How many great ideas begin with a nagging thought in the middle of the night that should disappear by morning, but doesn t? For Daniel Shumski, it was: Will it waffle? Hundreds of hours, countless messes, and 53 perfected recipes later, that answer is a resounding: Yes, it will Steak? Yes Pizza? Yes Apple pie? Emphatically yes. And that s the beauty of being a waffle iron chef waffling food other than waffles is not just a novelty but an innovation that leads to a great end product, all while giving the cook the bonus pleasure of doing something cool, fun, and vaguely nerdy (or giving a reluctant eater your child, say a great reason to dig in). Waffled bacon reaches perfect crispness without burned edges, cooks super fast in the two-sided heat source, and leaves behind just the right amount of fat to waffle some eggs. Waffled Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Pressed Potato and Cheese Pierogi, and Waffled Meatballs all end up with dimples just right for trapping their delicious sauces. A waffle iron turns leftover mac n cheese into Revitalized Macaroni and Cheese, which is like a decadent version of a grilled cheese sandwich with its golden, buttery, slightly crisp exterior and soft, melty, cheesy interior."

Perfection—in the bag Ready to turn out the best steak of your life by sealing it in a plastic bag and simmering it in a bath of warm water? The technique is called sous vide— it’s how a lot of the pros do it—and now with sous vide devices affordable and available, you can too. Daniel Shumski, the gadget whisperer who demystified the Instant Pot, unlocks the secrets of professional sous vide for home use. He explains step by step the process, timing, precise temperatures by ingredient, best techniques, and ins and outs of the equipment. And then offers 100 brilliant recipes designed to take full advantage of this revolutionary method, plus a dozen unexpected sous-vide hacks (make short-cut “cold-brew” coffee; infuse your olive oil with new flavors!) With Shumski’s guidance, anything can be made better through sous vide, from favorite meats (you’ll never cook a chicken breast any other way) to the surprises of sous vide carrots (try them with miso butter) to the showstopping glory of a Berry Cheesecake in a jar.

For cooks everywhere who are falling in love with cast iron comes will it skillet? The new cookbook from Daniel Shumski, who last applied his out-of-the-box food-loving sensibility to Will It Waffle? With 92,000 copies in print. Here are 53 original recipes that are surprising, delicious, and ingenious in their ability to capitalise on the strengths of cast iron. The simplicity of Toast with Olive Oil and Tomato, because you just can't achieve that perfect crust in a toaster. A gooey, spiraled Giant Cinnamon Bun with a surprise swirl inside. Popcorn taken to another level with clarified butter. Homemade Corn Tortillas that use the pan to flatten and cook them. A Spinach and Feta Dip that stays warm from the residual heat of the pan. Plus, pastas that come together in one skillet - no separate boiling required; beautiful breads and pizzas; luscious desserts and more, along with detailed information on buying, seasoning, and caring for your cast-iron cookware.