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Après All Day: 65 Cozy Recipes to Share with Family + Friends

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For ski bums and non-skiers who enjoy the snow, here is a cozy winter cookbook of 65+ hearty recipes, plus beautiful photography that captures the après-ski culture and mountain town life.Après-ski is more than just an afternoon beer in the lodge. It's an opportunity to gather with friends and family over delicious food and drinks during the cold winter months. This cozy cookbook invites home cooks of all levels to embrace the après culture all season long, whether they're the first skier on the slopes in the morning or a nonskier who prefers to snuggle up by the fireplace. There are recipes for every meal—because yes, you really can "après all day"—including Apple Pie Oatmeal as pre-ski fuel, Tater Tot Nachos, a.k.a. "Tatchos" for an indulgent snack on the couch, Classic Beef Stew with Cheesy Garlic Bread for a family potluck, and a well-deserved Kitchen Sink Skillet Cookie to end the day. There is a section with helpful tips on cooking at altitude, plus fun sidebars featuring must-know ski lingo, ideas for game night, and more. Ski bums, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who lives in cold climates will appreciate the hearty recipes and beautiful photography of mountain scenery.FOR ANYONE IN COLD Après-ski isn't just for skiers, and neither is this cookbook—anyone can après, at any time of day! The recipes in this book are perfect for anyone who lives somewhere with cold winters or loves the mountains or the idea of mountain living.GOOD GIFT FOR A RANGE OF With beautiful mountain scenery and photos of charming ski towns, Après All Day encapsulates a way of life. This is a lovely gift for anyone who likes to cook, as well as those who enjoy or aspire to an outdoorsy life in the mountains.COMPELLING Après All Day is full of evocative a stack of blankets, signage on the slopes, chairlifts in the fog, snow-dusted pine trees, and more. The approachable recipes, informal tone, and aspirational photography will make you feel as if you are enjoying a ski weekend in the mountains with your best friend.Perfect • Home cooks who love the mountains and mountain dwellers who like to cook• Skiers and snowboarders of all levels• Anyone who enjoys snow activities and the après-ski culture• Those who live in places with cold winters• Armchair travelers

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2021

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About the author

Kelley Epstein

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
78 reviews2 followers
August 6, 2021
The first cookbook that I’ve ever read cover-to-cover! Full disclosure: my dear friend wrote this book. You may think that makes me biased, and maybe there’s a teeny bit of truth to that, but not because she’s my friend. The reasons I love this book are 1)I’m a die-hard lover of winter, snow, and mountains. 2)Kelley’s recipes always make me look good despite having .0019 of the talent in the kitchen she has, 3)I live at altitude and can use all the help I can get, and 4)those photos. 🤤
I am not a foodie. I’m a suuuper picky eater. I need to follow a recipe to make the simplest of dinners. This cookbook doesn’t include any complicated techniques or hard to pronounce ingredients. Pretty sure I have the means already in my kitchen to make 85% of these recipes, and my two boys would eat the majority of them without even a skeptical glance.
By far my favorite thing about this book is how it’s written. The intros to each and every recipe are intelligent, witty, and relevant - just like my dear friend. Her voice is all over this and there is nothing embellished, glossed over, or written just to appeal to a certain group. It’s 100% Kelley and I’m here for it. Congrats, my friend!
9,023 reviews130 followers
May 4, 2021
What makes this recipe book distinctive in the visuals is the sheer number of photos of skis and snowboards stuck in the snow while their owners are elsewhere – having some food, or drink, or concussion tests perhaps. The shtick here is that these dishes are for the ski chalet, the suntrap balcony in the afternoon while the lift pass warms under your multiple layers (nb I have no bloody idea if they do that or not, I was trying to be poetic) or the get-together to compare snow-burn, bruises and so on around a loaded party table.

What makes it distinctive in the actual recipes is – well, the idea that it considers how to bake, fry, make perfect rice etc at higher altitudes must surely make it unique. Otherwise there is little connection from one dish to another. Generally they have an energy-giving attitude, so breakfasts are snappy bakes, granola things, energy bars etc, there are snacks to leave in the car in case of white-outs, and the mains are simple ingredients given sensible treatments to give maximum pleasure for minimum effort. You should get the gist – there is no namby-pampying about with hard-to-find specialist ingredients (beyond certain specified brand name breakfast cereals etc), there is no cause for a rack of unique utensils with which to treat your salads, and there is little chance of any of this really getting sniffed at.

