107 Illustrated Recipes: They Draw & Cook Coming Oct. 4 (Pre-Order Now!)

Two years ago brother and sister, Nate and Salli, were on a family vacation.
“Nate was trying to recreate a favorite dish—fettucine with figs in a balsamic butter sauce—while Salli sat at the counter with her watercolors painting the crate of figs.” They realized how fun it was to illustrate food, and an idea was born.

Nate and Salli wanted to make a book of drawn recipes.

After collecting illustrations from a few artist friends, there weren’t enough recipes for a book so they built a blog. Word got out fast and a year and a half later, They Draw & Cook is the largest collection of illustrated recipes anywhere, from artists all over the world.

As you can see, they were able to make that book after all. They Draw & Cook, the book, comes out two weeks from today, but you can order it now at the special pre-sale price of $12. A wonderful gift for creative cooks of all kinds and just in time for the feasts of fall.

I’ve picked some favorites from the book below. Each illustration links to the original so you can go see it bigger and discover similar recipes.

I’m torn between Mom Mom’s Peach Cake and the Garlic Mashed Potatoes—which to try first?!

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Mom Mom's Perfect Peach Cake by Kristen Nohe

Monsters Favorite Pumpkin Soup by Maria Bogade

Inspiration

Cozy Up to Autumn with Sweet Paul

Sweet Paul Magazine Fall 2011

Well he’s done it. Sweet Paul has officially transitioned me into the autumn spirit. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, looks beautiful and smells divine.

If you’ve yet to explore an issue of Sweet Paul Magazine, you’re in for a real treat. You’ll find everything from warm apple cider and (even more) avocados, to tips on throwing a camping party, minus the camping. There’s recipes to inspire a harvest bake sale and even a spooky black Halloween.

Enjoy this quick peek, and then I recommend that you get comfortable, light a spicy candle and flip through for a while. You’ll be falling for autumn in no time.

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Sweet Paul Magazine Fall 2011 - Pork with Warm Fall Slaw

Sweel Paul Magazine Fall 2011 - Black Halloween

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Oh my Guac, You Made my Guacamole Day!

Perfect Guacamole by Food Network Magazine

I’ve been patiently awaiting and it’s finally here! Happy Guacamole Day! I can’t think of a better mashed up mess of deliciousness to celebrate than this glorious food. A concoction like no other starring the magnificent, the gorgeous, the creamiest of fruits, the Avocado.

Here to help you make someone’s Guacamole Day, I’ve got guac-making tools to speed up the mashing and get to the scooping. You’ll find dishes for chipping and dipping in styles and colors to please them all. I’ll share gifts only a guacamole lover could love and round things out with mouth-watering recipes, including, are you ready? Avocado Pie.

So let’s get guac’ing!

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California Avocado Pie by This Confetti Life

Gifts for Serving Chips and Guacamole for Guacamole Day

Tools for Making Guacamole on Guacamole Day

Guacamole Recipe by The Girl Who Ate Everything

Rosted Tomatillo Guacamole by InspiredRD

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Who Wouldn’t Want an Unlimited Supply of Cheese?

DIY Cheese Kit by Urban Cheesecraft

There’s something special about cheese—you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t like it. There’s also something mysterious about cheese. How does milk turn in to that? Where does it really come from? Don’t say, “the cheese counter.”

Clearly I’m enamored, and I suspect my fellow cheese lovers are too. So what if I said you could make it yourself? That it wouldn’t be difficult and that a bounty of tasty experiments await you?

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Beggin’ for Bacon on Bacon Day

Savory or sweet, on its own or wrapped around a friend, infused in booze or expressed with art; it’s bacon, and it’s the best thing ever! I honor bacon at least once a week, but I’ll take any excuse to commemorate its amazingness more frequently. Well, we’re in luck, because tomorrow is Bacon Day! While you’re out celebrating the gateway meat this weekend, think about bringing some of these tasty treats with you, since there’s nothing worse than forgetting to BYOB on September 3rd!

Bacon really brightens up a room, so you’re going to want to get your hands on a few of these sizzling items. Start with a toast to bacon mania from this etched pint glass while savoring the scent of a bacon candle (made with real bacon fat). Don’t forget to keep things cozy with a decorative pillow or two, but be careful, guest envy will likely ensue!

We all know sharing is caring, so send a greeting card to a pork enthusiast, or read a salty love story with your sweetheart. Perhaps you know a wall that needs a piece of awesome art…there’s no need to be shy, say it loud and proud with me, “I LOVE BACON!”

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S’more Gifts for S’mores Day

S'more by David Schwen

There isn’t much better than sitting around a campfire, no laptops, no TV, just good friends, good times and of course, s’mores.

What is it that makes s’mores so awesome? Is it the crunch of the graham cracker? The smoosh of the marshmallow? Or the rich melty chocolate sandwiched inside? I think it’s the whole shebang—a combo often set aside for when we’re nestled in the woods with a flame and a stick.

In celebration of S’mores Day, here’s a s’morgasbord of gifts (see what I did there?) for roasting inside and out, at home or the campsite.

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Flame: Collapsible Campfire and Fire Pit and Eva Solo Grill

Yum: Campfire Cookery and S'more to Love

For Kicks

Cheese, Glorious Cheese

If Murray’s Cheese of the Month Club tops your wish list, then The Art and Science of Cheese will either fascinate you or make you a little squeamish.

(h/t Brainpickings)

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You Can’t Go Wrong with Subscriptions of Flowers and Cheese

With Mother’s Day this weekend, if you’ve yet to get something special for the mommas in your life, you’re almost out of time. It’s moments like these we’re so thankful for subscription gift clubs.

Great anytime, and especially in a crunch, they let you send not just one but several gifts over time to delight your someone throughout the year. In your last minute scramble all you need is a nice card to let her know of the goodies on the way.

We’re really excited about these two as Mother’s Day gifts. What Mom do you know who doesn’t like cheese or flowers?

Available in short or long-term subscriptions, send cheese from New York’s oldest cheese shop with the Murray’s Cheese of the Month Club or spoil her completely with up to 12 Months of Organic Bouquets!

Stay tuned for another exciting subscription gift tomorrow!

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