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TES Food::Oatmeal Raisin Shortbread

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Oatmeal Raisin Shortbread | 3/5

Sometimes the simplest recipes can be the most rewarding. While variations can be found across Skyrim, this particular recipe comes from a little fishing cottage outside of Winterhold. Sweet and buttery, these little iced shortbreads are a perfect pick-me-up in the morning or in the afternoon with a cup of tea. These shortbreads can be cut into any shape you desire from simple circles, squares, and triangles to more adventurous concepts. If you're feeling creative, try your hand at creating shapes such as a snow bear, or even Alduin the World Eater.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3/5

It tastes fine. It's too sweet for me personally. I think it could be better if it had more of a buttery flavor. I think the lack of salt hurts it as well. The icing is delicious, but there's just too much sugar in the base dough, I find.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3/5

⏱ Quick prep: you're just blending ingredients into a single bowl, which total time I estimate took me under 5 minutes

🔪 Little prep: there's virtually no prep, outside of softening the butter if you keep yours cold like me

The major consequence here comes from having to portion the cookies. I suppose this would have been easier if I had a cookie cutter, but then again, the raisins would get in the way. Just cutting the cookies out took me easily 10-15 minutes, and given that the dough is crumbly, it meant having to press crumbs into the rest of the dough

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3/5

For the most part, this dish is cheap and has readily available pantry staples. The little price-gotchas are the heavy cream, *real* maple syrup or honey, and the spices to make the Nord Spices. In general, your standard chocolate chip cookie (even if it has nuts!) is cheaper than this is.

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TES Food::Cheese Scones

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Cheese Scones | 3.5/5

While scones are often considered a breakfast item, their versatility makes them prime candidates for meals later in the day, especially when given a slightly more savory touch. Feel free to try this recipe with different types of cheese. Eidar and mammoth cheeses are popular in Skyrim, while more adventurous folk can experiment with scuttle from Morrowind made from the flesh of local beetles but similar to cheese. These flaky treats are delicious still warm from the oven and dripping with fresh butter.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3.5/5

It's tasty enough, but I generally find cheese breads don't pack enough cheesy-flavor, or they are too greasy, or the cheese is really just a crunchy-texture thing instead of a flavor thing (my preference). I think depending on the type of cheese you make with this, will determine how delicious they actually are, but I stick with the recipe first. The recipe calls for cheddar, but no aged duration for cheddar will make flavors pop in your mouth imo.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3/5

Medium prep: for a baked good, this isn't too bad. The only real prep work is dealing with the dough (because ofc it is). You do need to do some folding to create layers, so it's not like a bread where you make a giant ball and shove it in some heat and call it done.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cost to Make: 2.5/5

I think for a bread, and especially for how basic this tastes, this recipe is not all that economical. Mustard powder isn't breaking the bank, but it's also something one doesn't usually carry in the cupboard. Buttermilk and aged cheddar/parm blocks also aren't exactly the cheapest things either.

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TES Food::Apple Cabbage Stew

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Apple Cabbage Stew | 3/5

The Imperials prefer a version of this dish that uses red cabbage, which they say is sweeter, but true Nords are unwavering in their affection for this traditional recipe. It produces a richly flavored broth that is both nutritious and delicious, despite the limited ingredient list.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3/5

Pretty decent, considering how simple the ingredients are. It can get a little tiring as it makes a lot, but it is interesting in flavor for sure. The apples aren't too sweet, and then cabbage + chicken broth aren't too salty. It balances pretty well overall.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable

Medium prep: even though everything needs to be cut thin, leeks don't take too long thankfully, and cabbage isn't too bad either. Unfortunately, the apples do require dicing, and apples can be a bit of a pain to deal with.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4/5

This is a pretty economical dish that makes a lot, where a single leek won't break the bank, and you can opt for cheaper apples since they are going to be cooked anyways (e.g. red delicious over envy)

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TES Food::Redguard Rice

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Redguard Rice | 4.5/5

Redolent with rich spices, this dish is prepared in a single pot, making it a great candidate for cooking on the road. It is, at its heart, a very traditional Redguard recipe, although it can be easily tweaked and improved based on locally available ingredients.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4.5/5

This is honestly one of my favorite things to eat from this cookbook. It's super easy to make, and absolutely bonkers on flavor. Plus, your house will smell incredible afterwards. Get a fatty piece of meat for this (or chuck) and you'll have a beautiful mouthfeel of super opposite-of-dry going on. Wild rice is also a must! You need the rich flavor, plus the slight crunch for everything to harmonize properly. I only dock a 1/2 point because it's missing that extra little bit of oomph for me.

