John Kanell
Food Media and Commerce, LLC.
Seasonal sensations
The Preppy Kitchen cookbook shares new recipes inspired by life on the family farm
Costco member John Kanell left a 10-year career as a middle school math and science teacher to be a recipe developer, cook, food stylist, photographer, videographer, editor, cookbook author and dad.
“My husband and I wanted to start a family, and I knew that I wanted to have a job where I could work from home and really be present with them,” Kanell says about their twin boys, Lachlan and George, who are now 5 years old.
Kanell began his new career by posting his culinary creations on his Instagram account, @PreppyKitchen. He soon launched a blog to share the recipes requested by his followers and a YouTube channel with appearances by his husband, Brian Dow, and their children. Kanell recently released his first cookbook, Preppy Kitchen: Recipes for Seasonal Dishes and Simple Pleasures.
“I’m so excited for this book, because it’s over 100 brand-new recipes that I’ve never published before—they haven’t been on the blog or anywhere else,” Kanell tells the Connection from his Connecticut farmhouse.
The cookbook shares seasonal recipes and projects inspired throughout the three-year journey that began when Kanell and his family left their Los Angeles roots to move to Connecticut, where the boys have learned how food is produced on their farm.
“They have an appreciation for it that is so special to me. I love that they understand where their food is coming from,” Kanell says. “They have a real connection to the seasons and to the land.”
The cookbook also contains family favorites inspired by his mother, who emigrated from Mexico and immersed herself in American culture. She also learned about French and Greek cuisine to cook for Kanell’s Greek and French Canadian father.
“This book is in some ways like a love letter to my mother, because she is the one who taught me to cook,” Kanell says.
“I grew up as her sous chef in the kitchen, just learning from her and soaking up all of her knowledge and enthusiasm.”
John Kanell picking pumpkins with his family.
David Malosh
Decorating with nature
John Kanell shares special projects for each season in his cookbook. The following about fall is excerpted with permission from Preppy Kitchen: Recipes for Seasonal Dishes and Simple Pleasures.
Besides cooking with seasonal ingredients, I also like decorating with things that grow outside and bringing the outdoors in as much as possible to mark this time. Here are some of my favorite ways to do that:
Pumpkins. We’re living our dream and finally have a patch of our own, but you can find pumpkins at pretty much any market. They’re festive in all their different colors and shapes and refreshingly hardy, meaning your hard work will pay off because these things live pretty much forever. I like to make a big arrangement by the front door, another on the table where we eat all of our meals, and another in the kitchen.
Apples. I like to snip them off whole and lay them over the table. I especially like when the fruit is a little pocked and imperfect—it’s what real apples look like!
Branches, brush, and greenery. I always joke that my mom has the stickiest fingers when she’s out for a walk. She’s notorious for grabbing a bundle of this or a snipping of that whenever she passes by something that catches her eye. This approach is perfect for the fall when there are evergreen branches, winter berries, pine cones, leaves, and other natural treasures begging to be plucked for an organic centerpiece or mantel arrangement.—John Kanell
Costco Connection: John Kanell’s cookbook, Preppy Kitchen: Recipes for Seasonal Dishes and Simple Pleasures (Item 1690826; 10/4), is available in most Costco warehouses.