I can't say I pulled a lot of these recipes out for future reference, but the next time we stock up on turkey mince those French soup-styled meatballs are going to get a try-out, and there's a sticky twist on the salmon I would usually rustle up. I also might thank the author forever for adding not only rice crispies but also Kahlua to my eggy bread. I wouldn't thank her for the paid-by-the-word editorialising that comes with each and every dish, but that – and the copious needless photographic filler – seems to be the house style from this publisher, whose recipe books are new to me this month. Her recipes themselves have more concision, and while the book will only really gel with fellow winter sports participants (there is a lot of skiing bumpf, as the ratio between recipes and pages implies) there is nothing whatsoever here to deter anyone from having a good browse. Three and a half stars as a purchase.
Profile Image for Sherri.
1,622 reviews
June 22, 2022
Apres French for basically "eating after skiing". Food blogger, private chef, and snowboarder Epstein has compiled a delicious set of recipes to eat from breakfast to dinner and snacks in between.

Anecdotes before each chapter were entertaining and informational on the lifestyle and food choices. Also gives high altitude adjustments and other substitution notes for when you're skiing or living in higher altitudes.

Little low on photos but delicious looking samples of what was there.
Profile Image for Katya.
451 reviews57 followers
December 24, 2022
Although I don't live in a place where it snows very much (or at altitude) I still love comfort food, the type of recipes that stick to your ribs and make you feel content and cozy. Maybe it's because I do live in a place where it rains a lot! So while I don't partake in apres by definition (and haven't done snow sports since high school) I agree with Epstein that apres is a mindset and a way of life, and one that I can get fully on board with!

This is a beautifully-done book, full of comforting recipes that are accessible to the home cook/baker and sure to please a crowd. The photography makes me want to hit the slopes - or maybe just curl up in the lodge with a hot toddy - and the layout is clean and easy to traverse. Epstein's voice is lively and engaging, and she seems like someone I'd love to apres with. The recipes themselves range from portable snacks to stews to cocktails and everything in between, and I've already bookmarked a few to try on these grey winter evenings. You don't need to live in the mountains to eat like it.

Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the eARC!
Profile Image for Sara.
30 reviews3 followers
May 12, 2021
This cookbook perfectly and beautifully fills a niche in the cookbook market: what to cook in the snowy mountains and how to do it, even at high altitude. The book has an apres-ski theme, and the intended audience is families and friends cooking and eating together after snow sports. The book features thoughtful ideas for post-ski comfort food that is fresh and healthy. Recipes are mercifully approachable and clearly photographed, and the book also features lots of tip boxes and ideas pages to help make ski trips more comfortable. More important to me than the attractive presentation here is the author's authority. Epstein is well-known in mountain communities from her blog, Mountain Mama Cooks. My house is at 7,100 ft elevation, and if it weren't for Epstein's innovative high-altitude recipes from the blog, my children would never taste a homemade cookie or brownie. The beauty of this Apres All Day cookbook is that the recipes are designed for sea level, with a thorough introductory section on how to adapt for various altitudes. There are other cookbooks on the market for those of us dwelling permanently at high altitude, especially when it comes to baking. This book is not a good substitute for those more serious technical high-altitude tomes. Instead it is one I will want in my plastic tote full of things that travel with us to vacation rentals even higher in the mountains. If you own a vacation rental in the mountains, this book is a must have to help your guests.

I am so grateful to #netgalley and Chronicle Books for the sneak preview of this book via the e-ARC that they shared in exchange for my candid review.
Profile Image for Michelle McGrane.
365 reviews20 followers
July 15, 2021
In her introduction to ‘Après All Day’, Utah native Kelley Epstein (who blogs at Mountain Mama Cooks) describes some of her fondest childhood memories as building snow forts, having epic snowball fights with the neighborhood kids, sledding with her brothers, and snowmobiling to the family’s remote cabin in Wyoming.

She writes: “We played outside until we couldn’t feel our toes, our gloves were soaking wet, and our eyelashes were miniature icicles. It was the best. But you know what I loved even more? Heading indoors to warm up by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate and a handful (or two) of mini chocolate chip cookies. I suppose I learned to appreciate the art of après from a very young age!”

