If You Love (Cooking)

As the year winds down, many are pulling out their favorite cookbooks and beloved family recipes to indulge in some good ol’ home cooking. Whether you’re the permanent sous-chef for the adult in your life or are just starting to dabble in all things culinary, you’re sure to find some helpful expertise, literary kindred spirits, and a lot of fun in this first installment of “If You Love.”

NOVELS

Books are naturally always on the brain here at BPL, and there's no shortage of cooking-inspired novels in our collection. Elizabeth Acevedo’s With the Fire on High follows teen mom Emoni, whose culinary passion only grows when her school offers up an immersive cooking course—and a trip to Spain! With so much already on her plate, can Emoni also make room for her dream of becoming a chef?

If you’re after something a bit zanier, then try the Space Battle Lunchtime graphic novels where human Peony goes up against aliens in an intergalactic cooking contest. Author Natalie Riess creates a Chopped-like competition in which Peony will have to deal with out-of-this-world ingredients and cutthroat extraterrestrial chefs.

Siobhan Vivian’s Stay Sweet is the perfect match for those who’d rather have their dessert before dinner. 17-year-old Amelia is finally going to be Head Girl of the local ice cream stand Meade Creamery. It should be the perfect summer—until owner Molly Meade passes away, and her ice cream recipes are seemingly lost with her. It's up to Amelia and Molly's grandnephew Grady to continue her legacy.

SHOWS

Competitive cooking shows continue to be all the rage, but I think we can agree that Great British Bakeoff—otherwise known as The Great British Baking Show in the US—is the most relaxing of them all. If you’re a lover of pastries and want to see bakers create passed-down recipes and elaborate showstoppers (and give each other nothing but encouraging support along the way), then fire up your Netflix for a binge night.

But perhaps you prefer higher energy with your cooking, in which case Chopped Teen Tournament will be more up your alley. Like its adult counterpart, this show gives contestants surprise ingredients each round to create unique dishes until only one winner is left.

GAMES

Of course, not everyone can be an immediate culinary whiz. Maybe you’re only just finding your way into the food world and want some virtual practice first. Video games Overcooked! and Overcooked! 2 will satisfy an amateur’s curiosity as you cook your way through various hijinks and challenging kitchens. Try to make fish and chips on a slippery iceberg or roast turkeys using only a flamethrower all while playing as adorable animal chefs. Both are currently availble on several consoles. 

Sushi Go! is a pass-and-play card game where the goal is to make the best combinations of sushi. Pair rolls with dipping sauces and grab delicious desserts for the most points in this delightfully chaotic game. It also comes in an expanded version called Sushi Go Party!

 

RECIPES

For hands-on experience, there are so many cookbooks from which to choose. Discover your next signature dish in our catalog with The Baking Cookbook for Teens, Teen Chef Cooks, The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs, The Green Teen Cookbook, or The Teen Kitchen.

BPL’s virtual programming also has you covered with Recipe of the Month. Here, you’ll get a beginner’s guide to cooking and baking on the first Saturday of every month—the next one is on December 5!