I am a pork fan, so, when Gibbs Smith Publisher asked if I wanted to review Eliza Cross’ new book, I immediately said “yes.” 101 Things To Do With Pork is a sweet little volume of flavor-filled recipes that are perfect for “home cooks seeking to make easy, economical, and nourishing family-friendly meals, starters, and sides.” It is part of Gibbs Smith’s best-selling “101 Things” series: chocolate, chicken, potato, slow cooker, etc.
They are best-sellers for several reasons. I love the book’s lie-flat format and, at just 5.5 by 7.5 inches, it is probably smaller than your prom photo. Open flat on the counter, it leaves plenty of room for cutting boards, utensils, and ingredients.
The book is divided into a familiar sequence: breakfast/brunch, appetizers/snacks, sides/salads, main courses, soups/stews. A couple front pages cover helpful hints (safe handling and storage of pork, etc.) and recipe notes (most of which were about salt usage, and very much appreciated). Of the book’s 101 recipes, I chose three to test: an appetizer, a main course, and a side dish. These were sausage-stuffed mushrooms, lemon pork medallions (recipe below), and million dollar potatoes. I liked them all and they were well-received by my guests. The recipes were all that Cross promised; simple to make, easy on the budget, and good for friends and family.
Browsing through the book you can see that each dish is easy, making this an excellent choice for beginner home cooks. Cross mostly uses wholesome fresh ingredients but, on occasion, leaves the cook the option to purchase pre-made ingredients such as pizza dough, cooked corn, or pancakes. In very few instances, there is a call for a packet of ranch dressing mix, or a can of condensed soup, none of which I would ever use … but I do understand that those were key ingredients in the comfort foods our mothers made, and a genuine convenience for the harried cook.
The colorful cover design is charming and a nod to 1960s cookbook art. All in all, it is a delightful book. At the very reasonable price of U.S. $12.99, it would make a great gift for any aspiring cook, especially those who love pork.
~ David
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Mimi Rippee
August 30, 2025 at 4:54 amNice. And pork doesn’t seem to get as much attention as chicken, overall.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 30, 2025 at 9:02 amI agree, Mimi — and I love pork!
Mad Dog
August 30, 2025 at 6:04 amThat sounds like a good read. I might try the lemon pork this evening!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 30, 2025 at 9:02 amThanks, Mad Dog — if you do make the pork, I might recommend a higher temperature for searing the medallions (a better browning) for a shorter time.
Barb
August 30, 2025 at 7:07 amI was just trying to decide what to get out of the freezer to thaw for dinner. You just made the decision for me! This recipe sounds simple to make and tasty. The sausage stuffed mushrooms and the million dollar potatoes look delicious too.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 30, 2025 at 9:00 amThanks, Barb — it is truly simple and very tasty. I might cook the pork at a higher temperature for a shorter time, but it works as printed, too. I especially enjoyed the sausage stuffed mushrooms.
Jane Sanders
August 30, 2025 at 11:28 amI have tons of books on chicken and nothing devoted entirely to pork, so I ordered the book – Amazon said it has one copy remaining! Thanks for the recipe, David and the review of the book.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 30, 2025 at 2:58 pmThere are so many good recipes in the book. I hope you enjoy it!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
August 30, 2025 at 2:18 pmSounds good, we eat a lot of pork. It is one of the best buys at our market.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 30, 2025 at 2:58 pmSame here, Karen. Though I’m trying to buy most of my pork at the farmers market, which is a bit more expensive!
Jill
August 30, 2025 at 4:29 pmGuess time to take the tenderloin out of the freezer.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 31, 2025 at 7:12 amYes, indeed! Thanks, Jill!
FEL!X
August 30, 2025 at 5:54 pmThis 101 would be very welcome in our kitchen too!
In Thailand pork is omnipresent and always the first choice of meat.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 31, 2025 at 7:12 amI did not know this about Thailand, Felix. I’ll have to start researching Thai pork recipes!
