{"product_id":"the-ambitious-kitchen-cookbook-isbn-9780593581650","title":"The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER • The recipe queen, social media star, and beloved blogger behind the popular recipe website AmbitiousKitchen presents over 125 nutrient-dense, flavor-packed recipes for every meal of the day.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Monique effortlessly combines creativity with approachability, ensuring each dish is a success. This book is an instant classic for me!”—Alex Snodgrass, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author and creator of \u003ci\u003eThe Defined Dish\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMillions of readers know Monique Volz’s website, Ambitious Kitchen, as a go-to resource for inventive, flavorful recipes that are full of nutrition, comfort, and personality. Now, in her debut cookbook, Monique wants others to find their own Ambitious Kitchen and discover their own version of health, bold flavors, and above all, the unique happiness that food can bring to your life. Whether you’re looking for a show-stopping dish to bring to a gathering, a new home-cooked tradition, or a nourishing meal everyone will love, \u003ci\u003eThe Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook\u003c\/i\u003e has the answers. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMonique joyfully showcases a balanced approach to health, with comforting, vibrant dishes that are amped up with extra vegetables, protein, and fiber. Wake up and sip on a \u003cb\u003eGlowing Skin Vitamin A Smoothie\u003c\/b\u003e or bake \u003cb\u003eThe Best Cinnamon Rolls You’ll Ever Eat\u003c\/b\u003e for someone you love. Enjoy nutritious lunches such as \u003cb\u003eBuffalo Chicken Chop Chop Salad\u003c\/b\u003e or \u003cb\u003eRoasty Toasty Tomato Soup with Herbed Grilled Cheese Naan\u003c\/b\u003e. Family dinner might look like \u003cb\u003eIt’s a Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Chicken\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eSweet Potato \u0026amp; Bacon Situation\u003c\/b\u003e or \u003cb\u003ePepperoni Pizza Baked Orzo with Basil and Quick Hot Honey\u003c\/b\u003e on a busy night, or \u003cb\u003eEveryone’s Favorite Baked Chicken Tacos\u003c\/b\u003e or \u003cb\u003eMarry Me Ropa Vieja\u003c\/b\u003e for a crowd. And let’s not forget show-stopping desserts like \u003cb\u003eTahini Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting\u003c\/b\u003e and outrageously good \u003cb\u003eDouble Strawberry Oatmeal Cream Pies (Little Debras)\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost recipes include “Make It Your Way” and “Make It Nutrient Dense” tips to customize food to your tastes. And as an added bonus, most can be made gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan, allowing readers to tailor recipes to their own version of health.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs you turn the pages, you’ll find yourself a guest at Monique’s table, enjoying playful, comforting recipes that will impress everyone (including yourself!).“As someone who has followed the \u003ci\u003eAmbitious Kitchen\u003c\/i\u003e blog for a long time, I have been craving a book by Monique for years. Quite frankly, she’s exceeded my expectations in her debut book. The recipes are bold yet approachable and are sure to ignite your culinary passion. From comforting family favorites like her Weeknight Chicken Picadillo to adventurous twists like her Chipotle Gouda Pumpkin Turkey Enchiladas, Monique effortlessly combines creativity with approachability, ensuring each dish is a success. This book is an instant classic for me!”\u003cb\u003e—Alex Snodgrass, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author and creator of \u003ci\u003eThe Defined Dish\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“To say I’m excited for the world to see Monique’s first cookbook is an understatement! Monique’s zest for feeding herself and her family nourishing, colorful, and delicious meals shines through on every single page. From the Comforting Portobello, Poblano \u0026amp; Pepper Jack Cheese Enchilada Skillet to the Mini Pesto Turkey Meatballs, these are recipes that you can incorporate into your everyday life! Nothing is overly complicated or fussy, just delightful, beautiful, healthy-ish food! It’s exactly how I want to eat every single day!”\u003cb\u003e—Gaby Dalkin, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author and creator of \u003ci\u003eWhat’s Gaby Cooking\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook\u003c\/i\u003e is an invitation to make your meals more nutritious, more flavorful, and . . . more fun! In addition to 125 mouthwatering recipes (Coffee Lover’s Baked Oatmeal! Caramelized Corn Brown Butter Pasta!), Monique shares tips (like how to freeze anything) and substitutions to help you fit healthy, delicious home cooking into your everyday life.”\u003cb\u003e—Jeanine Donofrio, author of \u003ci\u003eLove \u0026amp; Lemons Simple Feel Good Food\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Monique’s enthusiasm for cooking will inspire you to cook through this whole book! Her recipes are boldly flavored and prove that healthy food can be anything but boring. There’s plenty for everyone in \u003ci\u003eThe Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook\u003c\/i\u003e, and I’m particularly excited about the vegetarian mains chapter. Every recipe features a vibrant photo, and the book is beautifully designed,—you’ll want to display it on your coffee table when it’s not in your kitchen!”\u003cb\u003e—Kathryne Taylor, author of \u003ci\u003eLove Real Food\u003c\/i\u003e and creator of \u003ci\u003eCookie and Kate\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Monique’s heart and soul shines through these pages and jumps out in the form of easy weeknight meals, cookies for your family, and smoothies for busy mornings (just to name a few). Monique shows us that ambitious food isn’t about unnecessarily complicated food; instead it’s about food that brings comfort, warmth, and ease.”\u003cb\u003e—Adrianna Adarme, creator of \u003ci\u003eA Cozy Kitchen\u003c\/i\u003e and author of \u003ci\u003eThe Year of Cozy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Monique’s recipes have long been a staple in my kitchen, and her cookbook somehow takes it to another level. These are the types of recipes that will get you excited about cooking—novel, flavor-packed, nutrient-forward, and easy enough to fit into our busy lives. An instant classic!”\u003cb\u003e—Liz Moody, author of \u003ci\u003e100 Ways to Change Your Life\u003c\/i\u003e and host of T\u003ci\u003ehe Liz Moody Podcast\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eMonique Volz\u003c\/b\u003e founded her food and wellness blog, Ambitious Kitchen, with the hopes of sharing her healthy comfort foods with the world while processing the unexpected passing of her father. Monique immediately connected with readers looking for a dose of inspiration, storytelling, and comfort through food. Now you'll not only find a website with hundreds of unique nourishing recipes, but also a dedicated, ambitious community who crave Monique's inspiration. Monique currently lives in Chicago with her husband and three little boys.