Cooking with the Stars

It’s nice to know that when stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Eva Longoria and Trisha Yearwood aren’t walking the red carpet or singing to arena-size crowds, more often than not, they’re at home cooking. Curious to know what they’ve got simmering on the stove? These cookbooks are worth the price of admission and offer an inside peek into their lives. Beyonce was rumored to be penning a soul-food cookbook, but sadly, her rep denied it. Until then, these cookbooks offer some great inspiration.

Eva's Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends

($29.99; Clarkson Potter)

This lady is anything but desperate when it comes to cooking. Judging from the contents of her cookbook, Eva Longoria is a culinary goddess with Latin flair. The Desperate Housewives star takes you on a journey through her life, from the food she was brought up eating on a ranch in Texas to the dishes enjoyed on her world travels to last-minute pre–red carpet meals. Like many cooks, her family’s background inspired her love of Mexican cooking, Texas style. The book includes 100 recipes and techniques for making tamales, homemade tortillas, Spanish rice, and pan de polvo (a Mexican pastry), as well as her international favorites, such as Cannellini Beans with Crushed Red Pepper and Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Kimchi. No need to worry about fancy or mysterious ingredients—Longoria believes good cooking relies on local, fresh, easy-to-find foods.

My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness

($30; Grand Central Life & Style)

There’s not much Gwyneth Paltrow can’t do—act, sing, dress to the nines—and now cooking is assuredly added to that list. Inspired by her late father’s love of cooking and good food, Paltrow’s cookbook shares her favorite family recipes along with personal stories of growing up with her father, Bruce Paltrow, a renowned TV writer. The actress and mother of two discusses how her father influenced her in the kitchen and in life and how she keeps food delicious yet healthful, especially for her kids. The 150 recipes span an array of cuisines, from Slow Roasted Tomato Soup, Vegetable Paella and Turkey BLTs to Spiced Apple Crumb Muffins and Fudgy Chocolate Brownies. The actress also provides helpful tips for ingredients to stock and techniques to know. The book, as you would expect from her stylistic influence, is gorgeous to look at. She even offers alternate versions of recipes, like four different toppings for Chicken Milanese or gluten-free versions of her mother’s amazing blueberry muffins.

Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen: Recipes from My Family to Yours

($29.95; Clarkson Potter)

Trisha Yearwood has not forgotten her humble roots in Georgia, even after years as a recording star in Nashville and wife to legendary country singer Garth Brooks. It’s clear she adores feeding her loved ones, particularly with Southern comfort-food favorites. Her collection of more than 120 recipes combine classic comfort with a contemporary twist, such as the hearty Gwen’s Fried Chicken with Milk Gravy and Breakfast Sausage Casserole and sweet treats Blackberry Cobbler and Banana Pudding. Yearwood also takes you along for the ride with stories from her life, practical advice, time-saving tips and creative ingredient substitutions.
—Denise Shoukas

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