Join Julia Turshen, a celebrated author with four cookbooks under her belt, as she shares her approachable cooking philosophy. She discusses her new book, which uses charts to simplify cooking intuition and transform leftovers into delicious meals. Themes of body acceptance and queer food culture emerge, highlighting the importance of community and shared meals. Julia also dives into nostalgic cooking stories and emphasizes the joy of flexible, creative cooking, encouraging everyone to experiment in the kitchen.
Julia Turshen's cookbook, 'What Goes With What,' uses charts to simplify cooking techniques, empowering home cooks to improvise confidently.
The discussion emphasizes the importance of body acceptance and how food culture relates to personal narratives and queer food identities.
Turshen highlights the significance of recognizing the often-overlooked labor involved in home cooking, from planning to clean-up, celebrating everyday cooks.
Deep dives
The Role of Cookbooks in Our Lives
Cookbooks are seen as inviting and safe resources in many households, often associated with positive experiences in the kitchen. They serve as a medium that encourages learning and exploration in cooking while fostering a sense of comfort and nostalgia. The welcoming nature of cookbooks allows them to address complex topics, such as body image and food culture, which can resonate deeply with readers. This particular cookbook, 'What Goes With What?' goes beyond mere recipes by integrating essays that engage with cultural and personal narratives surrounding food.
Cooking Intuition Through Charts
The concept of using charts to simplify cooking techniques is a central theme in the cookbook. These charts serve as frameworks that demystify cooking processes by illustrating the general formulas behind making different types of dishes, such as soups and pastas. By presenting information in a visual format, the cookbook empowers home cooks to improvise in the kitchen, alleviating feelings of being overwhelmed by cooking possibilities. This approach not only makes cooking more approachable but also encourages individuals to build their cooking intuition.
Focus on Simplicity and Accessibility
The author emphasizes the importance of cooking simply and frequently, often basing meals on whatever ingredients are readily available. This practical approach aims to normalize everyday cooking instead of relying on elaborate recipes that might not fit into a busy lifestyle. Using accessible tools like an air fryer and focusing on manageable meals encourages a sustainable cooking practice that fits seamlessly into daily life. The intent is to convey that cooking can be both enjoyable and uncomplicated, allowing for regular enjoyment of home-cooked meals.
Engagement Through Online Cooking Classes
The cookbook author has adapted online cooking classes to create a shared, interactive experience where participants can cook alongside her in real-time. This setup encourages engagement, as cooks are able to ask questions and share their own cooking experiences, fostering a communal learning environment. The classes are designed to be relaxed and enjoyable, emphasizing the notion that cooking should be fun rather than burdensome. This format highlights the value of community in cooking, opening up pathways for conversation and collaboration among home cooks.
Championing Home Cooks and Their Efforts
A significant message throughout the conversation is the value of home cooking and the often-unrecognized labor that goes into it. The author recognizes that cooking encompasses much more than just meal preparation; it involves planning, budgeting, shopping, and cleaning up. By celebrating the effort put into home cooking, the author aims to validate and uplift the experiences of everyday cooks. This acknowledgment serves to reinforce the idea that cooking is an essential and impactful practice that deserves respect and appreciation.
Julia Turshen is the author of four cookbooks, including the new release What Goes With What: 100 Recipes, 20 Charts, Endless Possibilities. It’s a comprehensive guide to building cooking intuition and transforming odds and ends into a meal, and we had a great conversation live at Rizzoli bookstore all about making the book come to life, plus things like body acceptance and what constitutes queer food. We hope you’ll enjoy it.
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