Epstein and photographer, Ren Fuller, have collaborated to create a sumptuous cookbook filled with easy to follow recipes and vivid, enticing photographs.

‘Après All Day’ includes savoury or sweet comfort food for everyone. Here are delicious meals, snacks and ‘thirsty après’ designed with minimum preparation times, using equipment and ingredients most people will already have in their kitchen.

There are recipes for every meal including Crispy Kahlúa French Toast as pre-ski fuel, Tater Tot Nachos, a.k.a. ‘Tatchos’ for an indulgent snack on the couch, Classic Beef Stew with Cheesy Garlic Bread for a family potluck, and a well-deserved Oatmeal Bourbon Crème Pie to end the day.

The magic Epstein and Fuller weave leaves me feeling that there is nothing I would rather do than curl up under a blanket with a mug of Almond Joy Hot Cocoa in a chalet surrounded by mountain slopes covered in sparkling snow.

‘Après All Day’ is an ode to life in the mountains for food lovers, armchair travelers, skiers, hikers and anyone who lives in places with cold winters.

A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @ChronicleBooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
417 reviews12 followers
October 17, 2021
Living in a high altitude area with dozens of close ski resorts, I was intrigued with Après All Day: 65+ Cozy Recipes to Share with Family and Friends by Kelley Epstein. It hit home even more when I realized that I live in the same area as the author, so I paid attention to this excellent cookbook. Actually, I’m blown away by not only the recipes which are varied, unique, and mouthwatering, but also the beautiful photographs which are of the food (most of the recipes are pictured) and also the stunning ski areas.

One thing that is helpful is that every recipe includes directions for high altitude cooking, something that is necessary when you live in an area like this. The recipes are written in a succinct, easy-to-follow manner, and anyone – from beginning cooks to experienced cooks – can easily follow the recipes with spectacular results. Although not all of the recipes are quick and easy, they are doable and call for ingredients that are available at any grocery store – no requirement for making special trips to multiple places.

Anyone who plans to cook at a remote cabin near a ski resort, or who just lives in a high altitude area near snow will love this cookbook. The recipes turn out picture-perfect (I’ve already tried several and have a queue a mile long for new ones to try out), and they are recipes that real people actually will want to cook. This is one that will be used over and over. It also will make a great gift for ski bums everywhere.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
287 reviews
May 12, 2021
This book is perfect for those who love to ski or live in the mountains, and with its beautiful photos would make a great gift for a friend who loves skiing or mountain life. There are 65 recipes so its not overwhelming amount to read. There are seven sections, such as Morning Apres with breakfast recipes or Happy Hour Apres with quick and tasty snacks. The recipes for main meals seem to be geared toward seeing food as a healthy fuel and with a beautiful presentation. The snack sections, though, don't worry about healthy meals as much as fun and tasty treats after burning calories on the slopes. Tater Tot Nachos, I have my eyes on you! The book offers advice on adjusting the recipes for high altitude cooking, which is handy for the mountain dweller.

The author puts cute feature pages throughout the book, such as her favorite ski slopes, what to carry with you on the slopes, or ski terminology. But what I really thought was helpful were sections on the best winter or snow books to read and the best family movies to watch that have a winter theme.

I can see this book being a great staple for anyone who lives near the slopes, but for those of us that don't, the beautiful photos and cozy recipes can help us dream! Thanks to NetGalley, author Kelley Epstein, and the publisher for allowing me to preview this ARC.
Profile Image for Tanya R.
1,027 reviews32 followers
July 23, 2021
This book centers around great food in cold weather (although that isn’t a requirement!).

I love how Kelley has tied all of the recipes together with her and her families love of all things snow! Not only does she have simple, easy to follow recipes using normal ingredients you can find in any grocery store, she also provides interesting side chats for snow lovers – her favorite mountains to ski, fun things to do in the snow for the family, etc.

Some of my favorite recipes from the book (and there is a lot) are Early Bird Granola, Pumpkin Crumb-Top Muffins, No-Bake Snickers Granola Bars, BackCountry Banana Bread Cookies, Chairlift Chickpea Salad, Mulled Cranberry Mimosa and White Russians. (I'm basically licking my lips as I'm typing this review and it's summer....in Florida!)

The photographs are beautiful! Not just of the food but of the mountains and little ski towns. So pretty!

This would make a great Christmas gift for cooks/bakers that love winter and snow. It’s such a fun theme!


