The Prairie Homestead Cookbook by Jill Winger

Full disclosure, I received a copy of this book to review. My opinions are in no way influenced by this.

I rarely do this, but I have to give this book a 10 out of 10 acorns!



I went into this book knowing nothing of the author or her blog. All I knew was that it was a cookbook and the overview. Before reading a cookbook, I like to flip through and enjoy the dish titles and eye candy of finished dishes. I wasn't disappointed. The dishes varied from the simple to the unique and the pictures were all beautiful. Colorful dishes and quirky life moments filled the book from cover to cover.

This initial flip through clued me in for how much I was going to enjoy this book. I set about reading, casually enjoying the story of it’s conception. The blogging background of its author was clear from the slice of life moments within the explanation. She laid out her philosophy and I found myself nodding along with what she said.

As I poured over the recipes, I was impressed by how often the list of ingredients was kept well within the scope of what I would want to have stocked in my pantry and larder. So many books I have read seem to delight in putting odd twists on things by adding some peculiar ingredient that only gets used in that one dish. Nothing is more upsetting than wanting to try a recipe, but not being willing to pay for a container of specialty material to do so. After all, if you don't end up liking it, the rest of that ingredient may go to waste.

More importantly, I found almost every recipe sounded wonderful. Some were simple dishes that other cookbook authors overlook. Some were more unique, but still well within reason. The instructions were easy to follow and were often a page or less. After some of the books I have used in the past, this simplicity of instruction was refreshing. (I sometimes wonder if people are padding out their word counts in some of the cookbooks by complicating simple processes.)

Two other things I really appreciated about this book were a section on pantry items and another set dedicated to growing things on the homestead. In the former, it was nice to see the basic ingredients addressed beyond just ‘buy something organic’ and instead showing you how to make such things if you weren’t already aware. Many cookbooks only go as far as stock and leave the rest up to you to research. That section makes this book feel even more inviting to share with beginners.

The second part mentioned talks about growing ingredients and managing the homestead with an honest assessment. It’s not an advanced explanation, just a simple overview of some key items and what you might need to know starting out. I hadn’t realized this section was here when I decided to review the book and I found it a nice touch. It plays to the heart of the cookbook's nature.

Everything about this book feels like it is there to help a homesteader. Not just a cook, but someone living off the land as best as they can and who may still be getting their legs under them. It has enough for someone who’s been cooking a while as well, so it isn’t just a book for beginners. I have to say that this is going to end up in having a special place in my collection. I have many cookbooks, but only keep a dozen or so where I can reach for them easily. The Prairie Homestead Cookbook has earned its place among them.

I'm so honored! And thrilled that you are enjoying the book!

I have also felt frustrated by cookbooks with overly unique ingredients and complicated processes, so that was truly my goal when I wrote mine-- I wanted it to be an everyday-cookbook for regular ol' people like me.

Here in WY, speciality grocery items are non-existent, so it's all about simplicity.

Thanks again for taking the time to look through it! Happy cooking!

Looks like a good cook book, I will have to pick up a copy soon as I am designing a house around a kitchen.

Devin Lavign wrote:Looks like a good cook book, I will have to pick up a copy soon as I am designing a house around a kitchen.

Designing a house around a kitchen? Sounds like my kind of house, for sure!