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Wanderlust might be the ultimate secret ingredient to great cooking at home. The urge to see the world and taste its many offerings inspires you to explore colorful spice markets, sample curious delicacies, and spend time cooking with locals on every trip. It’s invigorating.
That exploration of global food doesn’t have to end when you’re at home, though. Travel cookbooks capture the spirit of globetrotting through arresting images, engaging stories, and, of course, damn delicious recipes. They give you the flavors and textures of faraway lands—no long-haul flights required.
Related Reading: 7 Packing Cubes That Make Holiday Travel a Breeze
Ready to be transported? Cook your way around the world with eight of the best travel cookbooks.
Grab a seat at the table of America’s coastal south with Whitney Otawka as your host. The award-winning chef of Georgia’s renowned Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island has put together a travel cookbook with 125 recipes arranged by the seasonal calendar of five coastal ingredients and flavors: oysters, vegetables, shrimp, heat, and smoke & cedar. Photographs in this tempting tome pop off the page, showcasing colorful dishes and the rugged scenery of Cumberland Island. But the real treat is Otawka’s heartfelt blurbs, offering the inside scoop on life in the Southeast coast region.Buy Now
Whether you want to learn how to hand roll sushi, fry a perfectly crispy tempura, or whip up a teriyaki sauce from scratch, there’s no better teacher than the “Iron Chef” himself, Masaharu Morimoto. His travel cookbook, “Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking,” makes Japanese cuisine approachable for even the most novice home chefs through deceptively simple recipes. No need to travel to the Land of the Rising Sun for obscure ingredients—Morimoto offers thoughtful substitutions you can find at your local grocery store.Buy Now
James Beard award-winning author Madhur Jaffrey reveals the magic of plant-based Indian cuisine in her 2015 travel cookbook, “Vegetarian India: A Journey Through the Best of Indian Home Cooking.” The beloved title captures the full range of cuisine from the subcontinent in over 400 pages of flavor-packed recipes, from Goan black-eyed peas with coconut to Punjabi-style okra masala. These are dishes you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again. Buy Now
As detailed as an encyclopedia and captivating as your favorite guidebook, “Let’s Eat France!” celebrates modern French cuisine. Reading the nearly six-pound travel cookbook feels like a treasure hunt, each page filled with surprising illustrations, maps, travel tips, charts, lists, and recipes—all infused with Gaudry’s charming personality. If this doesn’t make you book a foodie adventure to France, we’re not sure what will. Buy Now
Author and acclaimed chef Magnus Nilsson knows a thing or two about Nordic cuisine. He traveled extensively to collect the history, recipes, and cooking techniques of the region for “The Nordic Cookbook.” The hefty, magnificent read includes more than 700 recipes for dishes like meatballs and lingonberry jam, rose-hip soup, Finnish salmon pie, and wort bread (a traditional Christmas bread from Sweden). The book breathes the atmosphere of the destinations and dishes into each chapter with stunning full-page photos of landscapes and foods. Buy Now
“Zaitoun: Recipes from the Palestinian Kitchen” is more than a travel cookbook—it’s a “culinary anthropology” that sheds light on a side of the conflicted region you rarely see in other media. Author Yasmin Khan showcases cuisine from three distinct areas—the West Bank, Galilee, and the Gaza Strip—in a collection of more than 80 recipes. But while recipes for dishes like pomegranate passion cake and eggplant-feta kefte deliver sensory delights, it’s Khan’s illuminating storytelling that will fill your soul.Buy Now
Lonely Planet has aided the far-flung journeys of jet-setters for more than 40 years. Now, it brings that same sense of adventure to travelers’ home kitchens with its pocket-size travel cookbook of street food recipes from around the world. Readers will learn how to make German currywurst, Belizean garnaches, Indian kati rolls, South African bunny chow, and 96 other tantalizing foods. Plus, the book details the origins of each recipe and provides tasting notes to make each dish even more authentic.Buy Now
When it comes to travel cookbooks, few others give you as much bang for your buck as “The Essential Cuisines of Mexico.” It combines three of legendary cookbook author Diana Kennedy’s bestselling titles into one 544-page tome—the bible of traditional Mexican cuisine. If you want to learn the art of mole, or simply how to make a zesty pico de gallo, this celebrated travel cookbook will teach you everything you need to know and more.Buy Now
We’ve got a lot of great ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers, but one of the easiest, most delicious, and least boring options is nachos. Chowhound’s former photographer Chris Rochelle showed us the light in 2011. Here’s his recipe.
