Some of life’s most meaningful moments happen around the table. A favorite meal passed between family members, a recipe handed down through generations, or simply finding time to sit together on a busy weeknight can turn food into something much bigger than what’s on the plate.
For recipe creator, entrepreneur, and mom of three Rachel Mansfield, those everyday moments are at the heart of her new cookbook, More, Please!
Rachel began working on the cookbook during a season when life and the way she cooked had changed considerably. Since writing her first cookbook, she had become a mom to three boys, her husband had been diagnosed with celiac disease, and family life had gotten much busier.
At the same time, Rachel kept hearing similar questions from friends and her online community: What can I make with the ground meat in my refrigerator? How do I feed everyone when I only have 20 minutes?
“I realized people didn't necessarily need elaborate meal ideas with side dishes and appetizers,” Rachel says. “They needed repeatable, reliable recipes and real solutions for getting food on the table.”
That became the foundation for More, Please!, a cookbook meant not simply to sit beautifully on a shelf, but to become part of a family’s everyday routine.
“I want this thing to get dirty!” Rachel says. “I wanted it sitting on your kitchen counter with pages folded down and sauce splattered on it because you're actually using it.”
That approachable philosophy has been woven throughout Rachel’s career. She didn’t begin as a trained chef or culinary expert. After starting her career in advertising and later working as an executive assistant, Rachel launched her blog as a creative outlet, sharing the foods she was making and eating at home. What began on the side eventually grew into a career creating recipes, building her brand, and most recently, launching her children’s snack company, cadootz!
Today, cooking is also deeply intertwined with Rachel’s role as a mom. Planning meals Monday through Thursday, keeping staple ingredients on hand, and prepping when possible help make dinner more manageable, even when life is busy.
And some recipes carry much more than convenience.
Rachel’s Mama’s Ooey Gooey Apple Blondies may best capture the heart behind More, Please! Growing up, her family went apple picking every fall, and her mom would turn their apples into the bars her dad loved. When Rachel began dating her now-husband, Jordan, more than 15 years ago, they became one of his favorites too. Today, Rachel and Jordan take their own boys apple picking and continue the same tradition.
“It’s so special to have a recipe that connects my childhood, my parents, my marriage and the traditions we’re now creating with our kids,” she says.
It’s a reminder that cooking doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful. Sometimes giving our time can look as simple as making dinner, sharing an old family recipe, or sitting around the table together.
Perhaps that’s why the title More, Please!, an idea from Rachel’s husband, feels so fitting. It represents more than asking for another serving. For Rachel, it means more joy around the table, more confidence in the kitchen, and more meals shared with the people we love.
Filled with approachable weeknight dinners, family favorites, and recipes made for gathering, More, Please! is designed to become a well-loved staple in your kitchen. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore and discover a new favorite to share around your table.