Fresh Midwest (Maren Ellingboe King)

An Epicurious Best Cookbook of 2022

In this debut cookbook, recipe developer and Minnesota native Maren Ellingboe King perfectly combines the nostalgia of traditional midwestern dishes and influences of her Scandinavian heritage with an emphasis on local, unprocessed ingredients. Ellingboe King celebrates the growing diversity of her home state with a modern take on traditional recipes by using fresh produce, more spice, and more heat, all while retaining the simplicity and approachability of her family’s recipes. Readers will find Apple Gjetost Grilled Cheese, Lefse Pinwheels, Caraway Roast Chicken, Venison with Lingonberries and Juniper, Cardamom Stone Fruit Cobbler, and, of course, several variations of the hotdish. At a time when so many of us are at home and cooking more than ever, Fresh Midwest is the perfect combination of comfort and inspiration with most recipes designed to be made in an hour or less.