The Modern Proper: Simple Dinners for Every Day

by Holly Erickson, Natalie Mortimer

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“Simple and elegant is the name of the game here. Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer have created the ultimate use-everyday cookbook…If the veggie-forward, ‘ beautiful, make-able ’ recipes don't convince [you] to dive in, the luscious photography surely will.” — Food & Wine

Get the most out of your time in the kitchen with these 100 fast, instant-classic dinners that everyone will love.

For pretty much everyone, life gets busy—but you still want to cook up a good meal, ideally one that’s accessible, efficient, and doesn’t sacrifice any of the delicious flavors you love. The creators of the popular website The Modern Proper are all about that weeknight dinner, and now, they’re showing you how to reinvent what proper means and be smarter with your time in the kitchen to create meals which will bring friends and family together at the table.

The Modern Proper will expand your “go-to” list and help you become a more intuitive, creative cook. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, a busy parent or a workaholic, this book will arm you with tools, tricks, and shortcuts to get dinner on the table. Every ingredient is easy to find, plus you’ll find plenty of swaps and options throughout. Each of the 100 recipes (some all-time fan favorites and many brand-new) includes prep time, cook time, and quick-reference tags.

These include:
-Stuffed Chicken Breast with Mozzarella and Creamy Kale
-Stir-Fried Pork Cutlets with Buttermilk Ranch
-Sweet Cider Scallops with Wilted Spinach
-Tofu Enchiladas with Red Sauce
-And more!

With recipes to feed a crowd, an entrée for every palate, a whole chapter of meatballs, and plenty of pantry essentials, The Modern Proper is the new essential cookbook for any and all food lovers.

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

304 pages, Hardcover

Published April 5, 2022

Reviews

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Modern Proper has been one of my favorite food blogs for years, and this cookbook lives up to everything I hoped it would be! Their recipes are vibrant and full of flavor, without being too complex or hard to attempt. I love how easy to understand their recipes are, and also I love the photos that go along with them. For me, it is so much easier to attempt a recipe when I can see a photo of what the finished product is supposed to look like. If you are looking for a new cookbook that is packed full of flavor, but also not too complicated to try on a busy weeknight - grab this one! The "Creamy Tortellini Soup With Sausage & Kale" is INCREDIBLE. I've made it multiple times and is always a crowd pleaser! Can't wait to cook more of these recipes.

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon Element for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[MookNana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire anyone for whom this would be a weeknight cookbook, but that for sure isn't me! As a solidly middle-class Midwestern girl, these recipes are more of what I would consider "weekend" or "company" recipes, and aspirational ones at that. Trying almost any of the recipes I read would require a trip to the store for ingredients I don't usually have on hand, but the effort might be worth it. This is not simple or traditional fare, but would be fun for someone looking to change things up or experiment with a new style of cooking.

As a cookbook, this is well-organized and functional. Ingredient lists and instructions are clear, recipes that cater to special diets/nutritional needs are marked, and there are attractive pictures of the finished product for nearly every item. Foodies and/or intermediate and advanced home cooks may find a lot to enjoy here.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the look of the book, and the photography was beautiful and really made the dishes jump off of the page. However, there were very few recipes that I would actually make myself. There were too many ingredients that my family doesn't like, or aren't readily available to me where I live. I do think that there are people who will love this cookbook and use it frequently. It just isn't me.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Modern Proper is somehow exactly the cookbook I want right this very minute. Flipping through the recipes at first I kept saying to myself "yes, this" over and over. I want to make it all! Some of the recipes are more idea than recipe (I don't need to be told exactly how to roast veggies), but the gorgeous photography made me pull out a half sheet pan and get roasting immediately. And add the delicious sauces and sides that the recipes provide to amp up otherwise simple ideas. Every beef recipe gets a nod from me, plus most of the vegetarian ideas at the start of the book. I can always convince my picky eater to go for meatballs, and the fact that there's a whole section just for meatballs is too perfect.

