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Do you know about Short Stack Editions? It's a small publishing venture dedicated to publishing single subject cookbooks authored by food authorities like Susan Spungen (strawberries) and Ian Knauer (eggs), Alison Roman (lemons) and Virginia Willis (grits). The editions are hand-sewn, illustrated with sweetly simple drawings, and bound in gorgeous paper (the aesthetic is sort of psychedelically Mast-Brothers'-ish). You won't want to have just one.

The booklets, or pamphlets, I should say, feel both super-modern and old-fashioned, sort of like something you'd expect to find in your grandmother's stash of old books and neatly displayed in a cutting edge magazine store in Antwerp or Berlin (cough). But beyond their covers is some really good food. Furthermore, the recipes are tightly edited – each edition only has 20, which feels refreshing in this era of information overload.

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The latest edition, on prosciutto di Parma, is written by Sara Jenkins, owner of Porsena and Porchetta in New York City. Jenkins grew up partially in Italy and has amassed a neat little collection of recipes showcasing prosciutto. Some skew a little fancy (think cold cantaloupe soup topped with prosciutto crostini, which actually requires no cooking, just a bit of puréeing, chilling and toasting) and others will make you do a double-take – in a good way, like the olive oil-fried slices of persimmon wrapped in prosciutto or roasted corn and crispy prosciutto tucked into warm corn tortillas and topped with lime, pepper and cilantro! Yet more will have you marching straight to your closest deli for a couple ounces of ham – in my case, the potted and deviled prosciutto with mustard seeds, harissa and parsley, and the stir-fried rice, in which Italy meets China, producing my favorite kind of food.

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Short Stack was generous enough to send me a copy of Prosciutto di Parma for a giveaway, so please leave a comment below to be entered and I'll pick a winner on Tuesday morning! You can find the other Short Stack Editions online or at a selection of bricks-and-mortar stores.

P.S. Even Nigella's a fan

Jandi is the winner and has been notified!

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101 responses to “Sara Jenkins’ Prosciutto di Parma”

  1. Kate Wirth Avatar

    How pretty! What a fantastic giveaway!

    Like

  2. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    These booklets sound fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

    Like

  3. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    I have seen these online and love the graphics!

    Like

  4. jandi Avatar

    Looks brilliant! X

    Like

  5. jen Avatar
    jen

    love this. might need to see if i can find a copy of the egg one!

    Like

  6. ES Avatar
    ES

    Looks like a lot of great recipes!

    Like

  7. Katrin Avatar
    Katrin

    Oh how perfect! Definitely looking for these!

    Like

  8. Sara Avatar

    So pretty! I love the aesthetic and the focus on essential ingredients.

    Like

  9. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    Oh, lovely! Such a fun and focused format!

    Like

  10. Loes Avatar
    Loes

    I have never seen these before, what a nice idea and a nice give away of course. I wonder if they are for sale somewhere in the Netherlands…

    Like

  11. Pressley Avatar
    Pressley

    these would make the nicest mother’s day presents!

    Like

  12. Tina Avatar
    Tina

    Would love to win one of these -beautiful and nice to concentrate on one ingredient:)

    Like

  13. Jean Avatar
    Jean

    so lovely! I’m off the go check out the other Short Stack Editions!

    Like

  14. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    This is so lovely! I’d love a copy. I hope your move has gone well?

    Like

  15. Peter Avatar
    Peter

    What a splendid publishing venture! And you don’t want to keep it for your new apartment? Lucky winner.

    Like

  16. Skye Avatar
    Skye

    I love the look of these books and so love prosciutto!!

    Like

  17. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    Thanks for letting us know about these. I’m intrigued.

    Like

  18. Olivia Avatar
    Olivia

    So beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

    Like

  19. Kim A Avatar
    Kim A

    Would love to win that. Will have to keep an eye out for them.

    Like

  20. Ellie Perry Avatar
    Ellie Perry

    I love the less is more idea. I’ve worked 5 years in a library, so it’s not just my own cookbook collection that I’m constantly exposed to. Plus the design is great!

    Like

  21. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    This looks like a beautiful book that would get a lot of use!

