Gaby Dalkin - Whats Gaby Cooking: Take It Easy: Recipes for Zero Stress Deliciousness

Editor: Holly Dolce
Designer: Claudia Wu
Design Manager: Danielle Youngsmith
Managing Editor: Annalea Manalili
Production Manager: Kathleen Gaffney

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022932222

ISBN: 978-1-4197-5886-7
eISBN: 978-1-64700-533-7

Text copyright 2022 Gaby Dalkin
Photographs copyright 2022 Matt Armendariz

Cover 2022 Abrams

Published in 2022 by Abrams, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved.
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From the time I first started writing cookbooks about three lifetimes ago (seriously, how has it been nine years since my first book?), my number one goal has always been to give my readers a taste of the good life. Ive wanted all of you, whether you are reading my books or following me on social media, to be able to plug into a way of living that brings you more: more getting together with friends, more seeing the world through the flavors on your plate, more sunshine, more of the things that make you happy, and of course, more delicious meals. All of that started with encouraging you to get into the kitchen. You just had to find a recipe that inspired you, grab the freshest ingredients possible, and treat yourself to a home-cooked mealthen pour yourself a Negroni spritz while you kicked back and enjoyed the fruits of your labor. And I still stand by that because its how I have been cooking at home too.

Then two huge things happened in my life that shifted the way I think about food. The first was the birth of my daughter, Poppy. Suddenly I had somewhere Id much rather be than in the kitchenwhich is really saying something considering my happy place is organizing my pantry and dreaming up new dishes to cook for pretty much every meal. But the reality is, my life has changed and so has my cooking. Granted, I still want the same mega flavors that Im always after, but I dont want to spend a lot of time building them. I still want the same hearty, filling, nourishing dishes that are my longtime loves and gotos, but I want them to come together even more quickly. Were talking less babysitting pots, and more babysitting Poppy, if you know what I mean. So, I started thinking about ingredients that can pop on their own without necessarily needing a lot of hand-holding, and dishes that shine in their simplicitythings like Lemon Feta Herby Orzo ().

The other major life-altering eventthough in a very, very, very different waywas 2020. I dont think I need to remind you about what that hot mess of a year was all about, but I will say that it made me learn some pretty significant things about myself: how important it is to connect with other people, how special it is to have others sharing and laughing around my table, and how much I genuinely love feeding my friends and family. I mean, my husband, Thomas, is my favorite person in the world (besides Poppy), but there are only so many cacio e pepe pizzas that I can make for just the two of us. So, when life started to return to normal and it was once again safe to get together, it was like the floodgates openedI couldnt wait to see everyone. And not just that, feed everyone. But this time around felt different. Whereas in the past I might have been excited to take painstaking care over an impressively involved menu, now I wanted to give as much of my undivided attention as possible to my guestsnot the food. Add a baby into the mix, and this girl definitely doesnt have 1,348,954 hours to prep. No, now I want to reach for dishes that come together quickly, shine their brightest at room temperature (aka, make-ahead-then-forget-all-about-them kinda deals), and lend themselves to all the dipping, picking, and nibbling that happens in between catching up on all the scoop. Dishes like Crab Cake Salad (). Because if theres one thing I now know for sure, its that coming together isnt about whats on the table. Its about who is at it. And I realize that if Im going to enjoy myself and soak up every precious minute with the people who matter most to me, then I need to loosen up a little bit in the kitchen.

But that by no stretch means that I take my food any less seriously. The opposite is trueI made it my mission to develop a books worth of recipes that do all the hard work for you. Because these days, taking it easy is my jam. Or more accurately, taking it easy is my Basil Vinaigrette (). Because if theres one good thing to come out of a global pandemic, it might as well be the most delicious thing ever.

Even though this book is staying true to my Whats Gaby Cooking rootssimple, fresh, flavorful food that you can feel really good about eatingId really like to think of it as a celebration of where we are now and the lessons weve all learned after so much time apart. I know for me, these past couple years have really brought home how important it is to be surrounded by people who lift me up (like my WGC community!), to not take myself too seriously, and to work hard and leisure harder. This is a true TYM (Treat Yourself Moment). Give yourself permission to kick back, relax, and make some really good food without breaking a sweat. Do yourself a favorcrack open this book, pour yourself a glass of ros, throw together a little tasty something (Soft Scramble Toast? BBQ chicken chopped salad? Tri-tip sandwich? Nutella pie?), and Take. It. Easy. You earned it.

Yes, this book is all about taking it easy, but that does not mean selling yourself short when it comes to breakfast. I know it seems so much easier to either skip it or reach for something packaged. But be honesthow do you feel when eleven a.m. rolls around and youre hangry/brain foggy/running on empty? Thats why no matter how tight for time I am, I will always have breakfast at the top of my to-do list as one of my self-care essentials. Luckily, Ive perfected the art of quick, satisfying morning meals that can be taken on the go, in addition to more impressive spreads for when youre entertaining or feeling like you deserve a more decadent brunch. (Spoiler alert: You do.) From Cacio e Pepe Soft Scramble to cheesy omelets, Ive got all the egg dishes you could want. There are the most perfect hash browns known to man. Or you can get baking with Perfect Banana Bread and Coconut French Toast Bread Pudding for some tropical inspo. And lets just say that Alexs Chilaquiles Breakfast Nachos will pretty much change your life.