I first heard about cookbook clubs from my brother’s sister-in-law in mid-2024, and then I kept seeing them pop up on social media. I randomly Googled San Diego cookbook clubs and came across two groups.

One was a well-established club with its own website, where members host in their homes—but it had a waitlist. Then, I found a club on Meetup that meets every month at the local library, and I thought, This is my chance to meet people who are passionate about trying new recipes!

My First Cookbook Club Meetup 📖🍴

The club leader chooses a book in advance, and each person selects a recipe to cook and bring to the meetup. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, and I was so excited about it—I probably told everyone around me that I was going. 😂

I showed up and had a great time! The average age was probably around 65, and everyone took the hangout very seriously. But they were all incredibly welcoming.

What I love about cookbook clubs is that you get to try 20+ dishes from a cookbook without having to make them all yourself. We went around the table, graded the cookbook, shared our thoughts on the recipes we made, and discussed whether we’d cook them again. The group was serious about following the recipes exactly so we could rate the book fairly—no tweaking allowed! Then, we all grabbed a plate and dug in.

The Cookbook: The Comfortable Kitchen: 105 Laid-Back, Healthy, and Wholesome Recipes

I’ve followed Defined Dish on social media for a while, but before this year, I had only tried one of her recipes—her Zesty Potato Wedges, which are actually in this cookbook! I added them to my cooking list and would make them again.

This year, I also made her Lemon-Basil Pesto, which has been a huge hit in our household. H has been asking for it again, so I need to make it soon!

Since I was going to my first cookbook club, I wanted to try as many of her recipes as possible this week.

Recipes I Tried This Week 🍽️

From the book:
✅ Orecchiette alla Vodka
✅ Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Dynamite Sauce
✅ Tuna Tostadas with Chipotle Aioli and Crispy Leeks
✅ Thai-Inspired Chicken Fried Rice (the dish I made for the cookbook club)
✅ Sutton’s No-Bake Monster Cookie Bites
✅ 7-Ingredient Almond Butter Cookies

From her blog:
✅ Ahi Tuna Tartare 
✅ Baked Salmon Sushi Bowls 
✅ Caramel deLites Energy Bites
✅ Peach Almond Smoothie

Final Thoughts 📝✨

Overall, I think The Comfortable Kitchen has some great recipes that I’ll be making over and over again. Her recipes lean on the healthier side—gluten-free, Whole30, and packed with nutritious ingredients. She does use a few specialty ingredients that you might not always have on hand, but I think it’s a great cookbook if you have family and friends looking for healthier alternatives without sacrificing flavor.

And…I’ll definitely be back for another cookbook club! I’m also seriously considering starting my own.

Recipes Made So Far This Year:

Goal: To try seven new recipes each week 🗓️, aiming for 365 this year!

Number of Recipes Made this Week: 20 ✅ 

Number of New Recipes Tested as of 2/9: 74

Weeks Achieving Seven or More New Recipes: 6 out of 6

This Week’s Recipe Test Summary

Impress Someone🌟

Tuna Tostadas with Chipotle Aioli and Crispy Leeks from The Comfortable Kitchen: 105 Laid-Back, Healthy, and Wholesome Recipes (A Defined Dish Book)🐟🔥

I visited the local Japanese store again to grab some sashimi-grade tuna for these tostadas, and wow—they felt so fancy! Super easy to make and perfect as an appetizer for a dinner party. Definitely a keeper.

Charlie Bird’s Farro Salad from NY Times Cooking by Melissa Clark 🥗

This was a fancy-feeling salad! Both H and I loved it. It’s packed with ingredients, so not an everyday salad, but it’s great for a special lunch or dinner.

7-Ingredient Almond Butter Cookies from The Comfortable Kitchen: 105 Laid-Back, Healthy, and Wholesome Recipes (A Defined Dish Book)🍪✨

At the cookbook club, they jokingly called these the most expensive cookies because they require almond butter, almond flour, and arrowroot flour—ingredients most people don’t just have at home. I made them for my sister and her kids before the club, and they LOVED them. So did I! Super moist, naturally sweetened with maple syrup instead of granulated sugar. My sister already requested another batch!

