At Our Recipe Books, each month we create a full collection of recipes designed to bring both flavor and ease to your table. And because sharing is at the heart of what we do, we always make one recipe from each collection available here for free.

Think of it as a taste test: seasonal dishes, everyday staples, and inspired flavors you’ll want to come back to again and again.

Start with a free recipe below — and when you’re ready for more, unlock the full monthly collection and cook along with us!

Italian

Low Carb

Keto

Vegan

Vegetarian

Dairy-Free

Gluten-Free

Nut-Free

Paleo

No-cook

Bright and fragrant, this simple Gremolata adds a burst of flavor to rich winter dishes. Made with fresh parsley, lemon zest, and garlic, it’s the perfect finishing touch for roasted meats, vegetables, or soups.

A little goes a long way — just a spoonful adds freshness and balance to hearty holiday meals, making it a pantry essential for any home cook during the colder months.

Gremolata

French

Dessert

Baking

These Holiday Palmiers are one of the easiest festive treats you can make — just puff pastry, sugar, and a few folds, and suddenly you have crisp, caramelized cookies that look like they came from a pastry shop. They’re light, sweet, and perfect with a cup of coffee or tucked onto a holiday dessert tray.

Because they come together so quickly, they’re an easy go-to recipe when you want something special without a lot of fuss — a beautiful little cookie that brings a bit of elegance to the season.

Holiday Palmiers

Drink

My family looks forward to drinking this all year long - it’s one of those recipes that make it feel like Christmas is here for them. The flavor far surpasses the store bought stuff. Just remember that Christmas calories don’t count! 

Homemade Eggnog

American

Side

Roasting

These Roasted Root Vegetables are a simple, beautiful way to bring winter’s best produce to the table. Carrots, parsnips, and beets roast together until caramelized on the edges and tender in the center, creating a naturally sweet, earthy side that pairs beautifully with rich, slow-cooked dishes. 

Served alongside our Creamy Parmesan Polenta and Braised Short Ribs, these vegetables complete a comforting, elegant winter plate — hearty enough for a holiday meal, yet easy enough for everyday cooking.

Roasted Root Vegetables 

This Creamy Parmesan Polenta is winter comfort at its best — silky, rich, and beautifully flavored with slow-simmered bone broth and freshly grated Parmesan. The combination of bone broth and half-and-half gives it a depth and creaminess you simply can’t get from water alone, making it the perfect base for braised meats, roasted vegetables, or a cozy bowl all on its own.

Finished with butter, a shower of Parmesan, and a touch of fresh ground black pepper, it’s a simple side that feels special enough for your holiday table yet calm and comforting for any cold night at home.

Creamy Parmesan Polenta

Dinner

Braising & Stewing

This winter marks our very first holiday season here at Our Recipe Books, and we wanted to choose a centerpiece that felt both special and deeply comforting. These braised short ribs are our pick for a holiday or special-occasion meal—rich, tender, and slow-braised in a rich broth that fills the house with warmth. 

It’s elegant enough for the Christmas table, yet simple enough to make without stress, and it captures everything we love about gathering in the colder months. Consider this our recommended show-stopper for your December celebrations.

Braised Short Ribs

Inspired by America’s Test Kitchen, adapted by Barbara Martinez

Lunch

Food processor

Two Thanksgivings ago, I set out to find the perfect brown gravy—rich, smooth, and deeply flavorful. My husband loves gravy over mashed potatoes, so I wanted one that could stand on its own, without the need for drippings. I came across a version from America’s Test Kitchen, made a few tweaks, and haven’t looked back since. A mix of classic vegetables, butter, and protein-rich bone broth creates a simple, no-fuss gravy that’s delicious over roasted chicken or mashed potatoes and easy enough for any home cook to master.

Our Everyday Gravy

Brunch

Breakfast

I've been making this yummy crepe recipe for several years for my family. The apples combined with the cinnamon custard shout fall! it's a fun twist on regular crepe recipes. So if you want to try something new give it a whirl- I know you'll enjoy it.

