Small Victories

Small Victories is a cookbook and memoir that shares over 400 recipes alongside personal stories and kitchen wisdom. The recipes range from simple weeknight meals to more elaborate dishes for special occasions. The book organizes recipes into chapters based on different types of small victories - cooking achievements that build confidence and skill in the kitchen. Each recipe includes variations and suggestions for using leftover ingredients, expanding the possibilities for home cooks. Turshen draws from her experiences as a cookbook author, recipe developer, and home cook to provide practical guidance and troubleshooting tips. The narrative sections reveal connections between food, family, and memory through stories of cooking with relatives and friends. At its core, the book presents cooking as an accessible and rewarding practice rather than an intimidating challenge. The focus on small victories and gradual learning speaks to themes of personal growth, self-trust, and finding joy in daily rituals.

Readers describe Small Victories as an approachable cookbook with detailed instructions and personal stories. The recipes work reliably and include helpful variations for using leftovers or adapting ingredients. Readers liked: - Clear instructions for basic cooking techniques - "Notes" sections offering multiple recipe variations - Personal anecdotes that feel authentic rather than forced - Success with recipes like turkey meatballs, lemon bars, and kimchi fried rice Main criticisms: - Some recipes too basic for experienced cooks - Limited photos/visuals - Recipe organization could be improved - A few readers found ingredient lists too long Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (850+ ratings) Common review quotes: "Perfect for beginner cooks who want to build confidence" "The variations make one recipe into many possibilities" "Like having a friend guide you through cooking" "Some recipes are too simple to justify buying the book"

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat This book breaks down cooking into fundamental principles while weaving personal stories throughout the instruction.

The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty The intersection of cooking, family history, and cultural heritage forms the foundation of this memoir-cookbook hybrid.

The Kitchen Diaries by Nigel Slater The day-by-day chronicle combines simple recipes with observations about ingredients, seasons, and home cooking.

An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler This kitchen meditation connects cooking lessons with life wisdom through linked essays and straightforward recipes.

The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters The focus on basic techniques, market ingredients, and building blocks of cooking mirrors Turshen's accessible approach.

✦ Julia Turshen left a career in television production (working on shows like "Spain... On The Road Again" with Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario Batali) to pursue her true passion of cookbook writing ✦ Every recipe in Small Victories includes a "spin-off" suggestion - variations that teach readers how to adapt and get creative with the original recipe ✦ The cookbook's title stems from Turshen's belief that cooking is really just a series of small victories, from perfectly scrambled eggs to mastering a new technique ✦ The author donates a portion of the proceeds from her cookbooks to various social justice organizations, including those supporting food security and LGBTQ+ rights ✦ The recipe for "Happy Wife, Happy Life Chocolate Cake" was created for Turshen's own wedding to her wife, Grace Bonney, founder of Design*Sponge