Thank you to #ChronicleBooks and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Opal Edgar.
Author 3 books10 followers
May 1, 2021
Loved the idea of that book - meals and dishes for skiing and when you are in the mountain, because cooking times are a little different in high altitude. There is even little hints here and there for the skiier going all day out, what to have with you, how to fight altitude sickness and all those kinds of things. The food is simple and hearty; the photos appetising. This is really a work of love and it strongly feels dedicated to the family of the cook.. I've only ever been in the mountain in Europe so the food was quite different there as in the book. It's quite interesting to see what people would have in America instead... but I must say I do miss the heavy melted cheese dishes and cured meats and things we can find in the Alpes.
I loved the drinks section at the end - because one of the big pleasures after a big day in the snow there is nothing better than a large hot mug of something milky and sweet and delicious.
A lovely home cooking book for the family wanting the classic American meals with a winter feel.
Profile Image for Johanna Sawyer.
3,473 reviews41 followers
May 6, 2021
Who doesn’t love comfort food especially after a day in the cold outdoors. This book really hit all the high notes with me. Friendly feel, great pictures, and great looking recipes!

What did I like? The nostalgia I feel when looking at a wintery theme cookbook makes me remember my childhood. We would spend all day outside and only come in long enough to fuel up. Snowboarding really took off in those years but I had zero balance back then. The recipes in this book though look amazing! From the granola to the sliders... count me in. I also loved all the little extras about altitude cooking, and hints about how to cope with altitude sickness. Such a friendly cookbook! Kudos to a great job!

Would I recommend or buy? Anyone with a snow cabin or guest house needs to store this on there shelf. Some fun and quick meals for some high altitude fun. I bookmarked a ton of recipes to try... sliders looked amazing! I would love a copy of this book! Five stars!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
Profile Image for Meghan.
2,469 reviews
July 8, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

While reading the description, I did not know what to expect from this book since I am not a big skier and I do not live in an area where there is high altitude. However, cooking at high altitude is something a foodie should have some knowledge about and I love Kelley Epstein's passion for skiing and cooking and it carries throughout the cookbook. All of the recipes sound so delicious and I love how she comes up with meals to have apres anytime of the day. I can't wait to try the gooey cinnamon rolls, the chocolate energy bites and the snickerdoodle coffee (since I just got back into coffee and will never come out). I can definitely see this cookbook being a potential cooking demo candidate and I know our library community will love it and the food.

We will consider adding this title to our TX Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
Profile Image for Alissa Avilov.
70 reviews2 followers
July 22, 2021
Apres All Day is a wonderful, cozy take on Alpine food. Everyone knows that one of the best parts of skiing is the après and this book takes that idea and turns it into a lifestyle. It is also a great resource for high altitude baking/cooking.

The photography in the book was really stunning - it transported me quickly to the cozy, mountain top and made me wish I could do a quick ski vacation in the middle of summer! I found the recipes and ingredients to be simple and accessible - these could be enjoyed by anyone. While I didn't find anything in the cookbook to be particularly new or out of the box, I think it offered great versions of recipes that can quickly become family favorites.

A few standouts for me included No-Bake Snickers Granola Bars, Bluebird Veggie Wraps (the sundried tomato spread got me excited about this), and Chairlift Chickpea Salad.

I appreciated that the recipes covered a range of light to heavy - this book definitely proved that mountain or cold weather food doesn't have to be heavy.
Profile Image for Brandi.
1,404 reviews35 followers
May 9, 2021
I love all the references to skiing! Living in Colorado and frequenting many of the ski towns, the idea of Apres is a familiar concept. I love the collection of recipes all in one place to pay homage to the idea of collecting family, friends, and food after a hard day on the slopes. Each recipe represents comfort and simplicity, both sentiments sought after a day in the snow. There really is something for everyone, any time of day. Thank you for pouring your heart and sharing your recipes in this excellent collection! I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.
673 reviews10 followers
May 31, 2021
I received Apres All Day as part of a NetGalley giveaway.

