4. From Our From Our Cookbook Shelf to the Kitchen: A Basket by the Door

Some cookbooks are bought for a single recipe.

Others become trusted companions that you return to season after season.

For me, A Basket by the Door by Sophie Hansen firmly belongs in the second category.

I've long admired Sophie's work and often find myself recommending her books to customers looking for recipes that feel generous, seasonal and deeply comforting. We currently stock three of Sophie's books here at The Country Plate, and each one reflects her beautiful philosophy that food is one of the greatest gifts we can give.

Living just outside Orange in Central West NSW, Sophie writes and cooks from a landscape not too different to our own here in Rylstone. That means the recipes naturally follow the same seasons we're experiencing, making them incredibly practical to cook from throughout the year.

What I love most is that this book isn't just about what to cook—it's about who you're cooking for.

Whether it's welcoming a new baby, comforting a grieving friend, celebrating life's milestones or simply dropping a meal at a neighbour's door, every recipe is centred around kindness, generosity and connection.

It's the kind of cookbook that reminds us food isn't just nourishment—it's one of the simplest ways we can show someone we care.

One day I'd love to attend one of Sophie's farm cooking classes, or perhaps join one of the Pink Pelican trips she co-hosts through Italy. Until then, I'll happily keep cooking my way through these pages.

This time around, I decided to bake the Wholemeal Apple and Marmalade Cake (AKA The Good, Sturdy Picnic Cake)from page 185. It was wonderfully simple to make and, as always, I couldn't help but make a few tweaks based on what we already had in the pantry. We didn't have wholemeal plain flour, so I used regular plain flour instead. The raisins became sultanas, and rather than marmalade, I used a jar of homemade apricot jam from last season. That's one of the things I love most about Sophie's recipes—they're approachable and forgiving, encouraging you to make the most of what's already in your kitchen. The result was a beautifully moist, homely cake that would be just as perfect packed into a picnic basket as it would be enjoyed with a cup of tea at the kitchen table.

The Recipes I Keep Coming Back To

Unlike many of the cookbooks I've featured in this series, this one isn't about a recipe I've only just discovered.

These are the recipes I've made time and time again.

1. Spicy, Smoky Beef Ragu (Page 35)

Rich, comforting and packed with flavour, this has become one of those dependable meals I know everyone will happily gather around the table for.

2. The Chicken Pie (Page 39)

There is a reason Sophie calls this the very best chicken pie. It's everything comfort food should be and one of those recipes that's perfect to wrap up and deliver to someone who could use a little extra love.

3. Roasted Fennel & Chilli Nuts (Page 239)

Once you've made these, you'll understand why they're on constant rotation. Perfect with drinks, scattered over salads or simply enjoyed by the handful.

My Notes

• A cookbook built around generosity rather than perfection.

• Seasonal recipes that work beautifully in our Central West climate.

• The recipes are approachable, practical and full of flavour.

• One of the few cookbooks I genuinely reach for again and again.

• Every page feels warm, thoughtful and welcoming.

About the Book

A Basket by the Door is a seasonal collection of 130 recipes created to nourish, comfort and celebrate the people we care about.

Organised by the seasons, the book is filled with recipes for every occasion—welcoming a new baby, supporting a friend through difficult times, celebrating milestones or simply gathering people around your own table. Alongside the recipes are thoughtful ideas for wrapping, transporting and gifting food, making this much more than a cookbook—it's a guide to sharing kindness through cooking.

Book Details

• Hardcover

• 264 pages

• 130 seasonal recipes

• Beautiful photography and heartfelt storytelling

Retail Price: $40.00

If you're looking for a cookbook that you'll genuinely cook from for years—not just admire on the shelf—this is one I couldn't recommend more highly. It's a reminder that the simplest meals, made with care and shared with others, are often the most memorable.