The Simpsons ... Cookbook by Laurel Randolph

"I'm so hungry I could eat at Arby's."

If, like me, you're a huge fan of The Simpsons you're well aware how important a role food and drink play in the show. 

Homer spends as much time at Moe's as he does at work or home, has been a food critic (targeted for assassination!), once gorged himself into morbid obesity in an attempt to avoid the office, ate potentially deadly fugu fish at a sushi joint (spoiler – he lives!), followed the Krusty Burger Ribwich from town to town, started bootlegging beer, invented a smash hit cocktail, and, well, you get the idea. 

The rest of the family often gets in on the action, too. When she's not trying to win her family's love with home cooked meals, Marge has figured in storylines about bake sales and a food truck business (before they were hip), Lisa famously ruined a neighborhood barbecue and met Paul and Linda McCartney on her journey to vegetarianism, Grampa Simpson worked at Krusty Burger and hawked a revitalizing tonic, and even Bart has been known to go on the odd Squishy bender that ends with him joining the Junior Campers.

So it comes as no surprise that an enterprising author with a background writing about food and The Simpsons would put together a cookbook celebrating the world of doughnuts, Ribwiches, Squishees, pretzels, chili, pork chops, spaghetti and Moe balls, and more that have made the show such an enjoyable part of our lives for more than 30 years. (Even less surprising is that my reaction to not thinking of it first was an audible "Doh!" in the library aisle.)

The Unofficial Simpsons Cookbook by Laurel Randolph (Adams Media, 2021) features 60+ recipes for snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks with references to the episode that inspired it as well as recipe variations and cooking tips.

Naturally, the recipe for Sloppy Jimbo doesn't include any actual Jimbo nor does the Flaming Moe contain Krusty's Non-Narkotik Kough Syrup (for Kids) – shucks – but the recipes are appetizing (for the most part) and simple enough that the book will be a welcome addition to your bookshelf (or worth grabbing from your local library like I did), especially if you ever find yourself hosting or attending a Simpsons-themed party. – Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor is a die-hard fan of The Simpsons and would love a Whatchamacarcass Sandwich featuring non-diseased meat from diseased animals from the nearest Krusty Burger.

The Unofficial Simpsons Cookbook is available from Amazon.