7 perfect cookbooks to give as Christmas gifts

I love reading, especially culinary reading 😉. I devour cookbooks just as much as the recipes they contain! Cookbooks bring me a wealth of meal ideas that I can adapt to what lies in the fridge. If you share my passion, I invite you to discover my 7 favourite Quebec cookbooks that make excellent Christmas gifts for family, friends, colleagues, or to treat yourself. Let’s get started!

“Boire le Québec” by Rose Simard

Rose Simard has been one of my favourite culinary crafters in recent years. I had the opportunity to meet her when I was younger, and she has amazed me ever since. I’m so impressed by her career path! Rose is a sparkling, inspiring young entrepreneur passionate about cocktails 🍸. Known as “1 ou 2 Cocktails”, she crafts fabulous, simple‑to‑make cocktails with easy‑to‑find ingredients. You may have seen Rose on TV shows such as “Salut Bonjour,” “L’épicerie,” and “Dans l’œil du Dragon” (where she pitched her range of pocket cocktails: Amour Liquide). By the way, her “Amour Liquide” ready‑to‑drink cocktails are absolutely fantastic!

In her book “Boire le Québec,” Rose introduces 60 breathtaking cocktails made with Quebec spirits. I think it’s a fabulous book for showcasing Quebec spirits. In addition to the recipes, we discover various Quebec products, how they are made, and how to use them to prepare the best cocktails easily.

Rose is a master in the art of cocktails. All the cocktails she suggests in her book “Boire le Québec” are worth a try, and I had great difficulty deciding which is my favourite cocktail. The Lolita won my heart and taste buds with its blend of peach liqueur, sparkling rosé cider and sparkling water. It’s refreshing, elegant and simple to make. As a big spritz fan, I couldn’t resist this cocktail!

To follow Rose Simard with “1 ou 2 Cocktails”: Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Website (in French)

Vegan on a budget by Sara Girard

Sara Girard, also known as “Ma cuisine de tous les jours”, just released her new book “Végane à petit budget” (Vegan on a budget). Does Sara’s name ring a bell? Crazy Leeks brought you one of her recipes for our BBQ green pizza with asparagus, ricotta and leeks featuring Quebec asparagus and leeks from Les Cultures de chez nous 😊. You can’t go wrong with recipes with such delicious homegrown vegetables! “Végane à petit budget” is a gold mine of recipes. With inflation making everything more expensive, Sara’s book offers great ideas, including 90 recipes to lower your grocery bill, save time and discover plant‑based proteins!

As a lover of Indian cuisine, I fell under the spell of her malai kofta recipe (a dish of Indian origin), which can be found in her book. It’s totally tasty, incredibly delicious and simply irresistible 🤤.

To follow Sara Girard (“Ma cuisine de tous les jours”): Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest | YouTube | Website (in French)

K for Katrine: the K for Katrine cookbook

“K pour Katrine” stands for Katrine Paradis, a food enthusiast who has been sharing recipes for a long time. Her motto: Recipes must please everyone around the table. In this case, mission accomplished! In this cookbook, Katrine and her daughter Margaux Verdier share their passion for recipes that are good for every meal of the day and week. “K pour Katrine’s” recipes are always tasty and offer ideas for various gourmet pleasures. Every year, holiday gatherings remind us that families come in all shapes and sizes! The “K pour Katrine” cookbook is a perfect reference, as it offers many ways to adapt your menu. Is your brother-in-law a vegetarian? Is your cousin gluten intolerant? Does your grandfather dislike cauliflower? No problem! You’ll find menu ideas that will please everyone in this book!

It’s an inspiring, family‑friendly book with sublime recipes. My favourite recipe from the “K pour Katrine” cookbook? Pasta with squash, pancetta, sage and arugula 😍. I can’t resist a good pasta dish 🍝. Just thinking about it... I can smell roasted sage’s divine aroma and can’t wait to devour it!

To follow “K pour Katrine”: Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Website (in French)

Survival guide for single parents by Martin Goyette

Martin Goyette, aka “Guide de survie pour monoparental” (Survival guide for single parents) on social platforms, recently released his first cookbook. In this book, this single father of 3 offers 70 foolproof recipes that are ready in under 40 minutes and just as tasty the next day! In addition to the recipes, Martin also shares meal planning and management tips for single parents and parents with shared custody. I’m also particularly fond of the leftover‑friendly index, which helps you reduce kitchen waste and reuse ingredients in different recipes.

