Winter has suddenly arrived. As I pull my collar tighter against the cold wind, I can’t help but worry about the flu or the still-uncertain COVID-19 situation. For mothers, this is a time to think about providing a hearty and balanced family diet. However, cooking shows are abundant on TV, and the same goes for YouTube. With numerous apps and websites offering great recipes, it’s easy to find dishes that suit my family's tastes if I just put my mind to it. In this Mom & I bookcase, I’ve gathered cookbooks featuring recipes from celebrities introduced on various channels and programs. What’s unique is that these books are not just authored by famous personalities or entertainers; they are based on recipes that have been validated by hundreds of thousands of viewers and subscribers across various programs and content, making them somewhat trustworthy. Let’s dive into the world of home-cooked meals filled with love and skill.

Research and organization by Editor Son Min-jeong

Soomi's Side Dishes 1

Kim Soo-mi's Yomanchi Recipe Book

Soomi's Side Dishes 2

Kim Soo-mi's Neundung Mandung Recipe Book

Kim Soo-mi, Yeogyeong-rae, Choi Hyun-seok, Mikael Ashminov, tvN Production Team | Seongan Publishing

"Soomi's Side Dishes" is a side dish-focused television variety show that aired on tvN from June 6, 2018, to May 12, 2020. The show's popularity led to the publication of a recipe book featuring broadcast recipes and essays by Chef Kim Soo-mi. Viewers who encountered the recipe book likely felt both entertained and moved by Chef Kim Soo-mi's genuine approach to making side dishes with a "mother's heart." Thanks to the support of readers eagerly awaiting the next recipe after the first volume, "Soomi's Side Dishes 2: Kim Soo-mi's Neundung Mandung Recipe Book" has been released.

Chef Kim Soo-mi's cooking is truly easy. She quickly acknowledges when something doesn't taste right and, even if a dish goes wrong, her candid demeanor on screen captivates many viewers. Additionally, culinary masters Yeogyeong-rae, chef entertainer Choi Hyun-seok, and Bulgarian chef Mikael Ashminov joined as special assistants to learn the secrets behind Kim Soo-mi's side dishes. The synergy created when the skills of these star chefs meet Kim Soo-mi's culinary touch adds another layer of enjoyment. After Chef Kim Soo-mi shares her secret recipes, the chefs create their own unique side dishes using the same ingredients, enriching and diversifying our dining experiences.

Kim Soo-mi's home-cooked flavors evoke memories of rustic yet simple meals that anyone would want to try at least once, and those who have tasted them can never forget them. When hunger strikes, and takeout or convenience store meals just won't do, the thought of home-cooked meals comes to mind—simple and unpretentious. Let’s open "Soomi's Side Dishes" and bring such comforting food to our table today, warming both body and soul, prompting a heartfelt "Thank you for the meal!"

Park Mak-rye's Recipes

Don’t Mistake Fullness for Satisfaction

Park Mak-rye, Kim Yoo-ra | Media Changbi

“Don’t mistake fullness for satisfaction.”

When it comes to grandmother's cooking, we can always eat more. Park Mak-rye, a 1.3 million subscriber YouTuber, is an icon of the second act of life in South Korea. Before becoming a YouTuber, she ran a restaurant for 43 years, cooking her life’s recipes, which are now compiled in "Park Mak-rye's Recipes," published by Media Changbi. When she shared her 43 years of culinary skills on YouTube, it garnered 28 million views, and her fans (whom she affectionately calls "pyeon" instead of "fan") went wild. "Park Mak-rye's Recipes" has become a staple video on her YouTube channel "Korea Grandma," alongside content featuring the CEOs of Google and YouTube.

This book includes 62 recipes, featuring popular dishes from her YouTube channel "Korea Grandma," including noodle series, soup tteokbokki, side dishes, soup dishes, secret recipes, and kimchi. It also contains memories of her cooking from her granddaughter Yoo-ra, cooking tips in her grandmother's voice, and over 20 special photos. Park Mak-rye wants to remind her granddaughter Yoo-ra, who grew up eating her food, not to neglect taking care of herself amidst her busy life. The essence of her grandmother's heart, always checking if she has eaten, is beautifully captured in "Park Mak-rye's Recipes." As you start reading this book, you’ll be reminded of the warmth of sitting at a cozy table with a steaming bowl of rice, sparking a desire to cook something yourself instead of just grabbing a quick meal during a hectic day.

Lee Jung-hyun's Home-Cooked Restaurant

Lee Jung-hyun's Happy Home-Cooked Stories: 101 Recipes

Lee Jung-hyun | Seosawon

“Everything becomes easy and delicious through her hands!” Instant sensation on air! 101 home-cooked recipes including all-purpose soy sauce, green onion kimchi, egg rice bowl, green onion pancake black bean noodles, egg marinade, and spicy chicken stew potato croquettes.

Lee Jung-hyun, a singer and actress who has been actively working, has recently gained attention as a cooking artist after showcasing her cooking skills on television. From her all-purpose soy sauce to basil pesto, spicy chicken potato croquettes, egg marinade, and eggnog coffee, her popular dishes are piling up beyond counting. She often prepares anchovy broth, all-purpose soy sauce, and all-purpose seasoning in advance for frequent use in her cooking. With just basic broth and seasoning, she can whip up home side dishes, soups, stews, and kimchi in under ten minutes.

Is that why? Surprisingly, every dish she makes looks easy and delicious. Despite debuting at a young age and receiving immense love, she has faced many ups and downs over the years, experiencing emotional struggles and then reigniting her passion, often recovering overnight. These patterns have led her to seek out something that brings her healing amidst stress and pleasant tension. Cooking has become that healing and joy for her. She has become so engrossed in cooking that she can replicate dishes she tasted at famous Michelin-starred restaurants at home, and those moments have been incredibly enjoyable. Sharing food made with her own recipes with beloved family and friends has become a source of happiness in her daily life. She hopes to share that joy with even more people in the future.