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Home Cooking
Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen | Laurie Colwin
34 posts | 25 read | 24 to read
Laurie Colwins food thoughts are like phone calls from a dear friend. The New York Times In this delightful celebration of food, family, and friends, one of Americas most cherished kitchen companions shares her lifelong passion for cooking and entertaining. Interweaving essential tips and recipes with hilarious stories of meals both delectable and disastrous, Home Cooking is a masterwork of culinary memoir and an inspiration to novice cooks, expert chefs, and food lovers everywhere. From veal scallops sauted on a hot plate in her studio apartment to home-baked bread that is both easy and delicious, Colwin imparts her hard-earned secrets with wit, empathy, and charm. She advocates for simple dishes made from fresh, organic ingredients, and counsels that even in the worst-case scenario, there is always an elegant solution: dining out. Highly personal and refreshingly down-to-earth, Laurie Colwins irresistible ode to domestic pleasures is a must-have for anyone who has ever savored the memory of a mouthwatering meal. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Laurie Colwin including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the authors estate.
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DebinHawaii
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#AboutABook

For today‘s #YouGifted prompt, here are three books I like to gift to foodie friends. 💙🍽️💙

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome 👏🏻 4mo
Eggs Enchanting books!! 4mo
45 likes2 comments
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LeslieO
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🥓Give me all the breakfast foods!
🥚I love a good foodie book, especially when it includes recipes like the tagged book. It‘s an oldie but a goodie.
#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing!🌞🤩 1y
29 likes1 comment
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IndoorDame
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The first time I made oatmeal for breakfast this season. #Scarathlon2022 #ScarathlonBucketList #TeamMonsterMash @StayCurious

46 likes1 comment
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DebinHawaii
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#gratefulharvest

These two books of short food essays & recipes say #home to me. I have them by my nightstand & pull them out when I am in need of comfort. Laurie Colwin wrote so beautifully. ❤️❤️❤️

LeahBergen She did! I‘ve only read the first one. 3y
DebinHawaii @LeahBergen The first one is my favorite but the second is good too! 3y
Chrissyreadit Do you ever come across any vegetarian or vegan food memoirs? 3y
Eggs Well done ❤️🍽🧡 3y
53 likes5 comments
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SW-T
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Pickpick

It‘s hard not to love a book about food. Love how Colwin shares both her kitchen triumphs and disasters in this charming read. You can picture her in her tiny apartment with the child‘s playhouse sized refrigerator and hot plate, to her current kitchen surrounded by the things she considers essentials. Enjoyed both the stories and her recipes.

Centique Just read Nigella recommending this as one of her favourite books of all time 😊 4y
SW-T @Centique That‘s high praise indeed! 4y
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Tamra
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this slim book of comforting food/cooking essays. Just right for the moment.

Moving on to the second collection published posthumously.

KatieB I‘ve really got into cooking over the last 2 years and was just thinking how I‘d like to better combine my interests in cooking and reading. Thanks for the recommendation! 4y
Tamra @KatieB 👏🏾 I also highly recommend “The Art of Eating” by M.K. Fisher, which is a collection of Fisher‘s books/essays. It sits on my nightstand and I dip in and out of it. Wonderful food writing! 4y
KatieB Just downloaded it from the library! Thanks! 4y
Tamra @KatieB yay - I hope you like it. It‘s long, but my favorite selection is How to Cook a Wolf. 4y
51 likes4 comments
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Tamra
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My sister in salt.

AlaMich 😂 4y
LeahBergen I did the very same thing with stuffed olives. 😆 4y
AvidReader25 Same! 4y
58 likes3 comments
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Tamra
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Sometimes you find writing that speaks to you. 😁

CampbellTaraL Ah! This is my idea of traveling, too. Who cares about big attractions, what's it like for the everyday person? I'll watch for your future updates on this book but I might be sold on it already. 😍 4y
LeahBergen Yes! This was such a good read. 😍 4y
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Tamra @ValerieAndBooks I just ordered it from my library! 👏🏾 4y
Tamra @LeahBergen it is a delightful and easy read. Comforting actually. 4y
Tamra @taraWritesSci yes! I‘m pretty sure it‘s going to be 👍🏾👍🏾 4y
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Tamra
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Loving Colwin‘s attitudes about food and cooking.

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Hamlet
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Pickpick

I took a shine to this author right away. She‘s no-nonsense & unsentimental in the kitchen, filling each chapter with anecdote and tale that lead to a recipe. Her tiny apartments & kitchens (once only a burner) and her lack of kitchen devices harken back in my memory to a grand-aunt‘s minuscule kitchen and the delights that she sent forth from it. I so enjoyed her voice each morning that I was taken aback & grieved to find she had died in 1992.

