Renée Paquette - Messy In The Kitchen: My Guide to Eating Deliciously, Hosting Fabulously and Sipping Copiously

To Jon and our sweet little baby. May our stomachs always be full, our glasses (or bottles) always be topped, and traditions a plenty. I love you guys. And the dogs, too. I love them. The futures looking good!

Holy crap, I cant believe this is happening and its here! I manifested this so hard. Ive wanted to make this cookbook for years! I actually had about half of it written before I ever got a book deal. I was just hoping and praying that if I put it out into the universe enough, someone else would also think this was a good idea. So here we are. Youre now holding my book in your hands! What the hell?!

Ive loved cooking for a very long time and was food obsessed long before that. I come from a family of capable home chefs and adventurous eaters. Theres literally nothing I wont at least try. You have no idea my level of excitement when I see a new chip flavor on display at the grocery store. Thats my happy place. I also deeply appreciate experimenting with food, testing out what works in the kitchen, what excites my taste buds, and making adjustments on the fly. Unlike baking, which is actual science, I prefer the whimsical nature of not having to take this all so seriously. YOU CAN COOK! It just takes trial and error and taking it easy on yourself. Hey, you can always fall back on ordering a pizza if your endeavor turns into an epic fail! Believe me, Ive been there. When I first started doing this book, I felt that I knew my way around the kitchen pretty well, but now, having spent so much time testing recipes and re-making dishes, Ive achieved a whole new level of confidence. Time spent in the kitchen is never a loss. At the very least, it means more experience under your belt!

Were all spending so much more time at home these days. And while Postmates and Uber Eats are genius ideas, and I love them a ton, nothing beats a home-cooked meal. And nothing tops the joy of cooking for other people. Is there anything more satisfying than having friends and family over, watching everyone take their first bite, and realizing you just nailed that meal? I dont think so. However, my husband is well over me staring at him while he tastes something I just made, my eyes full of hope and anticipation. Its a lot of pressure, I know. Just tell me its good and Ill leave you alone!

One of my favorite things is having people over and feeding them an abundance of delicious food and copious cocktails. Happy, full, and tipsy! From hosting a BBQ, Friendsgiving, Christmas with a house full of family, or just having some drinks and snacks, I love when the house is packed with people. Loud and messy is my jam! But over years of figuring out how to orchestrate it, and getting better and better at it, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite recipes, tips, and tricks.

My biggest two tips are these: clean as you go and keep everyones glass full.

Throughout this book Ill cover some of my favorite pantry staplesitems I need on hand, and a backup just in case, kitchen utensils I live by, and recipes from breakfast to snacks to dinner, and some cocktails to round it all out.

If you follow me on Instagram or know me IRL, you know Im a music junkie. Nothing gets my chakras aligned and my Zen just right like slow cooking a meal, sipping a glass of wine, and spinning some of my favorite artists. Thats my church. So Ive added a few playlists for your earholes pleasure. Ive reached out to some of my favorite people and theyve helped me curate these playlists that I hope you thoroughly enjoy. So get ready to roll up your sleeves, pop a cork, and feed some mouths.

Thanks for taking the time to read my book. You have no idea how happy it makes me. For real.

Being on the road as frequently as I am, let me tell you, no matter where youve been in the world or how incredible a trip it might have been, there is nothing like returning to your own home, your own bed, your own shower, and most importantly, your own kitchen. I get so excited staring into the abyss that is my completely unorganized spice cupboards and jacked-up pantry and breathe a sigh of sweet relief that I can now cook my own meal, on my own time, in my own space. HEAVEN. Over the years Ive obsessively added to my collection of spices and oils, splurging on some saffron-infused so-and-so or a beautiful CBD olive oil to top my dishes. But there are some items that I ALWAYS have on hand, and occasionally a backup juuuust in case. Here are some spices and tools that are guaranteed to give your meals a swift kick in the ass, or make you feel like the Ina Garten of your own household.

SPICES AND SEASONINGS

Sea salt

Whole peppercorns, with a peppercorn grinder, of course (Trust me, it makes a huge difference over the pre-ground pepper.)

Red pepper chili flakes

A nice olive oil (Expensive isnt always the way, but you want one that tastes good on its ownno bitterness, no weird mouth residue, with a nice, clean finish.)

Maldon sea salt flakes. (Im always amazed by the crunch and flavor these chunks add when sprinkled on top of a meala finishing salt if you will. Ohh la la! Most grocery stores sell it, but you can order it BY THE BUCKET online.)