In the last 5 years, Chip and Joanna Gaines have skyrocketed from everyday entrepreneurs living with their four (soon to be five) children in Waco, Texas, to household names. The popular home renovation TV show, Fixer Upper, introduced the world to this charming duo and their original businesses, Magnolia Homes and Magnolia Market, and the rest is history. Since the show first aired in May 2013, Chip and Joanna have continued to expand their businesses and chase their passions. Among these is Joanna’s love of cooking and sharing food, which ultimately led to the couple opening Silos Baking Co. and the new Magnolia Table restaurant. But don’t despair—if you can’t make it out to Waco for lunch, Joanna’s brand-new cookbook, Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering (William Morrow 2018), gives readers a taste of the Gaines family kitchen as well as some of their favorite dishes from their restaurant’s menu. And these are a few reasons why we just can’t get enough.
1. The Stories
The mark of a good cookbook is the author’s ability to tie the recipes and stories that inspired them into a seamless experience. In Magnolia Table, Joanna invites readers to connect to her personal story with this recipe, but also to use it as a tool to create their own.
2. The Food
From JoJo’s Biscuits and a dreamy Lemon Pie to Peach Caprese and Mom’s Bulgogi, Joanna nailed the mix of her family favorites and Southern classics.
3. The Tips
With the handy lists in the front of the book, Joanna guides readers in stocking their pantry with staples and well as shopping for basic kitchen tools.
4. The Photography
Shot by Amy Neunsinger, the images in this 328-page stunner show off the beauty of everything from an unshelled green pea and a simple wooden spoon to a gloriously glazed Bundt cake and golden roast chicken.
5. The Relatability
Joanna Gaines is not a professional chef—and she wants readers to know it. The recipes in her book feel approachable for the home cook because the author who wrote them is a home cook. She shares tips to speed up the process, encouragement to new cooks, and stories of how she, too, has had less-than-perfect moments in the kitchen.
Want a sneak peek of some of our favorite recipes from the book? Try Joanna’s recipe for Lemon Pie here and her recipe for Peach Caprese here.
All images from Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines. Copyright © 2018 by Joanna Gaines. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