I'm off to make myself some soup from one of the recipes, or possibly the braised chickpea toast. Hope you enjoy this cookbook full of simple delicious and beautiful recipes as much as I do!

[Leith Devine]

This is a wonderful cookbook! The recipes are delicious and the pictures ma me want to lick the page!
Even the toast and grilled cheese are interesting and easy enough for a family dinner. Many of the recipes can be made on a sheet pan!
I’ve ordered my hard copy already, 5 stars!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

[Emmalita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visually, Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer’s The Modern Proper is stunning. If what you really like about cookbooks is looking at the pretty pictures, get this cookbook. That’s a valid reason to buy a cookbook. If, however, you want a cookbook that helps you put delicious dinners on the table on a weeknight, this one is a maybe.

But first, full disclosure. The publisher sent me three chapters out of eight, so I can’t give an opinion of the whole book, only on Meatless, Pork and Beef, and Soup. I haven’t read the introduction, the section labeled essentials, or Things for Dipping, Spreading, and Dressing which appears to have some of the recipes you are supposed to incorporate into other recipes, like the Romesco Sauce and the Everything Bagel Seasoning.

There are things I like very much about the cookbook. Every recipe has a tag at the top to let you know if it’s gluten free, dairy free, kid friendly, etc. I really like that most of the recipes in the sections given to me incorporate vegetables. That’s important for a book aiming to make getting dinner on the table on a weeknight easier. And I appreciated the unapologetic use of convenience short cuts like canned beans and jarred sauce. And I really appreciated that there was a section on meatless meals that were not labeled as “sides.”

Where things fell flat for me were the actual recipes I tried.

From the Meatless section, I made the Spicy Unstuffed Pasta Shells with Roasted Garlic and Chèvre. I am not supposed to eat dairy, but I love chèvre and I decided to use slightly less cheese than the recipe called for. This was my favorite of the recipes I made. It was tasty and reasonably easy. I don’t have a problem with the recipe calling for roasted garlic. Where it gets weird is the discussion about how easy it is to buy roasted garlic at the olive bar at the grocery store. Two things about that. I haven’t seen an olive bar at a grocery store since March 2020 (when Covid-19 was elevated to pandemic status). I don’t recall seeing roasted garlic at any olive bar at any grocery store before the pandemic. I saw pickled garlic, but pickled garlic and roasted garlic are very different things. While there are no directions for roasting garlic in the recipe, how to roast garlic is explained in a recipe for Creamy Broccoli Soup with Roasted Garlic. I had roasted garlic on hand, because I love roasted garlic. If the authors didn’t rely on an ingredient that isn’t readily available, I would give this recipe an A.

The next recipe I tried gets a solid B. Everything Bagel Sausage Fried Rice is a great idea, but the rice is under seasoned making the whole dish bland. I used a standard smoked sausage, which is pretty salty, and since I didn’t have access to the authors’ recipe for Everything Bagel seasoning, I used HEB’s Bagel Not Included seasoning. It has salt in it, but I don’t know how it compares to the recipe in the finished cookbook. Fried rice is great, but there is a reason that other fried rice recipes add soy sauce to the rice while it’s cooking. Cooked rice, especially the days old, leftover rice the recipe calls for, is bland. If the rice isn’t seasoned properly, it doesn’t matter that the sausage is flavorful. Unless you like bland food. And if you do, that’s fine and you will probably like this dish better than I did.

The last recipe I tried gets a D minus. I had some really nice homemade chicken stock in the freezer so I decided to try one of the chicken soup recipes. The Turmeric Chicken Noodle Soup sounded the most appealing. I like turmeric and noodles. The initial step of sautéing green onions, cilantro stems and ginger as the flavor base looked delicious. I don’t know if I had incredibly potent turmeric or if there’s a typo in the recipe, but that was too much turmeric. By the time I got to the bottom of my bowl, everything tasted like turmeric. It was different textures of turmeric flavored things. Someday, I’m going to make that soup again, but I’m going to use much much less turmeric, because I still like chicken soup, noodles, and turmeric. Next time I hope to taste some of the ginger and garlic.

