How can you make a meal at home with your spouse feel special?

"It is always the company that makes any good meal special," says Jefferies. "However, to enhance that special occasion I always dress the table with a lovely table cloth or leave the wooden table top exposed with pretty floral napkins and a small vase with flowers cut from the garden. You could use clear glasses for wine so you can see the colour and coloured glasses for water like those from Katie Alice . If the weather allows, alfresco dining with candles or beside a fire is always very romantic, and with your favourite and personalized playlist on the speaker, you can enjoy the nostalgia and memories together of places been and time gone by."

What are the cooking staples every newlywed couple should have in their kitchen?

"A newlywed couple, I believe, should have a large, heavy-based casserole dish for making those heavenly, seasonal stews," explains Jefferies. "Perhaps a simple and personalized cocktail shaker, so you can make up your own debut signature cocktail for your friends and family. A set of sharp knives makes work in the kitchen much lighter, and a glorious picnic hamper with a blanket makes for a well-received gift."

What are the best meals for couples to learn to cook together?

"Marcus Coleman, the CEO of Seafish says in For The Love Of The Sea , 'Over the years, seafood has been viewed as a food source that possessed mystical powers; oysters in particular, it is claimed, helped legendary 18th-century lover Casanova,'" Jefferies says. "Other romantic food includes caviar, chocolate, lobster, strawberries, artichoke hearts, venison, cheese, and truffles, however, I recommend any recipe that includes your most favourite food to be the best for exploring and learning. There are some delicious and very friendly and accessible recipes in For The Love Of The Land and For The Love Of The Sea . There are beautiful and delicate starters and puddings along with cakes, bakes, and crowd-pleasing mains. Suitable for home cooks of any skill level, this growing collection of story/cookbooks is also the perfect read for anyone who is interested in where their food comes from. For The Love of the Land II captures the UK’s current interest in the provenance of our ingredients, and supporting our local farmers–who in turn look after their environments–has never been more crucial."

The 30 Best Cookbooks for Newlyweds of 2022

female couple cooking in kitchen — Stocksy

We all love picking up takeout sometimes, but one of the many perks of living with your significant other is making and sharing homemade meals together. There's no better time to get cooking than after your wedding—you're settling in and testing out all the new cookware and kitchen gadgets from your registry! Whether the two of you are seasoned home chefs or just starting out in the kitchen, cookbooks can offer you step-by-step guides to producing all sorts of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. You'll start to collect an arsenal of favorite recipes that you can whip out for everything from romantic date nights to family brunches.

"A relationship is always nurtured with time and effort from both parties. Whether you’re newlyweds, a parent with a child, good friends, or some family, cooking and sharing life together in the kitchen can be very tactile, joyful, and a celebration of learning and discovery for everyone," says award-winning cookbook author Jenny Jefferies. "Cooking with love provides food for the soul and as Virginia Wolf once said, 'one cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.'"

When looking for a cookbook that's right for you and your spouse, first consider your level of experience in the kitchen. If you need to master the basics, like poaching an egg or roasting a chicken, go with an option that offers simple everyday recipes to get you started. Then, look for flavors and types of food that appeal to both you and your partner so you can experiment together with tastes you love.

To help satisfy your stomachs and spice up your date nights, we've researched various cookbooks that are perfect for all kinds of couples. For nutritious meals packed with flavor, our favorite picks are Whole Food Cooking Every Day and Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables. Craving something sweet? We love Momofuku Milk Bar.

Meet the Expert

Jenny Jefferies is an award-winning author of the story/cookbook series, For the Love of the Land, For the Love of the Land II, and For the Love of the Sea, which celebrates British farmers and the British seafood community.

Read on for the best cookbooks for newlyweds.

Our Top Picks

Best for British Classics:

For the Love of the Land at Amazon

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Best Heirloom Classic:

Joy of Cooking at Food52

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Best Wedding Gift:

The Newlywed Cookbook at Amazon

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Best for Basics:

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat at Amazon

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Best for Laid-back Dinner Parties:

Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes at Amazon

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Best for the Instant Pot:

The Instant Pot Bible at Amazon

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Best for Farm to Table Food:

Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables at Amazon

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Best for Entertaining:

Batch Cocktails at Amazon

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Best for #Couplegoals:

Cooking for Jeffrey at Amazon

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Best for Healthy Recipes:

Whole Food Cooking Every Day at Amazon

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Courtesy of Paul Gregory Photography.

The 30 Best Cookbooks for Newlyweds of 2022

Best for British Classics: For the Love of the Land

Best Heirloom Classic: Joy of Cooking

Best Wedding Gift: The Newlywed Cookbook

Best for Basics: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking

Best for Laid-back Dinner Parties: Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes

Best for the Instant Pot: The Instant Pot Bible

Best for Farm to Table Food: Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables

Best for Entertaining: Batch Cocktails: Make-Ahead Pitcher Drinks for Every Occasion

Best for #Couplegoals: Cooking for Jeffrey: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

Best for Healthy Recipes: Whole Food Cooking Every Day

Best for Weeknight Meals: Half Baked Harvest Super Simple Cookbook: More Than 125 Recipes for Instant, Overnight, Meal-Prepped, and Easy Comfort Foods

Ten Speed Press Jerusalem: A Cookbook

Best Coffee Table Book: Foxfire Living

Best for Family Gatherings: Magnolia Table

Best Old-School Classic: Mastering the Art of French Cooking

Best for Creative Inspiration: Modernist Cuisine

Best for Mexican Food: Made in Mexico: Classic And Contemporary Recipes From Mexico City

Best Unexpected Option: From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg's Kitchen

Best for Unusual Desserts: Momofuku Milk Bar

Best for Indian Food: Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cooking

Best for Science Lovers: The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science

Best for Scandinavian Food: Aska

Best for Comfort Food: The Dude Diet Dinnertime: 125 Clean(ish) Recipes for Weeknight Winners and Fancypants Dinners

Best for Learning Skills: Jacques Pépin New Complete Techniques

Best for Southern Food: Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits

Best for Ice Cream: Salt and Straw Ice Cream Cookbook

Best for Italian Food: Lidia’s Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine

Best for Asian Food: Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes

Best For Detoxing: Clean Eats

Best for Spanish Food: Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America

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