The First Mess Cookbook by Laura Wright
As Heard on The Daily Gardener Podcast:
The First Mess Cookbook by Laura Wright
This book came out in 2017, and the subtitle is Vibrant, Plant-based Recipes to Eat Well Through the Seasons.
Imagine a world where every meal is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, colors, and textures woven from the very heart of nature. The First Mess Cookbook by Laura Wright invites us into such a paradise, where plant-based wellness meets culinary artistry.
To review the book today, I had to run over into my kitchen about 15 steps away and grab my dog-eared copy of The First Mess.
I love this cookbook.
If you're looking to totally revamp the way you cook, if you want to make plants the star of most of the dishes you're making—especially in the summertime—you need to get a copy of Laura Wright's The First Mess Cookbook. It's a beautiful book.
It actually looks more like a book than it does a cookbook, which appeals to me. It's so pretty that I can have it out and on display in my kitchen.
Before I get into the cookbook, I wanted to share a little story that Laura wrote in the introduction.
Raspberry picking throughout the humid Ontario summers was my first job as a youth and I suppose this is where the inspiration for my blog, The First Mess, began.
I would put on my rubber boots, grab a basket, and head toward the back of my parents' two-acre property in the country at the end of the line where rows of raspberry bushes, heaving with fruit under the steamy July sun. One Berry in the basket, one in my mouth. My brother and I would get $2 for every pint we could scrounge up.
And Dad would sell them at his farm market store the next day. I don't think I ever made it to more than $10 a pick. I was too busy, eating those warm berries that tasted of jam, nectar, and light. That all- sensory field experience is my first clear memory of connecting to food beyond the notion of hunger being satisfied.
Isn't that a sweet story?
A feast for the eyes as well as the palate, this cookbook is a visual masterpiece. Wright's photography is a symphony of light, shadow, and composition, capturing the essence of each dish with a touch of magic. Every image invites us to savor the beauty of nature's bounty from the delicate petals of a Romanesco salad to the rich, earthy tones of a roasted eggplant bolognese.
But it's not just about aesthetics. Wright's recipes are a testament to her deep understanding of seasonal ingredients and her passion for creating nourishing, delicious meals. With a nod to her culinary roots in southern Ontario, she shares simple yet sophisticated dishes that celebrate the bounty of the garden. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary journey, you'll find inspiration in her recipes.
Laura's cookbook is organized by meal: mornings and breakfast, soups and stews, salads and dressings, hearty mains and big plates, vegetables and a couple of grains, energizing drinks, and small bites, and then finally desserts and small treats.
Laura also features a really helpful guide to stocking your pantry for success. This is the time of year most of us are doing some spring cleaning. If your pantry is something that you're struggling with, if it's gotten a little crowded over the last two years during the pandemic, or if it's just no longer serving you, take a look at what Laura puts in the front of her cookbook because it's one of my go-to guides. I refer people to this for stocking the pantry for success.
Here are some of my personal favorites from Laura's recipes:
- Cookies for Breakfast
- Vanilla Coconut Coffee Creamer
- Eggplant Bacon
- Small Batch Roasted Soup
- Cider and the Sunflower Dressing
- Corn Salad
- Sesame Cucumber Noodles
- Warm Balsamic Mushroom Salad with Pine Nuts
- Cauliflower with Spices (with Walnut Sauce)
- Mustard Roasted Broccoli Pata
From fluffy whole-grain pancakes to decadent Earl Grey and vanilla bean tiramisu, The First Mess Cookbook offers a variety of options to suit every taste and occasion. Wright's ability to balance flavors and textures is truly remarkable, creating satisfying and healthful dishes.
So, if you're a woman gardener seeking to elevate your culinary game, The First Mess Cookbook is a must-have. It gets five stars on Amazon. It also earned high praise from one of my favorite authors, Deborah Madison, and rightly so. It's a delightful blend of practical advice, stunning photography, and delicious recipes that will inspire you to create meals that are as beautiful as they are nourishing.
Join Laura Wright on a culinary adventure and discover the joy of plant-based cooking.
This book is 296 pages of plant-based recipes that you can use for vegetable cooking ideas, seasonal cooking, and even whole food diets. So this should be on your list for 2022 and beyond.
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