This cookbook has everything you need for quick, tasty meals for the whole family. With chicken, pasta, pork, beef, soups and vegan recipes, there’s no shortage of options. Of all the recipes, my favourite is the Korean chicken bowl! I love its spicy sauce, and its runny egg yolk atop the rice reminds me of my beloved beef, leek and shiitake loco moco recipe. Martin Goyette’s “Guide de survie pour monoparental” and its 70 recipes are worth their weight in gold!

To follow Martin Goyette (“Guide de survie pour monoparental”): Facebook | Instagram

BBQ Passion: 80 recipes from the Smoker Master by Micael Béliveau

Micael Béliveau is a BBQ pro. The man, also known as “Maître Fumeur” (Smoker Master), masters the art of grilling. In his book “Passion BBQ,” you’ll find 80 BBQ recipes that can be ready in no time, with minimal prep. These BBQ recipes can be shared with a tableful of family and friends at any time of the year! It’s a cookbook for beginners and grill experts alike, with many pro tips for grilling, from BBQ types to accessory selection and cooking methods, as well as handy checklists for cooking temperatures. This is the BBQ bible to get if you’re a grill enthusiast!

Have you ever tried “Maître Fumeur’s” recipe for portobellos stuffed with shrimp, mushroom sauce, and garlic leek on the Crazy Leeks website? It’s pure genius! It’s a tasty, cheesy side dish; just how I like it 😉! Among all the recipes in Micael’s “Passion BBQ” book, the asparagus with prosciutto one is my favourite, especially since the recipe uses Quebec asparagus from the Les Cultures de chez nous farms 😊.

To follow Micael Béliveau (“Maître Fumeur”): Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Website (in French)

Meal soups: 110 original Asian‑inspired recipes by Geneviève Everell

Geneviève Everell needs no introduction. Miss sushi is the sushi queen! She operates a successful business and Sushi at Home counters. Her team organizes in‑home chef services so you can enjoy excellent sushis, tartars, dessert sushis and more in good company. You’ll enjoy mouth‑watering meals and an unforgettable evening, guaranteed! Miss sushi also offers a Sushi at-home counters concept to enjoy her dream home menu.

In her cookbook “Soupes‑repas” (Meal soups), Geneviève offers 110 Asian‑inspired recipes, each more delicious than the last. It’s a cookbook that’s both amazing for the taste buds and magnificent to admire. As a bonus, Miss sushi provides an overview of classic Asian ingredients for the best soups, so you have everything at hand to prepare comforting, hearty soups. As for the recipes, I had a hard time finding a favourite, but my heart fell in love with the melted curry‑coconut soup. It’s probably because of the nice, chunky leeks in it 😉.

To follow Geneviève Everell (Miss sushi): Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Website (in French)

Air fry your life! by Manon Lapierre

The air fryer has changed many people’s lives in recent years. A true revolution in the kitchen, the air fryer can cook much more than fries, cheese sticks and chicken wings! Manon Lapierre and Lionel du Souich of “La petite bette” understood this. If my math is correct, there are no less than 108 recipes for cooking with an air fryer in their book “Air fry ta vie!” (Air fry your life). When it comes to air fryer recipes, there are plenty to choose from! A ton of side dishes, lunches, appetizers, main courses, breads and desserts are just waiting for you to turn on your air fryer and whip up one of the many recipes in this cookbook.

What you can cook with an air fryer is amazing and usually pretty quick to assemble. My favourite recipe from the cookbook “Air fry ta vie!” is undoubtedly the little hot goat cheese. As a cheese lover, it hits just right and takes less than 10 minutes to cook! A joy  .

To follow Manon Lapierre (“La petite bette”): Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Website (in French)

My passion for food and cookbooks

I love food and cookbooks so much that I wrote my first Travel diary recipes inspired by my travels and adventures around the world. In addition to the recipes in my book, here are some of my favourite foods from Quebec producers.

I’m so thankful for Crazy Leeks’ help in writing this cookbook, in which I share my passion for delicious foods. Check out Crazy Leeks’ various free downloadable cookbooks that are brimming with culinary inspiration for the holiday season. You may also want to read these blog posts to get in the spirit of the most wonderful time of the year:

• 8 Christmas dessert recipes to celebrate with your family
• 10 classic, vegan and vegetarian holiday recipes
• 10 perfect appetizers to eat with your hands for Christmas
• 10 vegan recipes for Christmas to veganize your diet

Finally, I’d like to tip my hat to all the cookbook authors. Thank you for sharing your passion and letting us discover what makes you thrive in the kitchen. Your cookbooks offer extraordinary recipes that make us travel, drool, and enjoy fantastic food and cocktails!

Happy culinary reading and eating!

‑ Serge