FEL!X
August 31, 2025 at 6:07 pmHere you can find all my pork recipes, Thai and international:
https://felix.kitchen/?s=Schwein
Cocoa & Lavender
September 1, 2025 at 7:23 amThanks, Felix!
angiesrecipes
August 30, 2025 at 8:16 pmThe only pork I really enjoy is pork belly. Your pork medallions look so juicy, tender and moreish. I love your vintage plate too, David.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 31, 2025 at 7:11 amThanks, Angie.
Eha Carr
August 30, 2025 at 8:26 pmOh, have enjoyed your post and pork is my second-favourite meat after lamb (well, beef offal comes next perchance 🙂 !) and I would like the book for the same reasons you do . . , and I do like your Laguiole cutlery which you seem to have in more than one colour . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
August 31, 2025 at 7:10 amThanks, Eha — I also am a big fan of beef offal, but only on special occasions! And lamb is at the top of my list, too. Thanks for noticing the knives… this set is faux, but work just as well as my real Laguiole knives!
sherry
August 30, 2025 at 9:46 pmWe are not pork eaters, but i do love a spiral-bound cookbook! Looks cute.
sherry
Cocoa & Lavender
August 31, 2025 at 7:07 amThanks, Sherry.
Ronit
August 31, 2025 at 9:55 amThis is a tasty quick way of preparing the tenderloin. I’m a big fan of mustard-lemon combination. I’d probably add a bit of lemon zest to it, just to enhance the lemon aroma. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
August 31, 2025 at 4:21 pmGreat idea, Ronit —mi might add some zest next time.
Frank | Memorie di Angelina
September 1, 2025 at 6:21 amWhat a brilliant idea for a cookbook. A lot of people adore pork—and I’m one of them—and I don’t think I’ve heard of a book like it before. It should sell like hotcakes.. (Sorry, couldn’t think of a porcine metaphor…)
Cocoa & Lavender
September 1, 2025 at 7:23 amThanks, Frank — I can’t come up with a replacement for hotcakes, either. But pork is definitely has incredibly flavor, and I’m glad to have a few new ways to cook it!
Evening With A Sandwich
September 2, 2025 at 12:36 pm‘Ah, pork the other white meat.’ My family’s favorite is pork tenderloin.This little recipe book has a lot to offer!
Cheers.
Velva
David Scott Allen
September 3, 2025 at 1:46 pmYep, I remember those adds! I never really did equate pork with “white meat'” did you? Pork tenderloin is a favorite for us, too. So good and quite economical.
Raymund
September 4, 2025 at 2:31 pmSuch a thoughtful review! I really like how you tested recipes from different sections, it gives a clear picture of what the book offers. The sausage-stuffed mushrooms and lemon pork medallions sound especially tempting. I agree, convenience ingredients can be handy, but it’s nice that the book still leans on fresh, wholesome cooking. Sounds like a perfect gift for pork lovers, like me HINT* 😁
David Scott Allen
September 5, 2025 at 12:22 pmThanks, Raymund — it is a very fun book filled with good ideas.
Valentina
September 10, 2025 at 10:47 pmWhat a fun book. I’ve actually been cooking pork all week, so it’s quite timely. And the art on the cover is indeed charming. 😀 Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
September 11, 2025 at 5:48 amIt’s been a “porky” week here, too, though we are switching to lamb tonight. 🙂
Inger
October 7, 2025 at 10:18 amMy pork farmer retired, but I’ve got a line on a new one. This looks delicious and that cookbook could be so handy!
Cocoa & Lavender
October 9, 2025 at 6:15 amWe are eating a lot of pork these days from our farmers market. I have a wonderful rancher who carries pork, lamb, goat, and beef!
Christina
November 15, 2025 at 11:35 amWhat an adorable cookbook! Pork is my #1 choice of meat, so this is right up my alley! I recently ordered some Iberico pork cuts from Spain. O.M.G. What a game changer! The flavor of the pork is 11 out of 10! Seriously, if you love pork, you should try it! This lemon pork recipe sounds FAB!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 16, 2025 at 6:28 amThere is nothing I have ever come across that is as good as Iberico pork. I really should order some!