    Like

  22. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    A cookbook all about prosciutto sounds amazing.

    Like

  23. Morgan Avatar
    Morgan

    That corn and tortilla recipe is right up my alley.

    Like

  24. Heather Fregeau Avatar
    Heather Fregeau

    beautiful! love your writing.

    Like

  25. Caitlin Avatar
    Caitlin

    Looks like a great addition to any collection. Thanks for sharing!

    Like

  26. Fiona Avatar
    Fiona

    Sounds great!

    Like

  27. ang Avatar
    ang

    Thanks for the giveaway. So fun!

    Like

  28. Eileen Avatar
    Eileen

    How is the unpacking coming along? Do the fast unpack or take time and put things where it makes sense? Probably a little of both.
    This book and the others in Short Stack Editions look lovely. Would love to know more uses for prosciutto.

    Like

  29. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    This book sounds great!

    Like

  30. Monica Avatar
    Monica

    Lovely. And they’re stocking them in some new-to-me stores in NYC, so this is good to know about on several fronts! Thanks.

    Like

  31. Stephanie Lai Avatar
    Stephanie Lai

    This looks like a lovely little book!

    Like

  32. Julz Avatar
    Julz

    I love the idea of the Short Stack Editions! And, love the modern/old-fashioned feel to them too. Super neat!!

    Like

  33. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    That roast corn recipe sounds fabulous. I’d love to have a copy of this little book!

    Like

  34. Jesi Avatar

    I’d love to write the cheese edition. 🙂

    Like

  35. Alyssa from The Sparkly Life Avatar

    I’ve been wanting to order these forever and this one might just be the one to get me to pull the trigger. Mmmmm….prosciutto…..

    Like

  36. Caitlin Avatar
    Caitlin

    I’ve seen these before! They’re so lovely and well crafted. I would love to add them to my collection of cookbooks and other such things!

    Like

  37. Sarah L Avatar
    Sarah L

    I hadn’t heard of these books before. They look fun! Thanks for the great giveaway.

    Like

  38. rozinchina Avatar
    rozinchina

    sounds great!

    Like

  39. Clau Avatar
    Clau

    I would love to win this beautiful book!

    Like

  40. Jennifer Avatar

    Looks lovely and reminds me of a similar series here in France, by les éditions de l’épure called “10 façons de préparer” (10 ways to prepare…) A friend of mine wrote the book about excess 🙂
    You can check them out here: http://www.epure-editions.com/livres-10-facons-de-preparer/10-facons-de-preparer-1-18.html

    Like

  41. Anne Boden Avatar
    Anne Boden

    Sounds like a great project. I also happened to be looking for a restaurant tip in NYC and Porsena sounds just the ticket.

    Like

  42. Dee Avatar
    Dee

    Sounds delicious! Fingers crossed!

    Like

  43. Anne-Kathrin Avatar
    Anne-Kathrin

    Looks beautiful and delicious (great combination) Thanks for sharing.

    Like

  44. Lynn D. Avatar
    Lynn D.

    This series reminds me of the old Peter Pauper Press cookery books series. They had such titles as The ABC’s of casseroles, barbeque, etc. or Simple French, Italian etc. My mother had quite a few of the titles and used them often. They somehow got lost in a move but I recently picked up ¨Simple German Cookery¨ at a used book store. It’s lovely. I would love to see the books in this new series.

    Like

  45. Lynn D. Avatar
    Lynn D.

    One of the greated Peter Pauper Press titles was ¨From Abalone to Zabaglione!¨

    Like

  46. Neena Avatar
    Neena

    What a great series! I had never heard of them before your wonderful introduction!

    Like

  47. Alexandra Avatar
    Alexandra

    Love the idea of a single-subject book.

    Like

  48. Jill Avatar

    What a great idea! “Information overload” indeed! These look like the perfect antidote to feeling overwhelmed.

    Like

  49. Zach Avatar
    Zach

    Great idea! These book sound amazing!

    Like

  50. Caitlin Avatar
    Caitlin

    Thank you for introducing me to this! It sounds wonderful.

    Like