🚩If you're one of those people who doesn't like cinnamon spiced meats, you're probably not going to like this tbh. It's not that there's too much cinnamon, so much as the coriander seeds make the cinnamon flavor really pop. Still, I would recommend at least trying this as-is, without changing the spice quantities, unless you absolutely hate cinnamon anywhere, anytime.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cooking Ease: 4.5/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable

⏱ Quick prep

🔪 Little prep: dice the onion and you're good to go. Large chop into quarters and put it in a food processor to make it even easier.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4/5

The lamb and wild rice are the only expensive items, but you can totally swap out lamb for the cheaper alternative that is ground beef CHUCK. You got that? CHUCK (80% lean, 20% fat) NOT LEAN (90%+ lean). You need the extra fat for the mouthfeel; otherwise this dish gets docked at least half a point

Obviously lamb and beef don't at all taste the same, and while I prefer lamb any day over beef, it really doesn't change the rating for me. But that's because the star of this dish isn't the meat to begin with.

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TES Food::Argonian Swamp Shrimp Boil

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Argonian Swamp Shrimp Boil | 2.5

While not much from the Argonian kitchen is palatable to other races, a few dishes have proven wildly popular even with the Altmer, although you'd be hard pressed to get them to admit as much. The Argonians prefer to make this recipe using swamp shrimp from the Black Marshes, but in a pinch, the northern varieties of prawn caught off the coast of Skyrim will do.

★★☆☆☆ | Taste: 2.5/5

The first time this was made, it was too watery. The 2nd time, it was cooked longer to reduce more, and it ended up being entirely too salty. Either way, there are better ways to boil shrimp that have more distinct flavors aside from sweet and salty.

Note: I have no idea what those dried chili looking pieces are in the book's photo. The ingredients don't call for any large solids.

★★★★☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable

⏱ Quick prep time: assuming you bought deveined shrimps, it is quick to assemble the various spices and condiments

🔪 Little prep: there is virtually no prep, as all you need to do is is open some containers and pour!

Point removed due to the time it takes to reduce the sauce

★★★☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

Shrimp is the cheapest seafood that I know besides canned tuna. But it's still pricier solely for being seafood. That said, the rest of the ingredients are mostly pantry staples, with heavy cream being the other slightly costly ingredient.

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TES Food::Meadow Rye Bread

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Meadow Rye Bread | 4/5

This easy bread makes a flavorful accompaniment to any soup but is especially good with creamy varieties. These loaves can commonly be found in tavern kitchens, where their quick baking time means more satisfied customers.

★★★★☆ | Taste: 4/5

This actually is incredibly easy to make for a baked item, and makes for a great crusty bread. The inside is still soft, with a wonderful thick crunchy exterior. I couldn't find currants, so I used dried cranberries with 0% added sugar instead.

★★★★☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable ⏱ Quick prep time: You combine ingredients, knead for a few minutes, and then immediately pop it in the oven

🔪 Little prep: opening bags of things is all that's really needed here, and then the kneading of course

I docked a point because, well, it's a baked good. They take time to bake

★★★☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3/5

Unfortunately, at least where I was at, rye flour is a specialty flour, and so that isn't cheap. Buttermilk is cheaper if you make it yourself, but most will opt to pay the extra price for pre-made buttermilk. While not expensive, it's certainly also not cheap, and it doesn't last as long as normal milk either. And for some frustrating reason, they always sell buttermilk sizes that end up being way more than you need, and so you pay for something you end up tossing 9/10 times.

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TES Food::Grilled Leeks

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Grilled Leeks | 2.5/5

Although leeks can be a little finicky to grow, it's no wonder they thrive around all the riverlands in Skyrim. This rugged vegetable is popular in stews and savory pies, but it is also delicious in its own right and can often be spied gracing the tables of the rich and poor alike.

★★☆☆☆ | Taste: 2.5/5

I was conflicted with this one: is it a 2.5, or a 3? Normally, 2.5 is just "meh", as it perfectly straddles the line of "ew" and "yum." While this recipe is super basic and kinda "meh," there's also something strangely addicting about it. But that's likely my bias towards leeks coming out; I do love me some leek!

★★★★☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

⏱ Quick prep + cook time: you're boiling leeks for 5 minutes, and then pan frying them

🔪 Little prep: cutting the leeks and grating a little amount of cheese is the only real prep necessary

I docked a point because it dirties both a pot and pan ;(

★★★☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

Leeks and cheese are cheap in Europe, but this has not been my experience back in the USA. While parmesan is usually a more affordable cheese in the states, I would say you should opt for the highest aged cheese you can afford for this dish. The leeks like tomatoes are salt suckers, and so you want that hit of salt crystal from a longer aged parm. Plus it adds a nice texture

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TES Food::Hot Mudcrab Dip

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Hot Mudcrab Dip | 3/5

Let's face it—we've all been chased around by these pesky oversized crabs. Now you can take your revenge on those self-important crustaceans by mixing them into this tasty dip. They bring friends, so why shouldn't you feed them to yours?