I hate cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving dinner bores me. But I love Mexican food. So I decided to see if it was possible to transform the entire Thanksgiving dinner into a loaded nachos experience. Cranberry sauce becomes a fruity salsa, turkey gets Mexi-spices, and jalapeños and cheese enter the picture—two things sorely missing from Thanksgiving dinner. It turned out really good. Here’s how you do it!
Combine 8 ounces of cranberry sauce, 2 finely chopped jalapeños, 2 tablespoons of finely chopped cilantro, 2 finely chopped scallions, and 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice.
Combine 1 cup of chopped turkey, 2 teaspoons of ground cumin, 1/2 of a medium onion (chopped), and 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice. Add to a hot oiled skillet over medium-high heat and cook until the onions have softened.
Related Reading: This Roasted Turkey Galette Is Another Great Use of Leftovers
Lay down a bed of tortilla chips, add all of your Turkey Mexicana, then some cheese. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
Top with cranberry salsa. And go for it.
The Instant Pot is one of our must-have kitchen devices and especially with the right Instant Pot accessories the miracle machine can be a great tool for health and wellness, too.
It’s on sale at several retailers for Black Friday 2019, but one of the best deals we’ve seen is the Instant Pot DUO60 for $49 at Walmart—plus, they have an Instant Pot Black Friday bundle offer which lets you add on the accessory of your choice (including several of the ones shown below) for just $2-$5 depending on which one you select.
As it’s a combination pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, warmer, and more, you can make thousands of satiating meals in your programmable Instant Pot (with the added benefit of fewer dirty dishes). From flavorful meat stews and fall-off-the-bone short ribs to summer shrimp boils and nutrient-packed soups, most healthy Instant Pot recipes are done in minutes and require minimal prep.
Related Reading: Whole30 Instant Pot Recipes to Help You Eat Healthier
One reason an Instant Pot is perfect for preparing dishes for healthy eating is how fast it cooks tender meats, perfect beans, creamy Greek yogurt, eggs, and other proteins integral to a balanced diet. With the help of a few smart, healthy Instant Pot accessories like cups for cooking eggs, steamed vegetable baskets, and a few Instant Pot cookbooks with healthy Instant Pot recipes in mind, you can stay committed to your Whole30 or keto plan or maintain a more balanced diet with loads of protein and nutrient-packed vegetables.
Below are some of the best Instant Pot accessories to have around for eating healthy all week (and year) long—and most will work with other pressure cookers too.
