Saturday, November 16
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Monterey Public Library Friends & Foundation invites you to Books & Cooks: What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking with Caroline Chambers
Middlebury Institute Irvine Auditorium
499 Pierce Street
Monterey
Parking Information
Join us for light bites and a conversation with local New York Times bestselling author, recipe developer, food writer, podcaster, influencer, library-lover, and mom—Caroline Chambers! Caroline develops recipes that dirty minimal dishes, use fewer ingredients, and require less time, but still absolutely rock. Join us in celebrating her newest book, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking, recently featured in Wall Street Journal, in People Magazine and on Good Morning America.
Learn more about Caroline Chambers and her book.
$50 ticket includes light refreshments and one copy of What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking.
Please consider adding a donation to support the Library! At the MPL Friends & Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of libraries. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, our mission is to ensure that our public library remains a cornerstone of our community, providing inclusive resources and programs that enrich lives and foster lifelong learning. Your gift makes a difference!
Caroline Chambers grew up in the kitchen on her mom’s hip, learning how to cook in their Winston-Salem, North Carolina, home. Her professional food career began in her early twenties when she worked as a chef and caterer. After a stint in a professional test kitchen, Caro struck out on her own as a freelancer, developing recipes for a host of publications as well as brands such as Boursin Cheese and Kim Crawford Wine, and in 2018, she published her first cookbook, Just Married. In 2020—at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—Caro began sharing her recipes and connecting with home cooks on Instagram (@carochambers), and launched her newsletter, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking, which flew to the top of the Substack charts; her podcast, So Into That, followed in 2023. Caro lives in Carmel Valley, California, with her husband, George, and their three young sons, Mattis, Calum, and Cashel—one of whom can almost always be found in the kitchen on her hip. When she doesn’t feel like cooking, Caro’s go-to meal is Veggie Peanut Noods (page 52).
About the book:
RECIPES FOR BUSY PEOPLE WHO LOVE GOOD FOOD
With three little boys less than two years apart and a packed schedule as an online creator, Caroline Chambers often doesn’t feel like cooking. Can you relate? When you can’t motivate yourself in the kitchen, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking is the book you should reach for.
Inspired by Caro’s wildly popular Substack newsletter of the same name, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking is brimming with efficient recipes that take the guesswork out of dinner—in fact, each one is a complete meal: protein, veg, starch, done! The recipes are organized by the amount of time they take to cook, so whether you have 15 minutes to throw together Peanutty Pork and Brussels or a little bit longer to simmer Turkey Bolognese with Sneaky Veggies, dinnertime is totally doable. On top of that, Caro gives you more ways to choose, so you can search by protein (Chicken thighs waiting in the fridge? Make White Chicken Chili. Nothing but beans in the pantry? Cannellini Caprese with Burrata is it!) or mood (Tomato Farrotto is perfect for a cozy craving, and Crunchy Honey Harissa Fish Tacos are an excellent way to show off). Most importantly, these recipes include Caro’s famously extensive swaps, riffs, tips, shortcuts, and more to be sure they work best for you, helping you save money, improvise, and even learn a thing or two. They don’t compromise quality or flavor—and they deliver every time. With as few ingredients, steps, and, of course, dirty dishes as possible, dinner awaits!
There are three City of Monterey parking lots around the MIIS campus—parking lot 4 at the corner of Van Buren and Franklin, parking lot 8 in front of Casa Fuente, and parking lot 7, which is across Pacific Street. Lots 4 and 7 have ticket machines. Lot 8 is a partially metered lot.
The MIIS campus map shows both Institute parking and City parking lots 4 & 8. City parking lot 7 is not on the map, but it is directly across Pacific Street from Casa Fuente (Building #18 on the campus map).