The Joy of Cooking: Nourishing Body and Soul With Healthy Recipes

Irma Rombauer first self-published her original version of The Joy of Cooking in 1931. Since then, this revised and updated edition has served as an indispensable kitchen manual. New recipes and cooking techniques have been added, along with improvements made in baking chapters such as including gram weights for bread baking. Canneles de Bordeaux, Rustic No-Knead Sourdough Bread and Ciabatta have also been updated accordingly.

Split Pea Soup

Split pea soup is an enduring classic, packed with nutritious vegetables and high-protein split peas (similar to lentils) to provide a comforting and nutritious winter warmer meal. Pair this hearty comforting soup with some hearty bread for dunking for maximum enjoyment.

Simmering ham bone with other ingredients adds an incredible depth of flavor, whether using leftover Easter or Christmas ham or purchasing one at the grocery store for this recipe.

Start by sauteeing onions, carrots and celery in olive oil with garlic and thyme before adding water and chicken broth as the liquid base for your soup.

Gingerbread Cookies

These gluten-free gingerbread cookies are light and chewy on the inside, perfectly spiced with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg for maximum flavour! Plus they’re easy to decorate with icing for festive decorating and allergy friendly for those following a dairy-free diet!

Since this dough can be quite sticky, be sure to coat both your work surface and rolling pin in flour before rolling it out. After that is completed, cut into whatever shapes you desire with cookie cutters before transferring onto baking sheets with at least 1/2-inch of space between each one for baking.

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is an irresistibly comforting dish made with meat and potatoes combined in a cheese-topped crust. While traditionally prepared using lamb, this healthier variation uses ground beef with frozen peas for additional nutrition, and replaces traditional mashed potatoes with cauliflower-and-potato mix instead – cutting calories and carbs without compromising taste!

Make this dish ahead and either bake it or microwave individual servings when you want something warm and comforting for dinner on cold winter nights.

Carbonara

Carbonara differs from Alfredo by being made with raw egg proteins thickening in hot pasta cooking water and creating a delectable sauce that coats its noodles.

Make this classic Italian dish by sauteeing guanciale (cured pork jowl) until golden and then mixing it with eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, and some of the reserved pasta cooking water. Stir vigorously off of the stove as these simple ingredients come together into an irresistibly creamy sauce!

Gazpacho

This refreshing summer soup from Andalucia, Spain features tomatoes and cucumbers alongside other veggies and flavorful garlic. A drizzle of olive oil makes a traditional topping; other popular options may include chopped Spanish ham or chopped hard-boiled eggs.

Gazpacho should have both deep tomato flavor and an aromatic bite from bread and garlic; its unique combination is both refreshing and easy to prepare, particularly when your vegetables are at their freshest.

Ingredients should be mixed and then chilled for two or three hours so the flavors can fully combine. Although this step is optional in traditional recipes, it makes an enormous difference!

Lasagna

This classic Italian recipe takes on a healthy twist by including plenty of vegetables and lean ground beef for an indulgent yet hearty main course dish the entire family can enjoy.

Prepare Red Sauce: In a large skillet, brown ground beef and sausage until done; transfer to a bowl for later.

Add garlic and vegetables to a skillet, cooking while stirring or tossing until vegetables are tender. Next add tomato sauce and parmesan rind; simmer 1-2 hours.

Combine ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan cheeses with salt and pepper in a large bowl until everything has combined thoroughly. While meat sauce simmers, arrange three lasagna noodles evenly in a shallow baking dish. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce across them evenly before topping with cheese mixture.

Pecan Pie

Perfect for holiday gatherings and family meals alike, this classic pie has been revamped to be healthier with dates as a natural sweetener. Though still using sugar, butter, and pie crust as ingredients, its composition contains approximately 150 fewer calories and 15g less sugar per slice than traditional recipes!

Start by layering coarsely chopped pecans into an unbaked pie shell, followed by mixing together eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract and salt into a large bowl and pouring this over the pecans.

Add extra zest and spice for extra flavor by including orange zest and cinnamon; however, that choice is entirely yours!