This Instant Pot steamer basket will make cooking veggies or boiling eggs even easier, and any dietician will tell you steaming adds the least amount of fat to foods while best maintaining their nutritional integrity. This steamer basket Instant Pot accessory is available in three different sizes (3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart) so there’s a size that will fit perfectly for any Instant Pot model, and they work with the Ninja Foodi and some other multicookers too. The stainless-steel steamer basket features a silicone-covered handle to keep it from getting too hot and burning your fingers when you lift it out.Buy Now
Serving a similar function as the basket above, this BPA-free silicone steamer has the added bonus of folding up flat for easy storage, so it’s a great choice for smaller spaces. It also cleans up more easily than metal since it’s naturally nonstick. It can be used with 6-quart and 8-quart Instant Pots.Buy Now
The Instant Pot does come with a metal rack, but this BPA-free silicone version is far easier to clean since it’s nonstick. It elevates your food from the liquid in the pot, while the vented bottom promotes better airflow for even cooking and also allows any rendered fat to drain. Use with 6-quart and 8-quart Instant Pots. When not in use, it works as a heat-safe trivet too.Buy Now
While frying food is obviously not a *healthy* choice, air frying at least cuts way down on the fat and calories. But if you’ve been unsure about getting yet another kitchen appliance, this nifty new attachment may be the perfect option for you. It’s basically a lid that you can lock onto any 6- or 8-quart electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot (and Mealthy’s own MultiPot models). It comes with a fryer basket, raised trivet, stainless steel tongs, and a heat-resistant silicone mat to rest the lid on when you’re done—but that’s still a lot less to store than a bulky air fryer itself. Check out our executive editor’s Mealthy CrispLid review for more info. It’s available on Amazon, but if you purchase through the Mealthy site, you can enter code Chowhound10 at checkout for $10 off your total of $59.95 and up.Buy Now
This healthy Instant Pot cookbook contains over 130 easy recipes for dishes you’ll love, all of which were developed specifically for a low-carb, high-protein keto diet. An Instant Pot is one of the best tools for a high-protein, low-carb lifestyle, cooking savory dishes like fall-off-the-bone red meats, quick chicken and fish, and fresh vegetables in a fraction of the time it takes in an oven. This book covers all of them and then some, with recipes like Amazing Asian Pulled Pork, Chicken and Bacon Lasagna Roll-Ups, Buffalo Meatballs, Easy Baked Eggs, Chocolate Almond Fudge, and Pumpkin Coffee Cake (all still keto, of course). It also includes helpful info on using your Instant Pot if you’re just getting started, plus great meal prep tips.Buy Now
Make perfect soft- or hard-boiled eggs in your multicooker with this handy Instant Pot egg steamer rack. It has indents to hold nine eggs, making this steam tool ideal for healthy meal prep. Make a batch (or two) on Sunday, then chop up some hard-boiled eggs for your salad for more protein to fuel your afternoon, or add a soft-boiled egg on top of avocado toast for an easy, healthy weekday breakfast. This comes in sizes suitable for 5-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart Instant Pot models.Buy Now
If you love Starbucks‘ sous vide egg bites, you need these silicone Instant Pot egg molds that let you make your own at home. Packed with protein, they’re yet another meal prepper’s dream (and a nice change from plain old hard-boiled eggs). Customize them with any additions you want, make a double batch on Sunday, and grab them for healthy breakfasts and lunch all week long. This set of two silicone molds (each makes 7 egg bites at once) also comes with silicone spoons and a steamer rack, but if you don’t need all the extras, you can buy a single egg bite mold with lid by itself.Buy Now
Whip up some light, healthy meals in your Instant Pot with this great healthy multicooker cookbook, which includes 75 simple recipes all suited for the miracle machine. Each healthy Instant Pot recipe includes a gluten-free option and they are all free of refined sugars. The healthy and delicious dishes range from savory (Instant Pot Eggplant Parmesan Bake, Spicy Lentil Burgers, and Asparagus & Leek Frittata) to sweet (Flourless Banana Oat Bread and One-Pot Chocolate Cake and Frosting—yum). Plus, there are tips on what to keep in your pantry so you’re always ready to whip up something good (and good for you too).Buy Now
Make your Instant Pot even more convenient with these stackable stainless-steel Instant Pot inserts for cooking multiple things at once, like a protein and sides (pressure cooking pros call this “PIP” or “pot in pot” cooking). They also serve as layer pans for cooking lasagna or cheesecake on cheat day, but we recommend them as one of the best Instant Pot accessories for anyone looking to increase efficiency and make more than one dish at a time. You can even cook multiple proteins to keep meal prep interesting, easy, and fast!Buy Now
You can make your own yogurt easily at home with this nifty Instant Pot yogurt maker accessory. We love that it’s easy to use and easy to clean—and saves a lot of money compared to buying tubs of yogurt at the store (plus, it cuts down on food waste to boot). Try creating different flavors and varieties such as Greek yogurt—and don’t worry about hidden sugar since you’ll know exactly what goes into your batch. Incorporate unique add-ins to shake up your healthy breakfast routine too, but don’t forget yogurt recipes that embrace its savory side!Buy Now
Whether you’re an avid home cook, a dedicated décor lover, or just want to feel like you’ve made it, add a KitchenAid stand mixer to your kitchen and it automatically becomes the pièce de résistance. But there are lots of different models to choose from, and because this is an investment piece, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve picked the right one for your cooking and baking needs. So, which KitchenAid stand mixer should you invest in? We did the homework so you don’t have to.