If you already like recipes from The Modern Proper website, you will probably like this cookbook. If you are unfamiliar with the site, as I was, maybe try some recipes from the site before buying the book. Again, if you like cookbooks for their pictures (valid), this would be a great cookbook.

I’m still waiting for someone to write a cookbook for busy weeknights that excites me.

I received selection of The Modern Proper in advance from Simon Element via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, and Simon Element for the sample of the book The Modern Proper. This is my personal review.
The sample pages of this wonderful cookbook make me look forward to getting the book when it is out for sale on April 5, 2022.
The photos in the cookbook make the food jump off the pages!
This sample had so many recipes I can not wait to make.
I found so many I can not wait to make for my family.
Stuffed spaghetti squash with lentil walnut Bolognese, spicy unstuffed pasta shells, crispy pork lettuce wraps, skillet fried pork cutlets and sweet and sticky pork with asparagus just to name a few. When I make these for my family, they will think I have become a top-notch chef!
This is a cookbook I would give to family and friends as a gift for their cookbook collections. I will be adding this to my own personal collection.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars. I’d never heard of these authors, let alone their blog/social media, so I was a little skeptical when I started this one. The whole concept was easy, elevated weeknight dinners and, for someone who does their weeknight cooking on the weekend, I was side eyeing like woah.

But, as I read on, the recipes actually looking doable, interestingly seasoned (I hate cookbooks that rely on little to no seasonings), and pretty tasty.

I mean…there’s a whole chapter on meatballs. Instant 4 stars right there.

Will be purchasing a copy for my ridiculously large cookbook collection.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Modern Proper: Simple Dinners for Every Day by Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer is currently scheduled for release on April 5 2022. For pretty much everyone, life gets busy—but you still want to cook up a good meal. Ideally a meal that is accessible, efficient, and doesn’t sacrifice any of the delicious flavors you love. This book can expand your “go-to” list and help you become a more intuitive, creative cook. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, a busy parent or a workaholic, this book will arm you with tools, tricks, and shortcuts to get dinner on the table. Every ingredient is easy to find, plus you’ll find plenty of swaps and options throughout. Each of the 100 recipes (some all-time fan favorites and many brand-new) includes prep time, cook time, and quick-reference tags. Recipes include: Stuffed Chicken Breast with Mozzarella and Creamy Kale, Stir-Fried Pork Cutlets with Buttermilk Ranch, Sweet Cider Scallops with Wilted Spinach, Tofu Enchiladas with Red Sauce, and more.

The Modern Proper is a well organized and comprehensive cookbook. I found that the descriptions, instructions, and suggestions were all well thought out and written. I like that the recipes leave plenty of room for home cooks to use the vegetables and ingredients that work best for their family. The recipes are pretty varied and do use mostly common, or at least readily available, ingredients for those that have good supermarkets accessible to them. There were several recipes that I would love to try for an adult only meal. However, I have to admit that I found most of the meals a little to involved and fussy for my house, aside from special occasions. For those that love cooking and entertaining, or have the family interest in trying new foods, this would be a great cookbook. I enjoyed looking at the photographs, and gleaned a few tips and inspirations, but this is not a book that would be added to my personal library. I think there are people that love to cook like this, and I think they will love this book and have the time and resources to put the recipes inside to good use.

[HollyLovesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have reviewed several cookbooks and this one is unique and gorgeous.
First of all, the recipes are interesting and different from standard cookbooks. This maybe attractive to the more adventurous cook, but even those who are less inclined to go out of their safety zone, these recipes can be adapted using more typical ingredients. I noticed that many of the recipes had at least one ingredient that would be hard to find in a typical, rural grocery store. This could be a barrier for some and it would have been nice for more ideas for substitutions for these ingredients. Despite this, I think many cooks would be able to adapt to change an ingredient or seek out an ingredient if not typically available.
That being said, the lay-out of the cookbook is beautiful and usefully arranged. I enjoyed the recipe lay-out and the photos to accompany them. The photography alone is stunning, even appearing fabulous on a tablet reader. I also appreciated the incorporation of ideas and flavors or styles of cooking in a single recipe. This makes so many of these recipes more inclusive for many different people. I can’t wait to try these recipes for myself and see if they taste as great as they sound and look!
I can’t wait to see the finished edition and highly recommend!

#TheModernProper #Netgalley #SimonElement

[Karen Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

The well-known Modern Proper duo, Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer, recently released an excellent cookbook, The Modern Proper: Simple Dinners for Every Day which showcases their fun menus and easy dinners that everyone will want to prepare for their families. This cookbook has dozens of great recipes that will entice almost everyone, especially since most of the recipes are easy-to-follow and put together.

The recipes are written in the traditional manner, and anyone can follow them – beginning cooks up to advanced cooks. There are no desserts, but plenty of the important chapters: Eggs, Meatless, Chicken, Pork and Beef, Seafood, Meatballs, Soup, and Things for Dipping, Spreading, and Dressing.

There are beautiful photographs of almost all of the recipes, making it difficult to decide which recipe to prepare next. The recipes utilize some of the trendy ingredients such as quinoa, chickpeas, etc., to make them fit with modern tastes and nutritional leanings.

All told, this is an excellent cookbook, and contains recipes that most families will enjoy. The recipes will appeal to both children and adults, and kids will probably go through the book and choose dishes they want to eat. This cookbook is a nice addition to any good cookbook collection.


Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

[Evan Taksar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cookbook was excellent! The photos are bright and delicious looking, the recipes are easy to read and the ingredients are easy to source. I made three recipes from this book: the pan-fried polenta with tomatoes and burrata, the skillet pepperoni pizza with blistered tomatoes, and the crispy pork lettuce wraps. All three were quality recipes that were quick to make and very delicious.

My only question is: what makes this book different than the thousand other "easy weeknight dinner" books? I was frustrated by the fact that all of these recipes seem to be different versions of the same recipes that I have seen in numerous cookbooks of this type over the years. Now that's not the author's fault of course, but it did make me wonder what the added value of a cookbook like this would be on my shelf. I think, if I was someone who did not already own 40+ cookbooks then I would really like this one -- it's easy to use, easy to read, didn't make me feel intimidated in the kitchen. But for an experienced home cook I think this book would feel a little redundant. I'm not sure I would buy this book for myself, but I would probably buy it for someone who is moving into their first apartment.

[Genesee Area Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a sample e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

This book looks like it's going to be huge, and I LOVE thick cook books.
There are several sections from meatless to meatballs. An entire section on just meatballs. What's not to love there?
The pictures are beautiful and it appears to be formatted well. I really enjoyed the couple of recipes titled "clean out the fridge" and "clean out the pantry" as I often do just that before shopping for groceries again.
In the sampling that I was able to view, most of the ingredients would be easy to find which is a plus for when you like in the middle of no where like I do. While I love to make a fancy meal on occasion, it can be difficult for me to source uncommon ingredients.
Nothing seemed really odd or off the wall either. Lots of basic that most people would enjoy unless they were super picky eaters. A lot of fresh ingredients too which is a big plus with me.
Overall, I'm adding it to my "need to buy" list.

[Pamela Lamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nowadays, it's just the two of us, but I still love to experiment in the kitchen. And this cookbook—with stunning photography—introduced me to new and trending ingredients and fare. For example, when I served the simple gribiche—a cucumber, egg, olive concoction—we didn't want our meal to end.

