Summer 2025

82 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 5 SHORT CUTS LIT Cookbook and newsletter author Caroline Chambers’ calming, approachable and easy-to-understand advice gives reassurance to even the most overwhelmed home cooks. W hile former caterer and restaurant recipe developer Caroline Chambers is a busy mom of three young boys, with her fourth child on the way, she still whips up delicious meals without losing her sanity. In her most recent cookbook, The New York Times bestselling “What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking,” she shares recipes that don’t require running to the store for obscure ingredients and that can be made quickly. Chambers elevates everyday staples with clever tweaks. “I’m obsessed with Taylor Farms salad kits,” she shares. “I had a series on Instagram a few years ago on how to make a bagged salad taste really, really good.” On the Substack subscription-based publish- ing platform, where her newsletter is number one in the Food & Drink category, she orga- nizes her “What to Cook” recipes by protein, meEl type GooO time End mood ,er first cookbook, “Just Married: A Cookbook for Newlyweds,” was created when Chambers and husband George moved to Carmel and is designed for two eaters. Now living with her family in Carmel Valley on an acre with chickens, Chambers loves using local ingredients like Ad Astra bread, berries from farmers markets, produce from Earthbound Farms, cheeses from Carmel Valley Creamery and more. “We are so happy living here and have such a strong community,” she says. For more information, visit www.carolinecham- Fers.com or find her on Instagram at carochamFers. Carmel Valley Author Makes Cooking Easy and Enjoyable B Y B R E T T WI L BUR Photo: Breana Janay Smith Photography