Related Reading: The Best Black Friday Deals on KichenAid Mixers, Food Processors & More
There are two types of KitchenAid stand mixers–ones with tilt-heads and ones with bowl-lifts.
The tilt-head, which is included on the original KitchenAid stand mixer, is usually featured on the less expensive mixer models. It is shorter in height and is lighter, but its key feature is that it allows the head to tilt all the way back in order to remove the bowl or scrape the sides without having to remove the attachments. However, since the tilt-head models are a bit less powerful than their sister mixers that feature the bowl-lift, they work better with smaller quantities.
Ah, the KitchenAid mixer that started it all. The classic version of this mixer comes in several bowl sizes, depending on your needs, and has the original tilt-head feature that KitchenAid fans have come to know and love. With the ability to make up to six dozen cookies in a single batch, the mixer has 10 speeds and also comes equipped with soft start, which helps to avoid ingredient splash and flour puff by starting at a lower speed. It also has the ability to add KitchenAid attachments to change functions.Buy Now
Available in a stunning and wide array of colors (though Macy’s currently only has classic red and metallic silver in stock at this sale price), KitchenAid’s Artisan collection is also of the tilt-head variety of mixer. This mixer includes a glass bowl with measurement markings and the ability to make dough for more than nine dozen cookies at a clip. Additionally, this mixer also comes with a coated flat beater, coated dough hook, and a six-wire whip. This line is also available in mini sizes for small-space living.Buy Now
A polished 4.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl and comfortable handle are just two of the features of the KitchenAid Ultra Power Plus Series. The bowl, according to KitchenAid, is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. It also comes with the company’s 59-point planetary mixing action for thorough ingredient incorporation and has the tilt-head feature.Buy Now
Also of the tilt-head variety, this 325-watt stand mixer is great for everyday mixing recipes. The Architect Series also comes equipped with the company’s planetary mixing action, which causes the beater to spiral within the bowl for efficient, thorough mixing. Colors included in this line include pistachio matte, grenadine, and cocoa silver.Buy Now
A bit heftier are the bowl-lift models. These models are perfect for bigger batches and heartier doughs, as they are more powerful and can handle more volume. However, unlike the tilt-head models, you will need to remove the attachments to scrape the sides or remove the bowl because the mixer’s head is stationary.
