Growing up in Brooklyn, Jennifer Perillo ate a lot of convenience foods. Then, after her parents divorced, she began helping her mom in the kitchen and discovered a new passion. In Homemade with Love, which grew out of her popular blog In Jennie's Kitchen, Perillo shares the joy she finds in cooking for those she loves.
Perillo's husband, Michael, died suddenly in 2011 from a rare autoimmune disease. His favorite recipes pop up often, underscoring the assertion that Mikey is still very much a part of her family. Her two young daughters also make frequent appearances, whether they're running a lemonade stand or begging their mom to tweak a cupcake recipe for an egg-allergic friend.
Perillo begins with the basics, taking readers on a tour of her kitchen and sharing recipes for homemade baking mixes, chicken stock, marinara sauce and even fresh ricotta. Two chapters on breakfast (sit-down and on the go) provide a seamless transition to the book's heart: simple, healthy, delicious main dishes and sides.
The Italian flavors of Perillo's childhood play a strong role, and she adds a few Asian touches, several Mexican recipes and basic comfort foods such as roast chicken and chicken pot pie. Handy icons signal recipes that can be made ahead or made quickly, or are adaptable for vegetarians, vegans or those with other special diets. Perillo's warm, friendly voice shines through in the recipe notes, inviting even timid cooks to take a turn at the stove. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams