lideylikes

July 7/31: Tropical Flavors - Cinnamon Swirl-Banana Bread Mug Cake from Sweet Tooth by Sarah Fennel @bromabakery

August 8/31: Stone Fruits - Almond Cake with Figs from Sweet Enough by Alison Roman @alisoneroman

With the added flexibilities of cooking from more books and posting on more dates, I seemed to cook more recipes for the club then usual, especially for meal times. The theme and featured books really leant themselves to fairly easy meals, and I really enjoyed that. I'd say we ate pretty good!