This is designed for mixing heavy, dense doughs and batters, so if you love to bake fresh bread, this is a great option. The Pro HD series mixer handles enough dough for up to nine dozen cookies, four loaves of bread, or seven pounds of mashed potatoes in a single batch. It has 10 speeds, ranging from a quick whip to a slow stir, and fits with 10 additional KitchenAid attachments as well. It’s available in sleek, modern colors too, like black matte and boysenberry.Buy Now
With more than 20 colors in the series (currently out of stock on the KitchenAid site, but you can snag the slightly smaller 500 series 5-quart bowl lift mixer for $270 off at Best Buy for Black Friday), there is something for every décor scheme with KitchenAid’s Pro 600 Series. The line is a bowl-lift stand and does not have the tilt-head option. However, what it does have is the ability to whip up batter for more than 13 dozen cookies at a time. This line features a stainless steel bowl and comes with the coated flat beater, the coated Powerknead spiral dough hook, and a wire whip. This line also comes in a Design Series as well, which features a glass bowl with markings instead of the stainless steel bowl.Buy Now
Available in onyx black, empire red, and silver, the KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series is perfect for the cookie connoisseur, as it can hold and mix enough dough for 10 dozen cookies at once. It is one of the company’s lift stand mixers, so the bowl is lifted with the help of the mixer’s arms. However, the stand does not have the tilt-head feature.Buy Now
KitchenAid’s Professional 6500 Design Series comes with a six-quart bowl and has a 1.0 horsepower motor, for the ability to mix 13 dozen cookies, 8 loaves of bread, or 8 pounds of mashed potatoes in a single batch. The motor, the company said, was developed to allow for mixing with less heat build-up. Available with a glass bowl, the line also has the bowl-lift design. It comes with an F-series coated flat beater, F-series coated PowerKnead spiral dough hook, and an F-Series six-wire whip. It is available in six colors.Buy Now
Available with an eight-quart mixing bowl, the NSF-certified commercial series of KitchenAid mixers has a 1.3-horsepower motor. A 10-speed slide control and a professional bowl-lift design rounds out the package. It also comes with a two-year replacement warranty, the company notes.Buy Now
Check out all the things you can do with a stand mixer, and see our other favorite splurge-worthy KitchenAid appliances and stand mixer attachments.
A stand mixer is a baker’s best friend, but there’s a lot more it can do in the kitchen besides mix dough. If Black Friday 2019 deals have you thinking about taking the plunge but you still need some convincing, check out all the things you’ll be able to do with your KitchenAid (or Smeg, or any other brand).
I’ll admit, as much as I love food and cooking, I’m not much of a kitchen tool junkie. Set me up with the basics—a good chef’s knife, cutting board, cast iron skillet, a couple spatulas, some tongs, and one or two mixing bowls—and I’m pretty much good to go.
So for me, something like a stand mixer, as gorgeous and iconic a kitchen piece as it is, has always seemed like a bit of an unnecessary extravagance (especially given the $200-$400 associated price tag).
Related Reading: The Best Black Friday Deals on KichenAid Mixers, Food Processors & More
“It would be different if I was more of a baker,” I would think, dismissively. But, apparently, the joke’s on me. As it turns out, the stand mixer is much more diverse and multifunctional kitchen gadget than meets the eye, proving it can be useful beyond the expected cookie-dough-and-whipped-cream game. And I’m not just talking about all the cool things you can do when you shell out for fun add-on attachments like a pasta maker, spiralizer, or juicer, either.
To prove the point, we’ve rounded up seven of our favorite food-related creative and unexpected ways to use a stand mixer, plus one that’s just for fun.
Chowhound
I hear you grabbing your pitchforks and torches, purists, but the fact of the matter is throwing all of the wet and dry ingredients in the mixing bowl and simply flicking a switch makes meatball assembly molto easy. P.S., Meatloaf-lovers should also take note of this “sorry, just got my nails done” hands-free technique—it’s almost the way mom used to make it, just, you know, a little less work.
Read More: 3 Tricks for Perfect Meatballs Every Time
Chowhound
You’re going to want to earmark this pro-tip for the holidays, trust (and you probably wish you’d known about it for Thanksgiving). Because the holiday cooking season is already enough work, we recommend skipping the “I have to do it all by hand” martyr act and leaving the potato mashing to the machine. The resulting taters are smooth, fluffy, and, best of all, elbow grease-free.
Read More: Can You Make Mashed Potatoes Ahead of Time?
Chowhound
Craving chicken salad? Turkey enchiladas? A pulled pork sandwich? Cut down on your hanger time by tossing the tender, cooked meat in your mixing bowl, set the the speed to low, and let the paddle attachment do all the shredding for you:
Chowhound
Most stand mixer owners are likely familiar with using the tool to whip up perfectly glossy, stiff-peaked meringue. Perhaps less obvious, but equally effective is to use the mixer to make blue ribbon-caliber marshmallows. Seriously, your hot chocolate and s’mores will thank you.