Hamlet This book was recommended by a dear friend of mine new to Litsy: outermostslp1 4y
Outermostslp1 So glad you liked it! 4y
Suet624 I keep thinking I‘ve read some of her novels, but my records don‘t reflect that. I know I own some and they‘re probably tucked away in one of my many boxes of books. 4y
11 likes3 comments
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Outermostslp1
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Pickpick

One of my very favorite books about food and cooking. Who could resist an opening line such as this: "Unlike some people, who love to go out, I love to stay home"? When I read this book, I felt I'd made a friend who would have come to dinner, gladly, with me. I was so saddened when I read the small comment that "Laurie Colwin died in 1992." But what a wonderful thing that we have her words forever, to accompany our forays into the kitchen.

Hamlet I‘ve just been reading excerpts from this book, and it seems wonderful, charming, & sensible. Good first choice! Welcome to Litsy! 4y
Outermostslp1 Thanks Hamlet! You have inspired me to post again! 4y
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Bowietrek
Pickpick

From 1987, when I didn‘t read it. A book of essays on food and cooking. Some recipes, but mostly essays on her life involving food, entertaining and friends. I like her writing style and sense of humor. Wish I hadn‘t waited so long to read it.

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AprilMae
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I love ground cherries! Got a nice bunch at the swappers meet today so I just spent the last 15 minutes taking their husks off so they are ready to go in a salad or just be eaten for a snack! Yum!! #bfc

HollyBahling We have a ground cherry bush too! It took so little to maintain and we were so busy this year. It may be our only harvest. 😂 5y
AprilMae @HollyBahling I am not a plant person, I have a black thumb and kill them. My sister is the one who gardens and I go help her can things in exchange for produce. I've tried to convince her to grow these for me lol 5y
18 likes2 comments
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Aimeesue
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“Repulsive Dinners: A Memoir”

Hahahahahahaha!

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Aimeesue
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Rescued this one from the discard pile when the book sale was over. The light tone was good for the brain- fried me and I cooked two things today. Admittedly, one was because I just didn‘t want to change out of pajama pants to go out and get it, but I now feel like I‘ve accomplished something today. 😄

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rachelm
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Just missing the rolls , and roasted pears for dessert. Happy holidays everyone!

kspenmoll Delish! Roasted pears sound wonderful! 6y
Dragon Happy holidays 🎉! 💚🐉 6y
rachelm @Dragon thanks! 6y
rachelm @kspenmoll it was!! 6y
Redwritinghood Happy holidays! 6y
59 likes5 comments
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Tamra
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Rummaging thru cookbooks and I leafed thru this family gem from 1959. Church cookbook from Zell, SD which is truly in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, I snorted when I saw the diet section in the back and found lobster on the lunch menu. You couldn‘t have found a lobster within 200+ miles! 😂😂

Sace 😂😂😂 6y
JHSiess I was born in Britton. Never heard of Zell! I wouldn't trust a lobster served in SD! 😳 6y
AlaMich Why was grapefruit always the go-to food of olde tyme diets? Does it have magical weight-loss properties I am unaware of? 6y
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rubyslippersreads I‘d enjoy a lobster diet, but I suppose dipping it in melted butter would defeat the purpose. 😂 (edited) 6y
Tamra @JHSiess lol, totally! 6y
Tamra @AlaMich weird isn‘t it? I don‘t even like it. 6y
Tamra @rubyslippersreads me too! Yum.... 6y
Tamra @JHSiess it is kinda near Aberdeen & Redfield, middle of the state, east of the river. It‘s a ghost town basically now. 6y
Cathythoughts I‘ve never had lobster !!! I hear it‘s good 6y
Tamra @Cathythoughts oh my, yes! 6y
76 likes10 comments
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Cortg
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I needed some new recipe inspiration. There are some yummy looking, easy recipes I‘m looking forward to trying. And no, I‘m not on a Keto diet, it just looked good.

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3CatsAndABook
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I made this earlier today, first time making New York Cheesecake. Getting ready to give it a try while kicking back with Joe Hill 😉

zzz Holy cow, yum 🧀🎂🍴! I have but I haven't read it yet 6y
3CatsAndABook @Jen_is_always_reading I have that one but haven't read it yet, right now it's 6y
Eggbeater I have cheese cake envy! 6y
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JenReadsAlot Yum.... 6y
Chelsea.Poole That looks amazing!!! 6y
olivia.ferz Cheese cake!! 😍😍😍 6y
Smrloomis Wow, nice work! 6y
GypsyKat Yum!!! 6y
Sungirl79 Yum!! 6y
julesG The perfect reading snack. Wow! Wish mine would look like this. 6y
BookwormAHN Nice, looks fantastic 😺 6y
Reggie I gained 3lbs while looking at this post. Lol 6y
TNbookworm Yummy! 6y
Solshine1 Looks yummy! I first read Horns then promptly plowed through all his books. He‘s so good! 6y
3CatsAndABook @Solshine1 That one is on my tbr list 6y
3CatsAndABook Thanks everyone, I must say it was delicious 🙂 6y
rather_be_reading 😍😍 6y
166 likes17 comments
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thereadingowlvina
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🥪 Any cookbook with quick and simple casserole and crockpot recipes.

🥪 Noooooo!

