giveaway: ‘the smitten kitchen cookbook’ (and deb perelman's leek fritter recipe)

DEB PERELMAN, author of “The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook,” would make a good gardener—except there’s no room in her tiny New York City kitchen for another measuring cup, let alone flower pots. But she’s (self-admittedly) obsessive, and describes her mantra as “where there’s a will there’s a way,” and then there’s this: Her recipes read like love notes to suitors that include rhubarb (tenderly coaxed it into hamantaschen cookies); zucchini (formed into sensual ribbons, then tossed with almond pesto for a salad); and ‘Butternut’ squash (tucked into a comfy, ample gallette with carmelized onions). She loves the ingredients I love to grow, among many others, and I love this new book. Win it (and get a sample recipe now).

I first met Deb Perelman in my former life, when I worked for Martha Stewart. It was late 2007 or early 2008—a millennium ago in internet years—and we’d invited in a group of bloggers we admired to get better acquainted.  Deb sat to my left (and beyond her was Heidi Swanson of 101Cookbooks.com, with the founders of Apartment Therapy and theKitchn.com across the table, and more). I think that gathering is what crystallized my intention to start a website: such an inspiring group.

But I digress. If you haven’t visited Smitten Kitchen, prepare to be entertained, educated, and called to action.

DEB PERELMAN is a self-taught home cook, and is funny in that self-deprecating way I love (often using the cross-out strikethrough key on her editing dashboard to good effect). On the blog, and in the new cookbook, Deb invites you into her kitchen, and family, teaching you (her Tips section online alone is worth a visit, let alone all her recipes) while tempting you. You always come away hungry…until you get out the ingredients Read more on awaytogarden.com