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts from NY Times Cooking by Erin Jeanne McDowell 🍩🍏

I made these twice—once for my sister’s family and again for a dinner with friends. Everyone loved them! They’re baked, so no messy frying. The only thing I need to work on is getting them perfectly round in the doughnut pan. My sister even suggested I start selling them!

Would Make Again 👍

Baked Salmon Sushi Bowls from The Defined Dish

H and I are still on our salmon kick, and he thought this plate was too pretty to eat. The spicy dressing really makes it. Adding this one to the lunch rotation!

Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Dynamite Sauce from The Comfortable Kitchen: 105 Laid-Back, Healthy, and Wholesome Recipes (A Defined Dish Book) 🥔🔥

Good ol’ crispy potatoes with a spicy sauce. I just drizzled the sauce on top and loved it! Next time, I’d make half the amount of sauce.

Creamy, Spicy Tomato Beans & Greens from NY Times Cooking by Alex Weibel

This recipe has been all over Reddit, so I had to give it a try. It was good, but I wouldn’t rave about it like everyone else. The combo of panko, lemon, arugula, and creamy beans works really well. I’d make it again for a vegetarian friend, but go check it out for yourself—Reddit is obsessed!

Linguine with Classic Ligurian Pasta from On Top of Spaghetti: Macaroni, Linguine, Penne, and Pasta of Every Kind [Cookbook] 🌿🍝

A more traditional pesto recipe this week! You know I love pesto, but I realized I didn’t have a classic version in my rotation—now I do.

Sutton’s No-Bake Monster Cookie Bites from The Comfortable Kitchen: 105 Laid-Back, Healthy, and Wholesome Recipes (A Defined Dish Book)

These are sugar-loaded, no-bake bites with mini M&Ms, oats, and almond butter—so fun! They feel like a cool soccer mom recipe.

M&M Cookies from America’s Test Kitchen by Matthew Fairman 🍪🏈

Since I had leftover M&Ms, I made these for our Super Bowl hangout. Just a solid, classic cookie—easy, quick, and delicious!

Would Not Make Again 👎

These recipes didn’t live up to expectations or weren’t to my taste

Superfood Mixed Berry Chia Jam from Running on Veggies: Plant-Powered Recipes for Fueling and Feeling Your Best [Cookbook]🍓

Needed a hint of maple syrup or honey—just a bit too tart for me.

Almond Berry Overnight Oats from Running on Veggies: Plant-Powered Recipes for Fueling and Feeling Your Best [Cookbook]

It was fine, just nothing special.

Chocolate Almond Smoothie Bowl from Running on Veggies: Plant-Powered Recipes for Fueling and Feeling Your Best [Cookbook]

Good, but not something I’d repeat.

Caramel deLites Energy Bites from The Defined Dish
My sister said they tasted like canola oil… 😂 Not a great review.

Peach Almond Smoothie from The Defined Dish

Also just okay. Maybe I’m biased, but I think every smoothie needs a frozen banana. 🍌

Orecchiette alla Vodka from The Comfortable Kitchen: 105 Laid-Back, Healthy, and Wholesome Recipes (A Defined Dish Book)🍝

I’ve made better vodka sauce pastas. Ina Garten’s vodka sauce still reigns supreme! 

Thai-Inspired Chicken Fried Rice from The Comfortable Kitchen: 105 Laid-Back, Healthy, and Wholesome Recipes (A Defined Dish Book)

Too many flavors going on—it felt overwhelming. Probably my least favorite of all the Defined Dish recipes I tried.

Ahi Tuna Tartare from The Defined Dish

It was good, but I know I can find a better tuna tartare recipe.

Downunder Cheese Puffs from Food. by Missy Wombat

Fun and easy to make, but just meh.

Carmelized Shallot Pasta from NY Times Cooking by Alison Roman

I just didn’t enjoy the flavor of this one.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or any recipe requests you might have. Just respond directly to this email.

See you next week. Keep cooking! 👋 

Vale from ValeCooks