When I first saw Heidi Swanson's new cookbook, Near & Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel, on a shelf somewhere I quickly walked past, purposefully ignoring it's call. The next time I saw the bounded pages I took the briefest dip in, just to confirm what I already knew to be true. Yes, I was certain to fall in love with this book. But with the then current whirlwind of getting married, and packing for our far flung honeymoon, and the holiday maelstrom impending, I did not have time to fall in love completely. Not is the way one wants to fall in love, with languorous afternoons spent together, savoring tidbits of this delicacy and that, sharing memories, hopes, inspirations. I do sound like a strange bird here I'll admit, but this is the way I felt and what I knew. I would wait until I could.
Then, what did I unwrap on Christmas morning? My own full color copy of Near & Far. My husband. Without me telling him. He always knows. And so with all of the dust having settled, I set out, curled up, cozy with tea, as if starting a novel or meeting a new best friend. Slowly, every bit noticed and remembered.
Let me back up here to say that I am a perennial cookbook devourer. My favorite weekend activity for quite a few years was reading, studying, and searching out cookbooks. No stranger to the tomes of MFK Fischer, Madhur Jaffrey, Jane Grigson, or Fuschia Dunlop I have cooked my way around the globe. The way I cook, whatever the dish, is influenced by my upbringing. Homegrown sprouts, granola bars, and the bounty of roadside farm-stands have left their impression. I love to make delicious, traditional comfort foods from the far reaches of the world but I can't help but look for ways to make them a little bit healthier. My usual learning process is to find a respected cookbook, read it through, absorb the techniques and flavor pairings, and pick a few recipes to try out. If I'm lucky enough to hit upon 2-3 good ones, real heavy hitters, those become my go-tos whenever I pick up that particular book. Unfortunately, these yummy dishes stop me in my tracks and I stop exploring that book right there.
All this to say my meeting with Near & Far was destiny. Or something as equally cheesy. After cooking my first recipe from Near & Far, I knew this experience was different. The flavor profiles were spot on and unexpectedly delicious, true to the tradition they had come from, yet in a bright and clean way. You can feel it, each dish is definitely good for you. I was hooked and incredibly curious to know what new wonders the next recipe held.
Thus inspired, with one dish under my belt, I've set out to cook my way through the entire cookbook. Yes. All of the recipes. Each one. And I can't wait.