Arriving in bookstores in April, THE MODERN PROPER is stuffed with healthy dinner ideas and meals packed with vegetables and grains. Saucy Grilled Cheese with Asparagus? Yes, please! Curried Cauliflower Quinoa Salad with Tahini Yogurt Dressing? Wholesome, impressive, and delicious. And the Summer Steak Salad will be a go-to any time of the year.

A huge thank you to Simon Element for this advance copy. Since I only received a portion of the cookbook, I look forward to seeing more!

[Penmouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Modern Proper by Holly Ericson and Natalie Mortimer is a cookbook that contains updated modern recipes. You will find a wide variety or recipes that ranges from Meatless to recipes that use proteins such as chicken, pork, beef and seafood. The photos beautifully feature recipes. Some of the recipes you'll find include:

Any Roasted Veggie with Romesco Sauce
Spicy Unstuffed Pasta Shells with Roasted Garlic and Chevre
Skillet Pepperoni Pizza with Blistered Tomatoes
Skillet-Fried Pork Cutlets with Buttermilk Ranch
Garlic Butter Steak Stir-Fry with Snap Peas
Mom's Nachos

Review written after receiving a modified galley from NetGalley. Some of the information was omitted to provide better ARC images.

Recommend

[Johanna Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever want to impress someone with a gorgeous yet flavorful meal but you don’t want to slave over a stove for hours? Then this book is definitely for you. This is a huge.....huge...cookbook. From meatless meals to mains with a ton of pictures. The cookbook has a Mediterranean food feel to it but a ton of gorgeous recipes that look amazing. It also helps you distinguish between a vegetarian dish, or gluten, or family friendly. I bookmarked a bunch a recipes to try since I’m heavily invested in bowl meals. Five star dining in my future!

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and voluntarily left my opinion.

[Kelly Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I’m excited about adding this beautiful cookbook to my collection, would be a vast understatement. The ladies behind The Modern Proper have put together a collection of recipes that you will love…over and over again! Several of my very favorite, tried and true, recipes from over the years are Modern Proper recipes, and they are absolutely fabulous! Pick up a copy for you, for a friend, for the seasoned cook, or even the beginner - no one will be disappointed! From family classics, to new flavor combos, to creative cooking solutions, this cookbook is a hit! (A huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Modern Proper: Simple Recipes Meant to be Shared!)

[Gina Zappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folks...there is an olive, egg & feta situation happening in here that you know I need in my lil Greek girl mouth very badly! There is also a ton of other recipes that I can't wait to try, but like, olives come first right? Always. If you like to spice up your life, like myself, then you should have a well stocked spice rack to pull from. That being said, you should have almost everything to make most of these dishes. I like that. No hunt for a random flower petal you can only find on a mountain halfway across the world. A win. This went straight into my amazon cart to add to my always growing collection of cookbooks.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook left me feeling excited to get into the kitchen and cook something! The recipes are realistic and super tasty sounding…an entire section with just meatballs?! Yes please! I did find the prep times to be a little….optimistic but overall the recipes seemed like things I could absolutely make for my household. The blurbs before the recipes were also also charming and fun to read and I learned a few techniques.

Thank you to Net Gallery and Element publishing for some sample pages of this cookbook in exchange for my honest review.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon Element and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this cookbook.

The Modern Proper is a cookbook for busy people who still like to eat well. I only received a partial copy of this book to review, but from what I read, the recipes look fairly easy to make but seem very tasty. I’m particularly interested in the Detroit style pizza that you can make in a cast iron pan. There are a lot of vegetarian recipes to appeal to both vegetarians and people who would like to eat meat free sometimes. I’m curious to read the finished product to see the rest of the recipes!

