From the first time I heard about this cookbook, I knew I had to own it. It's exactly the cookbook I have been looking for, and I didn't even know it yet. But Food52's A New Way to Dinner is my new meal bible. 

That being said, I'm having trouble getting through it. I keep having to stop and cook things. Which is not a bad problem to have, all things considered. In fact, as I write this, I keep stopping for another forkful of leftover schlumpf. That's right, I said it. Schlumpf. And while the cookbook authors/Food52 editors Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs say that it's not as good leftover, I don't seem to be having any trouble at all finishing it off. (It's fruit with a tasty crumble on top, if you're wondering. They suggest rhubarb or blueberries. I went cherry. It's amazing!)

So what is the new way to dinner? It's about planning and prepping on the weekend, to make weeknight meals delicious and fast. It's about using seasonal ingredients in creative and smart ways to create a mix-and-match menu for the week's dinners and even a couple of packable lunches for work. 

Does a week's worth of food at once sound intimidating? Worry not! Amanda and Merrill take care of you every step of the way. They give you a shopping list for everything you need and walk you through the prep step by step. It's usually a couple of hours of prep on the weekend, sometimes three, but they also offer tips for shaving some of that time off for busy weekends. They give you tasty menus for four or five dinners, two to four lunches, and offer tips just in case you have leftovers. The dinner menus include anything from drinks to desserts and feature a variety of dishes, from salads to meats, fish to vegetables. 

The best thing about this cookbook its flexibility. You can takes the ideas and make them work for you--for the flavors you love, for the foods that are local to you, for how you like to cook and to eat. You can use their week-long menus, or you can pick and choose only what you want. They can be adjusted so that they work best for you. 

This book is just hitting stores today, just in time to add it to your Christmas lists. You can get it at your favorite bookstore or order it (along with lots of adorable kitchen tools and accessories) directly from their website. As for me, I haven't had a chance to try all these recipes yet, but the ones I have tried have all been big hits. And even better, I can't wait to try more! 

Galleys for Food52: A New Way to Dinner were provided by the publisher through NetGalley.