Molly Wizenberg: A Homemade Life

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I just finished reading A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg, and I have to share it with you. Molly is the lovely blogger behind one of my favorite food blogs, Orangette. (Side note: I have a lot of favorite food blogs and also have a penchant for hyperbole, so you’ll likely be hearing more from me about the millions of BEST food blogs ever)

In this nonfiction book, Molly recounts the story of her life, interwoven with tales of food. Each short chapter ends with a recipe that somehow relates to the story she just shared.  She brings the reader on a journey through her childhood with her beloved father, who was her foodie inspiration, through growing up, the death of her father, her time living in Paris, and falling in love.

Molly is so endearing and approachable, I just want to give her a hug and be her friend (not necessarily in that order). Of course, I’m a foodie, so I loved that her life has been so infused with food, and I found myself inspired by the way cooking comes so naturally to her.  I also love that she gives a context for each recipe she shares. It makes me much more inclined to try something I otherwise might not have, knowing that there is a touching personal story behind it.  This was a lighthearted, easy read, and I highly recommend it to anyone, even if you’re not a culinary type.

In case I haven’t convinced you, I’m taking a hint from PJ and including the official blurb via Amazon:

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Wizenberg’s debut shares the same basic format as her Orangette blog—favorite recipes interspersed with personal reflection—but constructed around a much tighter family narrative. Memories of her father, for example, begin with his cherished formula for potato salad and an attempt to recreate his French toast, but also include a variation on scrambled eggs that spurred a comforting moment as he was dying of cancer. The second half of the memoir focuses on her blossoming relationship with Brandon, who started out as a fan of the blog, became a long-distance boyfriend and eventually moved to Seattle and married her—of course, she shares the recipes for the pickled carrots they served at the wedding as well as the chocolate cake she baked for dessert. Though there is an emphasis on desserts, the recipes cover a variety of meals, none beyond the range of an ordinary cook, and Wizenberg’s directions are laced with a charming voice that strikes a neat balance with the reflective passages. Her strong personality stands out among her generation’s culinary voices.
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