\u003cb\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt took me years to realize how much food has the power to create a positive change in all of our lives, whether that means connecting with others over a homemade meal made from the heart, baking to soothe your soul when you’re in need of comfort, or taking time to nourish your body with better-for-you ingredients. I wrote this cookbook to help you do the same: to help you discover boldness, unique flavors, creativity, health, and, above all, the unique happiness that food can bring to your life. Maybe you’re seeking the perfect dish to bring to a gathering. Maybe you’re looking for a show-stopping recipe to become a tradition in your home. Maybe you need to put a nutrient-packed meal on the table for picky kids or toddlers, as I do regularly for my husband and three little boys. Maybe you, like me, are learning to nourish yourself after years of disordered eating. The best recipes rise to all of these occasions. I’ve created this cookbook to be your guide, your foundation, for meeting these challenges with joy and experimentation. My years of kitchen trial and error will help you customize most of these recipes to make them your own, whether you want to add a little extra nutrition or a little extra heat, or you’re looking to make them gluten-free or dairy-free. And my years of rediscovering food as a source of joy will help you, as well, to become your healthiest, most satisfied, most authentic self—no matter where you are in your journey to discover your own Ambitious Kitchen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eYour Meaning of Ambition \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn one of my most vivid memories, my mother crouches over a tiny charcoal Weber grill parked outside the front door of our tiny duplex in Minneapolis, peering at our dinner. As a single mom, she worked around the clock at several different jobs to support my teenage brother and nine-year-old me, but when the sun went down on humid summer evenings, we knew we’d have her full attention—and the full extent of her ambition. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn her way home, she’d swing by a fish market and pick up whatever was fresh, often halibut, salmon, or mahi mahi. Tonight, swordfish. She opened up our \u003ci\u003eEncyclopaedia Britannica\u003c\/i\u003e and we all peered at the fish’s long, pointy bill. We brainstormed how she should season the fish, perhaps with a bit of sazón, the seasoning mix beloved in her Puerto Rican family. Then my mother cut a fresh lemon into thin wheels, tucked them into foil with the fish, and laid it over the coals next to baby red potatoes and long, thin spears of asparagus. When everything was done, we perched on the steps, plates on our laps, enjoying the moist, flaky fish, the potatoes that my mother had lavished with butter, and, most of all, the warmth of talking to each other for the first time all day. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt wasn’t until much later in life that I realized that food was my mother’s way of connecting with us. It was a place for her passion and creativity to shine through. It was a refuge from her hectic life, where she could find happiness, joy, comfort, and nourishment, all in one. It was her way of proudly making her food her own and flexing her creativity. It was her own Ambitious Kitchen. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Complicated Relationship With Food \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI would spend the next decade in upheaval, trying to reclaim the kitchen as my refuge. My highest highs and lowest lows were spent with my father, a man who lit up every room with his roaring laugh, his warm, outgoing personality, and his striking bright blue eyes, but a man who also struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction. He would spend hours with me in the kitchen baking our favorite ultra-fluffy yellow cake coated with rich chocolate buttercream and infused with Dad’s secret splash of coffee, or creating the world’s most indulgent au gratin potatoes to serve with our weekly special Sunday night dinner. Dad always encouraged me to go after my dreams, to seek out my creativity and experiment with doing the things I loved the most. When we were together, he inspired me to be the best version of myself and I thought of him as my very best friend; we were two peas in a pod who could giggle for hours upon hours. But my father also had a dark side that controlled him. He often abruptly left me alone in his house for hours or even days, a terrifying experience for a little girl. He would return with no explanation and the smell of alcohol on his breath. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDad’s beautiful smile was somehow able to mask his pain; he knew how to hide his addictions and function well in society. He was a man who wanted to show up fully for his daughter when needed but just never could arrive. When I was eighteen, on a late-summer evening just a few days before my first day of college, he died suddenly from a drug overdose. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor the next two years, I was inconsolable. I would cry at the mere mention of his name. I gained a little weight, just enough to be selfconscious and to start working out heavily. I ate little during the day and binged at night. I tried to control my life by starving myself, and then at night I stuffed down feelings of panic, anxiety, and grief. Eventually I lost so much weight that I couldn’t find any jeans that fit me. I ignored my mom’s pleas for me to stop losing weight because, secretly, the perfectionist in me loved losing weight. This unhealthy cycle, combined with my internalized grief, led to a diagnosis of anorexia—an eating disorder that had spiraled out of control. When my heartbeat slowed to thirty-two beats per minute and my doctors were so concerned that they sent me to the hospital, it was clear that I needed to address my grief, my emotional health, and my relationship with food. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut how could I do this after regarding food as the enemy for so long? How could I find the comfort and joy that I had once experienced in front of the little grill outside our duplex? How could I find both pleasure and nourishment in food without the food controlling me? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was in that dark space, full of confusion and longing, that I sat on my unmade bed and created a blog called\u003ci\u003e Ambitious Kitchen.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Clarkson Potter","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301394174181,"sku":"NP9780593581650","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593581650.jpg?v=1767738066","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-ambitious-kitchen-cookbook-isbn-9780593581650","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}