Apres All Day features recipes perfect for skiiers and winter sports enthusiasts to enjoy any time of day. Interspersed throughout are information and tips on hills, supplies, and terminology for those new to the hobby. The recipes tend to be on the easier side, even featuring tools like slow cookers, which is probably for the best if you're in a remote, snow-covered resort. Obviously, they also tend to be warm and hearty dishes, or snacks that are dense and pack a large nutritional punch. Even though I'm not a winter athlete, I'm looking forward to trying some of these out come fall and winter.
Profile Image for Virginia.
1,399 reviews28 followers
July 22, 2021
While this book is not for me*, I liked it. The recipes are varied, so there is something for everyone, and the ingredients are typical grocery items, nothing too weird. There's a lot more alcohol than I would have expected, but I'm not going to lie, some of those drinks look good. The photography throughout was gorgeous, but I would have liked fewer snow pictures and more food pictures. This would make a great book for a cabin.

*I live in the desert, I don't ski, and I have several dietary restrictions.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a digital review copy. Publish date August 3, 2021.
Profile Image for Lea.
2,841 reviews59 followers
January 2, 2023
If you love skiings, snowboarding or being at a ski condo, and you enjoy cooking or baking, this book is right up your ski lift. There are lots of multi page photos of skis and snowy scenery. It’s a beautiful book. For the most part the recipes have readily available ingredients and are not overly complicated.
There’s a lot of commentary, some recipes have more of her commentary than a recipe. Be prepared to be reminded you can burn off your food skiing. Occasionally there’s an additional comment about not needing to exercise to eat.
Profile Image for Kaitlin.
282 reviews8 followers
November 8, 2021
i have only been sking once, I didn't really like it, but I would like to be the type who owns a mountain lodge as I love winter.

This is an entire collection full of winter food, the kind I imagine you would like to have waiting for you after a long day on the slopes.

The recipes are easy to follow, and the photos accompanying them make everything feel so cozy. I'll be making some this winter and dreaming of snow storms.

I received a copy from Edelweiss+ all opinions are my own.
450 reviews
November 7, 2021
I love cookbooks! This one doesn’t disappoint. You don’t have to be a lover of winter or skiing. The recipes are not complicated and don’t require exotic ingredients. I’ve already made the stuffed mushrooms and they were a hit. The white chicken chili was great too.
I also love the photographs and the stories that go along with each recipe.
Profile Image for Ashley.
69 reviews6 followers
December 20, 2021
The first cookbook I’ve read cover to cover. Beautiful visuals and story telling through out. I love that that author makes a point to never use hard to find or excessively expensive ingredients. This collection of recipes is cozy and comforting. Definitely has me in the nostalgic feelings of coming in to eat after a day playing in the snow. Highly recommend & great gift for the winter lover!
Profile Image for Melissa Borsey.
1,888 reviews38 followers
May 3, 2021
The author had me at-Gooey Cinnamon Rolls, Latte and a good book! Lots of cozy comfort foods and a wonderful Kitchen Sink Skillet cookie recipe that was absolutely devoured! Beautiful pictures of the food and winter scenes too. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this cookbook.
1 review
October 4, 2021
Interesting Recipes

Lots of recipes I look forward to trying this ski season, but I also enjoyed the author’s engaging/encouraging writer’s style, which read more like a book than just a cookbook of recipes.
Profile Image for Christine.
134 reviews
September 2, 2023
Beautifully photographed and including sprinkles of mountain-living wisdom and high-altitude tips. I'm not a snow-sports kind of gal, but I do live in a cold climate, so there are many recipes here that are perfect "apres" or comfort foods. Especially after shoveling two feet of snow.
Profile Image for Juli Anna.
3,221 reviews
February 26, 2025
While these recipes were mostly a little heavy for my taste, I couldn't get enough of Epstein's unique authorial voice. Her enthusiasm for snowboarding was so infectious! I haven't seen another cookbook with quite this point of view or zeal.
341 reviews3 followers
May 10, 2021
lots of amazing hearty and heathy recipes to keep you warm. Lots of great sky lingo and photos would have loved more food photos. The recipes I tried worked great.
Profile Image for Michelle.
368 reviews11 followers
June 8, 2021
Thank you Net Galley for the copy. This is a great little book of recipes. Some would even work on a summer day, but most will be wonderful in cold weather.
Profile Image for Mary C.
763 reviews
November 7, 2021
WOW! I don't ski but I will make many of these recipes this winter. What a good idea to basically take a ski house full of memories and write a recipe book!
Profile Image for Beka.
2,949 reviews
October 24, 2024
Though I've never been skiing, the food in here looks yummy enough for anyone. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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