Good Things Cookbook Review

Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: A Cookbook

Samin Nosrat’s Good Things Cookbook is a warm, generous, and deeply personal guide to cooking that feels like sharing a meal with a trusted friend.

Following the phenomenal success of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Samin brings together 125 recipes that are meticulously tested, flavorful, and infused with the joy and soulfulness she is known for. This is a cookbook that doesn’t just teach you how to cook—it reminds you why we cook in the first place.

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A Journey into Good Things

From the very first pages, Good Things sets the tone with an introduction and “Rules of Thumb” that feel less like prescriptive lessons and more like a trusted friend sharing hard-earned wisdom.

Samin organizes her book into playful, memorable sections—“Good things come in small packages,” “Good things take time,” “All good things come to an end”, each blending a mix of practical cooking advice, recipes, and life philosophy.

What makes this journey compelling is how the chapters flow like conversations in her kitchen. You start small, with condiments and pantry staples that transform everyday cooking, and move through hospitality, communal meals, breads, and sweets.

The structure itself reflects the ethos of the book: good food doesn’t happen in isolation; it unfolds in layers, moments, and rituals that connect people to one another.

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The Recipes

At the heart of Good Things are more than 125 recipes that are as approachable as they are inspiring.

‍Samin balances comforting classics, like yellow cake with chocolate frosting or tomato soup, with imaginative creations such as saffron roast chicken or ricotta custard pancakes.

The table of contents reveals the breadth of her vision: condiments and toppings to spark creativity, versatile dressings used in three ways, pressure-cooker essentials, and celebratory dishes meant for sharing.

What stands out is the versatility and adaptability of the recipes. Each one feels carefully tested yet open-ended, inviting readers to explore rather than follow blindly.

Sections like “Good things to keep up your sleeve” highlight her gift for teaching how to make the most of pantry staples, while “Good things are better shared” reminds us that food is at its best when enjoyed in company. It’s this balance of practical utility and emotional resonance that elevates the recipes from instructions to experiences.

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The Heart of the Book

While the recipes are undoubtedly the backbone, the true heart of Good Things cookbook lies in its message: cooking is an act of generosity and connection.

Samin frames recipes not as ends in themselves but as rituals that endure because they are shared, passed down, and reinterpreted. Her voice, warm and encouraging, infuses every page with a sense of presence, as though she’s cooking right alongside you.

This philosophy shines in chapters like “Good things take time,” where the patience of yeasted breads and waffles becomes a metaphor for slowing down and embracing process. And in “All good things come to an end,” the closing chapter of sweet recipes, Samin leaves readers with the sense that food, like life, is meant to be savored.

Ultimately, Good Things is more than a cookbook; it’s a reminder that what we bring to the table goes beyond ingredients—it’s love, care, and the joy of sharing.

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Final Thoughts

Good Things cookbook is as practical as it is inspiring, filled with recipes you’ll return to again and again, but also with the kind of wisdom that lingers long after the meal is over.

Samin’s warmth, generosity, and eye for detail make this more than a cookbook, it’s a companion for anyone who believes food is about connection as much as flavor. If Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, taught us how to cook, Good Things reminds us why we love to.