Feast by Sarah Copeland

Sarah Copeland has a way of making every recipe she writes seem deeply and immediately exciting. It’s in the way she pulls ingredients together (Plumped plums and lime with oatmeal? Apples and rye pancakes? Asparagus and miso butter? Yes to all of the above), partly in the photos that make me want to nibble the pages, and partly something ineffable that just screams, “Yes. This food, right now. This feels right.” Needless to say, I’m on board with this whole situation.

• Who wrote it: Sarah Copeland

• Who published it: Chronicle

• Number of recipes: Over 140

• Recipes for right now: Oats with Plumped Dried Plums and Lime, Apple-Rye Pancakes, Mushroom-Almond Milk Soup, Kale and Kimchi Salad, Steamed Spinach with Feta and Paprika, Taco Truck Vegetable Burrito, Black Pepper Tofu Pot, Sunny-Side Up Yam and Black Bean Tostadas with Avocado, Peanut Butter and Amaranth Cookies

• Other highlights: It was truly hard to stop listing more “Recipes to Make Now” in that last section — which should tell you something right there since this is a vegetarian book full of fresh fruits and veggies, and I’m looking at it in the middle of January. Sarah Copeland is, of course, a pro. She was the longtime recipe developer for Food Network (though her recipes resemble nothing close to Rachael Ray’s or Paula Deen’s) and her list of publications is long enough to hit the floor. She knows her way around a recipe, that’s for sure.

Copeland’s tone in this book is that of an old college friend catching up after years apart, which is to say friendly and familiar, peppered with funny little stories from her life, and wise in the way of a woman who has seen a thing or two. Her recipes are similar: they’re simple and approachable, but they have layers of intrigue once you dig into them a bit.

A few of my favorite features: I love the quirkier chapters, like “Meals in a Bowl” and “Sandwiches and Tortillas” (this lady loves her tortillas!). They re-package the familiar cannon (ie breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes) in new and inspiring ways. In every chapter, Copeland also includes at least one recipe that can be easily riffed upon, like roasted vegetables or pizza, and then she gives us a favorite riff for every season — this is one of those little things that gives us confidence in the kitchen and shows us how these recipes can easily become a part of our weekly routines.

• Who would enjoy this book? Vegetarians, for sure, but also anyone who loves vegetables or is more interested in meat on the side.

Find the book at your local library, independent bookstore, or Amazon: Feast by Sarah Copeland

• Visit the author’s website: Sarah Copeland

Apartment Therapy Media makes every effort to test and review products fairly and transparently. The views expressed in this review are the personal views of the reviewer and this particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer or an agent working on their behalf. However, the manufacturer did give us the product for testing and review purposes.