***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries***
We might be experts at installing toilets and painting cabinets, but in the kitchen we welcome all the help we can get. That’s why we were so excited when our giveaway sponsor, America’s Test Kitchen, sent us a preview copy of their newest cookbook and offered several copies for readers. The book, called “Cooking for Two,” arrived just in time to inspire a weeknight dinner and a few new tricks to try out at home.
As the amateur cook in the Young House Love household, I started by scanning the book for recipes that felt approachable for a novice. A highlight for me was that every recipe is already scaled for two people—no mental math required—and each entry is paired with clear, practical background information. The book doesn’t just list ingredients and steps; it explains why certain choices work best: why a particular salt level or cooking temperature matters, how ingredient texture influences the final dish, and what simple techniques make a big difference. Reading those notes taught me small but useful things, like the proper way to shred basil so it retains flavor and texture.
Armed with that confidence, I tackled the Crunchy Baked Pork Chops with Aioli (page 79) over the weekend. The method was straightforward, the timing and temperatures were reliable, and the aioli gave the chops a bright, garlicky finish. I kept the sides simple—frozen vegetables on the stove—since I was busy making my own breadcrumbs and experimenting with the breading method the book recommends. The meal turned out better than expected, and the instructions made the whole process feel doable for someone who doesn’t cook professionally.
We’re sharing the good news: America’s Test Kitchen generously provided five hardcover copies of “Cooking for Two” for our readers. These aren’t digital copies or sample pages—each prize is a full, fresh-from-the-press hardcover cookbook meant to help home cooks simplify meal planning and improve everyday dishes. To enter the giveaway, readers were asked to comment on the post with the words “I WANT A TASTE” by Wednesday, April 8th at 8pm EST. Entrants were also invited to tell us about their favorite meal—the comfort dish they’d choose as a last meal or the one they’d happily eat on repeat.
We kept the rules simple and fair: one entry per e-mail address, and five winners chosen at random. The selection process uses a trusted randomizer to ensure impartiality, and winners were scheduled to be announced the following Thursday. That straightforward method means everyone who follows the entry steps has an equal chance to win.
Beyond the contest mechanics, “Cooking for Two” stands out as a practical, thoughtful cookbook. Its focus on portioning, clear explanations, and dependable techniques makes it ideal for couples, single cooks who prefer smaller batches, or anyone looking to avoid waste without sacrificing flavor. The extra context behind each recipe is educational for cooks at any level: it helps you understand the choices that lead to reliable results and gives you the confidence to adapt recipes with intention.
We enjoyed testing recipes from the book and sharing the experience with readers. Even simple adjustments—like making homemade breadcrumbs or tweaking a pan temperature—can elevate a weeknight meal, and books that explain the why behind each step make those improvements repeatable. Whether you’re new to cooking or simply want to streamline dinners for two, the book aims to make cooking enjoyable, less intimidating, and consistently delicious.
Full details about our freebies were available at our Giveaway FAQs. As always, we appreciate everyone who entered and shared their favorite meals with us—reading those answers reminded us how personal and meaningful food can be. Good luck to all entrants, and happy cooking.