[Erin Hoyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited for The Modern Proper cookbook! I made Spicy Salmon Chowder, Steak Sandwiches with Horseradish Mayo, and Skillet Pepperoni Pizza (my pictures of the recipes I tried on IG @erinmasonhoyt). All of the meals were delicious, great portion size, and were easy to make. Each recipe was delicately and intentionally seasoned which let the flavor of the main ingredients shine! I will definitely be pre-ordering The Modern Proper and can’t wait to try more! Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element for the ARC!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good cookbook, but overhyped. It's beautifully laid out, with lots of lifestyle pics of the authors - since they aren't otherwise famous, I was a little confused by this. The recipes are straightforward, and times are accurate. For me, since most of the cooking time is active, these are more like weekend recipes. But there are some creative ideas here, and they leave room for improvisation (like if you're using up ingredients). And I really appreciated the chapter on eggs.

Good cookbook (would have been 4 stars, but no nutritional info), but not great.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite interested in these recipes because there are some that are vegetarian and I have a good friend who is vegetarian and I needed some good recipes…yet I didn’t want just a cookbook with Vegetarian recipes. Now I have a cookbook that has quite a few recipes that will make everyone happy.

Filled with yummy recipes and easy to follow instructions, you’ll be cooking something yummy in no time! If you can read and follow instructions, YOU CAN COOK with these recipes.

[Boz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became a fan of the food blog, The Modern Proper, through Pinterest years ago, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was an upcoming cookbook from the duo of Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer. My favorite thing about their recipes are that they are accessible, appetizing, and easy to make and the photography is beautiful. It’s rare to find a cookbook where I want to cook every single recipe and this book has it all.

[Nicole N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book based on their blog and was a bit disappointed. The book is beautiful to be sure and had many recipes I’d be interested in making, but most of the recipes I’m interested in this book I have such similar recipes in other beloved cookbooks I already own I just couldn’t justify purchasing this one. There just wasn’t really in here that I don’t already have a similar recipe for. I hope they do another book, containing some of the most popular recipes from their blog.

[Karen Hogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The positives - the book was well laid out, the ingredient lists and instructions were clear with items I stock in my pantry. The recipes were marked to indicate dietary requirements like gluten free or dairy free.

The negatives - I’m an experienced cook and I found many of the noted cooking times underestimated what was actually required. The recipes I tried lacked any real depth of flavour for my family’s liking and I didn’t find any of the recipes to be standouts.

[Drea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love when a cookbook is well-organized, filled with photographs of the finished product, and loaded with tips and tricks to make even me, an amateur home, cook, feel prepared. I loved that the recipes pushed the envelope a bit for me. I felt inspired. Love the veg-forwardness of the recipes and I’m certain I will wear out the pages of this gorgeous cookbook. Thanks to S&S/Simon Element for this copy - what a gift.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recipes I'd like to try from this book:
- Migas Breakfast Tacos
- Baked Eggs w Green Olives and Feta
- Jammy Eggs on Lentils w Wilted Greens
- Eggs w Crispy Green Onion Rice & Nori (p. 53)
- Caraway Roast Chicken over Cabbage (p. 134)
- Everything Bagel Sausage Fried Rice (p. 169)
- White Fish in Orange Butter Sauce (p. 186)
- Not Your Mother's Tuna Casserole (p. 199)
- Miso Ginger Meatballs w Cabbage (p. 215)
- Pork Meatball Bowl w Mojo Sauce (p. 227)

[Robyn Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My go-to at the moment for freshening up the weekly dinner menu. I love that most things are usually what we already buy, and if needed, a few substitutions are easy to find. Love the tamale pie (a fun way to sneak in some quinoa I wouldn’t have thought of, the kids and our friends loved it and it was even better the next day). We’ve also enjoyed the unstuffed shells (added green press for extra fiber) and the nori rice with egg.

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the Simon Element and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of this book. The photos make the food very appetizing. Since this is a sample, I’m looking forward to getting the complete published copy in April 2022. I enjoyed looking through the recipes and am looking forward to sampling a few. Overall, a great cookbook to have and give as a gift.