P.S. Most of the components are better made ahead which is really nice in my book!

Apple Crepes with Cinnamon Custard and Caramel Sauce

Chicken bone broth is one of those staples I always want in my kitchen—it’s nourishing, protein-rich, and endlessly useful. My friend Karina and I have joked about writing 

, because much like the father in the movie 

 used Windex for everything, we find bone broth has a use for just about everything too.

This version is what I like to call liquid gold—deeply rich in flavor, full of collagen and minerals, and guaranteed to elevate whatever recipe you add it to. Whether you sip it straight from a mug, stir it into sauces, or use it as the base for soups and stews, it delivers both comfort and a boost of nutrition every time.

Chicken Bone Broth

Brazilian

Appetizer

BBQ & Grilling

When searching for the perfect bacon wrapped chicken recipe, I came across this one, from an article interviewing the founder of Texas de Brazil. He graciously shared this amazing chicken recipe, and I was thrilled with the results! Bacon wrapped chicken perfection has now been achieved!

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Mexican

A modern twist on a traditional favorite, this Café de Olla Iced Coffee brings the comforting flavors of cinnamon and piloncillo into a refreshing glass perfect for our hot Texas summers. Whether you're familiar with Café de Olla or trying it here for the first time, this iced version is sweet, spiced, and super simple to make. It’s like a hug in a glass, just served over ice to help battle the Texas heat. 

Café de Olla Iced Coffee

Thai

Crispy and fresh, these fritters are easy to make, and fun to serve and eat! You’ll love the combination of sweet corn, cilantro, and spicy green peppers. 

Corn Fritters

Snack

This Mango Guacamole is a fun twist on a classic recipe! Creamy avocado meets sweet, juicy mango for a dip that’s both vibrant and satisfying. The combination of flavors makes it perfect as a side for tacos, a topping for grilled meats, or a simple appetizer with chips.

It’s quick to prepare, uses just a handful of ingredients, and brings a bright pop of color and flavor to the table — exactly the kind of recipe that becomes a go-to in any homemaker’s kitchen.

Mango Guacamole 

Sautéing

 A tasty medley straight from the summer garden. This dish brings together squash, zucchini, corn, peppers, and onions — all the vegetables that thrive in spring and summer abundance. Fresh, colorful, and full of flavor, Calabacitas is the perfect vibrant side to serve with any Mexican meal.

Calabacitas

Frying

My grandma, who is from New Mexico, passed this recipe down to me. Serve as a side with honey. Tear off the corner and drizzle honey inside while the sopapillas are still hot - delicious!! Or make a sopapilla sundae - dip the hot sopapillas in cinnamon sugar and serve with vanilla ice cream, caramel, and chocolate sauce. 

Nona's Sopapillas

These Chile Relleno Puffs are a quick and satisfying breakfast with all the flavor of classic chile rellenos in an easy-to-make form. They’re perfect fresh from the oven, but they also freeze well — just make an extra batch, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then slice, butter, and toast for a simple breakfast any day of the week.

Green Chile Relleno Puffs

Use this recipe to feed a large family or put half the sauce and meat in the freezer for a future dinner. Any cut of steak will work in this recipe. Depending on what cut you use, you may need to add additional cooking time while the meat is in the sauce to make sure it’s tender. Spacing the enchiladas out in your baking dish will ensure they are coated in plenty of sauce and make them easier to serve. This also makes a great make ahead meal - the meat and sauce can be made up to three days in advance. 

Green Chile Enchiladas

Light, fragrant, and full of comforting flavor, this Mediterranean Rice Pilaf is more than just a side—it’s the perfect base to elevate any meal. Fluffy basmati rice is tossed with golden sautéed onion, garlic, plenty of butter, and a generous helping of toasted almonds for crunch.

While it pairs beautifully with our Santorini Chicken, it’s just as delicious alongside grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or as part of a vibrant Mediterranean-inspired spread. Simple, elegant, and absolutely satisfying.

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