Chowhound
If you love hosting large groups of your nearest and dearest for brunch, consider setting aside the whisk and mixing bowl in favor of this more efficient electronic solution. Save the bicep work for the gym, not the massive batch of scrambled eggs.
Chowhound
The same philosophy as above applies if you’re hosting a big group for a backyard barbecue and need to make enough of your signature guacamole to go around. I mean, come on, running out of guac mid-fiesta because your arm got tired of mixing? Not acceptable. Be smart: Let the stand mixer do the work and use the mortar and pestle for presentation only.
Read More: 11 Loaded Guac Recipes Perfect for Parties
Neil Tierney
While it does take time and patience to cut out all those tiny hearts, making your own candy is shockingly easy with a stand mixer (you definitely wouldn’t want to try mixing this dense, sticky dough by hand). Outside of Valentine’s Day, use the same technique to make any other treats you desire, from candy flowers to an edible alphabet, all in any color and flavor combos you want. Little trees and snowflakes and ornaments for the holiday cookie season, perhaps… See how to make DIY conversation heart candy.
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Sure, everyone knows that stand mixers are great for mixing dough—cookie, bread, pizza—but it turns out you can also use your machine to make another (decidedly less tasty) variety: Play Dough. Talk about your #funcreativeDIYparentgoals.
Read More: Beat Boredom with Edible Crafts for Kids
Ready to take the plunge? See which KitchenAid mixer is best for you. And check out all the best KitchenAid attachments that make it even more versatile (and fun).
Here’s an answer to all your gift buying woes: Food52 has launched 20% off (sitewide!) through Dec 1 for Black Friday. Which means this year, you hardly have an excuse to wait until a week before the holidays to buy gifts for everyone on your list. Choose from a wealth of kitchen and home appliances and gadgets, along with cooking and food gifts (think sleek tea kettles and robin egg blue mixing bowls). Just use code BIGSCOOP at checkout.
Related Reading: The Best Black Friday Deals on Kitchen Appliances & Cookware
Keep reading for some of what we’ll be buying this holiday season, then get to shopping!
Food52
Food52’s gorgeous Five Two line of knives—which just launched—comes with handles that pop in bright colors (Nordic Sea! Maple! Rhubarb! Smoked Salt!). The collection arguably focuses on the kitchen’s three most important knives—a classic chef’s knife, serrated blade, and paring knife—so you won’t be able to slicing every which way. For Black Friday, you’ll want to make sure to pick up a set for Food52’s 24-hour offer, where the full set is $99 instead of $139. Preorder one or all (just note that they won’t start shipping until Dec. 16).Buy Now
The beloved Staub cocotte drops to $99 through the weekend. Choose from a handful of colors—turmeric, white, black, cherry, and turquoise—then get to cooking all your favorite cold-weather dishes. Buy Now
Related Reading: What Is the Difference Between a Dutch Oven and a French Cocotte?
Time to start shaking and stirring. These cocktail glasses are begging to be filled with Manhattans and martinis. The pulled stem and thin rim means they’re light in your hand and will slip effortlessly in between your fingers. Stock up on sets of four of cocktail coupes, martini glasses, Nick and Nora glasses, and fizzes, or opt for the whole collection of 16.Buy Now
With this pan, you’ll never have to worry about burnt cake and pie bottoms again. The translucent, removable glass bottom allows you to constantly check how things are moving along in the oven—plus, it’s heat, thermal shock, and scratch resistant.Buy Now
This sleek, silver kettle was meant to sit on your stove, whether you’re simply boiling water or curling up with a mug of mulled wine. The induction-friendly, Belgian-made kettle comes in two sizes (4.2 and 6.3 quarts).Buy Now
This marble board is as versatile as it gets: Roll out dough without worrying that it’ll get too warm (the marble always stays cool), temper chocolate, or use it as a vehicle for a photo-worthy cheese and charcuterie board.Buy Now
Related Reading: Go Beyond Boring Cheese Boards This Holiday Season with These Festive Ideas