🥪 Alex Guarnaschelli

🥪 I'm not sure it's weird but growing up in Malaysia, this is my favourite breakfast: 2 soft-boiled eggs mixed with Marmite/Bovril. I had it with toast and coffee/tea 😋

Thank you @JoScho for today's #manicmonday! 💕🤗

JoScho I am with you-keep it is as simple and easy as possible ❤️ 6y
KarenUK Eggs and marmite are great together! 👍 6y
thereadingowlvina @KarenUK Yes! Glad to know I'm not the only one! 🤗 6y
robinb Number 1...YES!!! 👍👍👍 6y
26 likes5 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#TuneIntoNovember #AwakeMySoul #recommendsday 📚I read before bed to relax my mind & body but also to awaken my soul. For that, these 2 books are perfect. Home Cooking & its follow up More Home Cooking are filled with Laurie Colwin's brilliant & beautiful food writing in the form of warm, witty essays & some simple recipes too-like the lentil soup pictured. Colwin died of a heart attack at 48 in 1992 but her words are timeless & soul-satisfying.💜

Cinfhen Sad she passed at such a young age 😪 7y
BethFishReads I love her!!!! 7y
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MinDea
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When I am not reading/on Litsy I like to cook! Big ol' pot of Buffalo Chicken Chili for dinner tonight! #littensoffline #MyLifeInBites

@Robothugs @Jess7 @EllieDottie @BookishJess @Laura317 @zelma what do you guys do when not reading?!

@The-Flashley

EllieDottie I also love to cook 👨‍🍳 it's one of my favourite hobbies!!! 7y
ReadingSusan Ohhh that looks delicious! 7y
Jess7 Spend time with my husband and our #dogs 🤗 7y
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MelissaS That looks great! I love to cook and bake 7y
Zelma Yum! Since it's fall, I am often parked in front of a tv football game. 7y
MinDea @Zelma that is where my boyfriend has been all day. Watching football with #Shadow on his lap! 7y
Laura317 @MinDea If I'm not reading, I'm usually working on some project I've got going on. Right now it's painting rocks to leave about with the kids. 7y
Robothugs Hmm... You would most likely find me playing video games or doing crafts! 7y
EllieDottie Oh my goodness! Your blog looks so yummy 😋 7y
62 likes10 comments
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Beckys_Books
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Pickpick

Laurie Colwin describes her home cooking successes and failures in this yummy collection of essays. Now I want to be more adventurous in the kitchen, because as Laurie writes "...the joy of cooking is the joy of discovery".

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Beckys_Books
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Went to my bookshelf to put something away and picked up this book. It fell open to the essay on potato salad. I read it and Laurie Colwin made me crave potato salad, of which I'm not even a huge fan.

tpixie Looks delicious! 8y
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LeslieO
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I love food writing, especially with recipes! #cookbookfoodthemedbooks #riotgrams

LeahBergen I have Home Cooking on my TBR shelf. 👍🏼 8y
LeslieO @LeahBergen I love these books and her fiction, too 8y
33 likes2 comments
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DebinHawaii
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If you have a Kindle & love great writing/food writing, grab a copy of Home Cooking on sale for $1.99 today. If you don't know Laurie Colwin, she was a wonderful writer of fiction & two collections of food essays who was taken far too soon in 1992 at the age of 48. I have my old paperback copies of this & More Home Cooking by my bed. Her passion for food & cooking comes through every page in a warm, conversation style-with recipes mixed in too🍴📚

Suelizbeth @DebinHawaii Thanks for the heads up. I have recently found myself devouring (lol) books about food and cooking. 8y
DebinHawaii @Suelizbeth This one is pretty delicious! 😆 Hope you enjoy it! 8y
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Jgoodall_msp
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April
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Pickpick

Loved, loved, loved, loved, loved this. As others have said, it feels very much like having a conversation at someone's kitchen table. The author is funny, honest, and cozy. A wonderful read. I already have the second (More Home Cooking) from the library! Digging in today. 😉☕️🍗🍳🍆

LyndseyReads I love the cover! 8y
BethFishReads I cried when she died. 💗 8y
SusanInTiburon I have read my copies to pieces. 💙💙 8y
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April @BethFishReads I know--I'm so sad that I found her after the fact. =( At least now I have her whole body of work to read! 8y
April @SusanInTiburon I regret buying paperback for that reason! But I do like the paperback covers better, @LyndseyReads ! The _More Home Cooking_ book has an adorable image of a jam jar on the front cover! 8y
April @peggyriley Thanks so much for recommending this on Litsy! I might never have found it otherwise. =) 8y
peggyriley So glad you found her - isn't she glorious? 8y
21 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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peggyriley
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My Friday Fun Photo comfort reads. Laurie Colwin and her great love of gingerbread and words.

April Wow! I'd never heard of these but this is right up my alley! I did my master's paper on food memoirs. Can't wait to read these! Thanks for the recommendation! 8y
peggyriley Wonderful recipes and her wonderful heart. Enjoy! 8y
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Jgoodall_msp
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Attempt at overnight bread recipe Colwin adapted from Elizabeth David.