The Pretty Dish: More than 150 Everyday Recipes and 50 Beauty DIYs to Nourish Your Body Inside and Out

by Jessica Merchant

150 brand-new recipes, party ideas and menus, killer playlists, and inventive beauty projects from How Sweet Eats blogger Jessica Merchant .

Jessica Merchant is like your most reliable girlfriend—that is, if your girlfriend was a passionate cook and serious beauty junkie. With her second book, she brings her signature playfulness to the page. It’s filled with 150 brand-new recipes, along with themed menus, party ideas, killer playlists, and inventive beauty projects.

She’s the extra hand guiding you in the kitchen giving you the most inventive pizza toppings (crispy kale and summer corn), showing you how to make hibiscus blueberry mint juleps, and telling you the coolest way to make an avocado face mask while you plan your weekly menu on Saturday morning. All her recipes are deliciously indulgent ( poke tacos, toasted quinoa chocolate bark, pistachio iced latte) and all take 60 minutes or less to make.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Foodie, Health

336 pages, Hardcover

Published March 20, 2018

Reviews

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is a great book. With plenty of doable recipes and a clever layout including party ideas, diy beauty recipes and even a party playlist. Well done. Inspired to follow author on social media.

[Kimberly Kincaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos and layout, loved the DIY beauty section (so unique and a very cool idea--I haven't tried any yet, but I definitely will be) You have to know what you're in for with the recipes--there are a lot of delicious flavors here, but if you're not familiar with the blog, I'd suggest checking it out first to be sure this cookbook is going to be a good fit for you. I didn't have as many takeaway recipes from this as I do from Kathryne Taylor's Cookie and Kate (blog and cookbook) but I did very much enjoy this cookbook and felt it worth reading.

[Phaedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pretty Dish by Jessica Merchant is exactly the book you expect if you're a fan of her blog, How Sweet It Is. Whimsical in tone, it feels exactly like you're sitting down with a girlfriend to talk about food together. Easy recipes that are for weeknights & weekends, breakfast/lunch/dinner and? parties! There are menus and playlists and at the end? Self Care with beauty DIY (which would also make a great girls sunday funday- adults and tweens/teens alike). The recipes work and there is a nice range between healthier and more indulgent things to choose from. Everything I've made has been a win with the myself & the fam. Love!

[Morgan Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her blog and have been following for a while. Preordered her new cookbook and very excited about it!

[Hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful to look at, but didn't take away any recipes. I was happily surprised about the beauty DIY section.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited to make every single thing in this book.

[Melissa Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is SO beautiful to look at and interesting to read but, ultimately, just not many recipes that I will try.

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute multipurpose cookbook!

[Russelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful cookbook. I will be owning this one!

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always want to like her recipes, but they are always just a bit too over-the-top for my tastes.

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since this is the first time I have ever bought a cookbook based on a blog, I am going to be kind about it. Every day I see How Sweet Eats on Instagram. Beautiful pictures of food I can't wait to taste. Waiting to buy this book was not the wisest idea: it now had to live up to far too great expectations.
There are some serious gems in this book - from the sprinkle crinkle cookies to the fun homemade beauty products. But why is there an olive green bar on every edge of the page? Distracting and unnecessary. Other peculiar layout choices. Of course it didn't help it arrived from a book sellers mutilated (I have lovingly patched it up, because sending it back would be pricy and the book is quite nice, really, three stars is not bad in my view.)
Just next time I think I will pass up buying a book-from-blog.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another cookbook written by a blogger whose blog I've never read. The book is beautiful, and kind of unique - she has a lot of strong flavors and you either love them or hate them. I generally liked them, but thought the food was a little complicated for weeknight cooking. I loved the section on natural beauty, and the deserts were really special. Also, the drinks section was great, and she offers several party menus (including playlists). So, it's a fun book and worth checking out for some different recipe ideas.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting recipe book.

There are beautiful pictures of each food recipe. Some recipes are pretty standard - there are recipes for things like sandwiches, fruit pizzas, and cakes. There was nothing that jumped out at me as something I needed to try immediately, but it was interesting to browse through.

There are also recipes on making scrubs, lotions, and balms. Some are pretty simple, but it seems like buying the ingredients and assembling things may cost more than just buying the product.

[Jaci Millette Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tone of the writing did not appeal to me, but there are a lot of interesting recipes in here I want to try (butternut squash tacos, dragonfruit smoothie bowls, feta cheese ball, Thai peanut acorn squash). She also included a really great cocktail section and a bunch of natural scrubs— I’ll have to switch up my usual lemon sugar scrub!

[Lora Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen. I read cookbooks for entertainment so let's be real, I rarely make the recipes from the pages. So I picked this book up because I loved the font on the cover (I am not ashamed)....and now I'm making a shopping list so I can get this food in my mouth. Shockingly beautiful, accessible food that isn't what everyone else is making!

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only will you want to just look at the gorgeous food photos - they are incredible! I love that she offers ways to pair the recipes together (along with a playlist). There are even some homemade beauty recipes for face masks, hair masks, etc. Also, if you don't follow her blog - you are missing out!

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dishes that are Instagram worthy and beauty recipes to give you a glow on the outside. Got a sugar rush just from looking at all the recipe photos. Want to try all the dessert recipes especially the Tiramisu Bread Pudding, Chocolate Crinkle Sprinkle Cookies, and the PB Mousse with Toasted Marshmallows first.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is that this had some pretty amazing stuff and I am very tempted to buy this book for myself. I really enjoyed the breakfast recipes, body and lip scrubs, bath soaks, and lip balms. I am obsessed with all of this stuff!!!

[Youknowyourreadit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, and I think it’s beautiful and really well presented, but I purchased without having read her blog. If I had looked, I probably would have realised the recipes are not for me - too much sugar and not interesting enough to inspire me to cook.

[Liz Delf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty to flip through, but just a few recipes I want to make. It may be trying to cover too much ground, with breakfasts and dinners and drinks and beauty. I think if you are a fan of her blog already, though, this would be a great addition to the shelf.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a pretty book! Such pretty food! And the cocktails! Oy vey! Spicy Corn and Peach Salsa, Watermelon Avocado Salsa, Gruyere French Onion Grilled Cheese, Lobster Burrata Pasta, Pickle Margaritas, and Cucumber Gin Fizz. Yum!

[anai · Rating 5 out of 5]

i actually enjoyed this recipe book sm! i love the variety & also i love that the author included homemade beauty things (like lip scrubs, hair masks) it's unique! i think my only complaint is that the text for the measuring (1/2, 1/8~) is too small:(

[Lindsey Stromberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVEthis cookbook and all it's beauty. The recipes look so yummy and pretty darn easy to follow. Gifting this is lots of friends!

[Brindi Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious, fun and entertaining as always, but I enjoyed this second cookbook even more than her first. I really liked the layout, photography, and the way this one was sectioned :)

[Ambrosia Lovie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cookbook. This is my kind of living.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow up to Merchant's first book, Delish. Gorgeous photos and terrific recipes. Not always for the every day cook, but a great book to get the ball rolling for your next upscale home party.

[Ebonee Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book full of great, delicious, simple, fresh, recipes. The photography is stunning and the DIY beauty recipes at the end are a lovely bonus.

[Yasemin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really really disappointed in this one. Not much here that I want to make to be honest.

[Valerie R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and many that sound delicious!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use cookbooks more for inspiration than actual recipes and this one is inspiring! I’m sure the recipes are great too if you decide to follow them.