★★★☆☆ | Taste: 3/5

Just like pea soup, I am incredibly picky when it comes to anything with real crab. It's something you can royally screw up and make overly greasy, or something you can make absolutely glorious. This was decent, but it did unfortunately suffer being more on the greasy side, likely because of the cheese

★★★★★ | Cooking Ease: 5/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable: you could just mix everything in the baking dish

⏱ Quick prep + cook time: baking by definition is never really quick, but we're not exactly roasting turkeys here either

🔪 Little prep: grating the cheese is the only real prep necessary. Otherwise, this is all assembly, baby; my *favorite*!

★☆☆☆☆ | Cost to Make: 1.5/5

I mean, this is all dairy and real crab, so it's not gonna be cheap. Cheese is cheap here in Europe, and there may be some places in the USA where dairy is reasonable, but in the many places I lived, that was definitely not the case ;(

Notes:

I have a few recipes made stockpiled, since it would be a while before the kitchen was properly setup to make anything here. In reality, I've only made 1 thing so far since moving, so I plan on getting through the other recipes first, before starting with the European ventures

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TES Food::Baked White River Salmon

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Baked White River Salmon | 4/5

Salmon can be seen leaping up the current of the White River in great numbers, making them a popular ingredient for cooking. There are myriad ways to catch them—arrows and bolts work well, but a skillfully deployed destruction spell can yield a number of fish quickly. Simply baking the fish with some herbs will result in a delicious meal, but nobles often prefer it baked into a pastry case.

★★★★☆ | Taste: 4/5

I have a complicated relationship with cooked salmon: on one hand, I don't generally like the cooked flavor it has, unless brined. On the other, if you make the taste a sideshow rather than the main act, I think it's delicious. The puff pastry and filling makes it more like a sideshow, and therefore I like it, so long as I don't get a chunky boy in my bite. As always, double up on the Stormcloak Seasoning.

★★★☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3.5/5

Medium prep: dicing leeks, and especially carrots, can be just a tad time consuming, but it's not that bad considering this is all that needs to be prepped, besides a little bit of grated cheese.

Overall, this dish isn't too bad, as most of what you're doing is assembly. The puff pastry drastically cuts the time needed to make the dish.

★★☆☆☆ | Cost to Make: 2.5/5

Unfortunately, as this requires fish, it already won't be all that cost effective. Leeks can be pricey, and puff pastry is middle-of-the-pack in cost.

Notes:

Sorry for the time delay between posts. I moved from North America, over to Europe!

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TES Food::Stewed Apples and Eidar Cheese

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Stewed Apples and Eidar Cheese | 4/5

Try this recipe alongside a hearty slice of meat after a long and arduous quest—you won't be disappointed. Most apples work well in this recipe, but be sure to avoid any poisoned ones by eschewing any apples you find sitting alone on a table with no other food present. As a bonus, this versatile side dish can also do a double duty as a dessert. If you're not a fan of eidar cheese's distinct ripeness, try a milder goat cheese crumble or leave it off altogether for a sweeter version.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4/5

As unappetizing as this looks, it is absolutely delicious; I promise. The blue cheese topping is *mandatory* people. I haven't tried this with goat cheese, so perhaps if you dislike blue cheese, go for goat. This dish is surprisingly creamy, and has depth. As usual, double up the Nord Spices!

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable

⏱ Quick cook time

Medium prep: this is really the only thing that subtracts a point from this recipe. Peeling, coring, and dicing apples is not quick, but otherwise, this dish is super simple

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

I could not find currants anywhere, and I'm not an online shopper, so I had to use unsweetened dried cranberries instead. That said, blue cheese can be fairly affordable, or quite expensive. Apples too, can be cheap, or expensive. I used a cheap blue cheese, and some honeycrisps (middle of the pack pricing)

Notes:

The dish is probably prettier if I had found currants, as the yellow of the apples would contrast with the dark currants far better than the bright red of the cranberries

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TES Food::Pea Soup

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Pea Soup | 3

Nothing wards off the winter's chill like a nice, hearty soup. This is a popular option in the depths of winter, when fresh greens are the hardest to come by, but it still incorporates some of Skyrim's most popular ingredients as it uses dried peas and cured bacon, along with carefully stored leeks and carrots. The result is a simple but filling staple that sticks to the ribs.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3/5

I'm pretty critical of pea soups. If they aren't absolutely incredible to me, it's easy for me to knock points somewhat unfairly. Unfortunately, even though this is pretty decent, it's just missing something for me, but I'm unsure what

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2.5/5

I prefer soups where you throw a bunch of stuff in a pot and call it a day, but this isn't that. You need to soak the peas ahead of time (1st container), then cook non-peas in a pan (2nd container), then cook the peas in a pot (3rd container). So it ends up being more than I'd like to clean, personally. Technically this isn't crazy difficult, but considering it's a soup, it could be easier

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4.5/5

Outside of the bacon and leek, this is a very economical recipe. Carrots last a long time, as do dry split peas. Bouillon and oil aren't spoiling anytime soon in your pantry, nor is the dried (rather than fresh) marjoram

You can probably substitute onions for leeks in this recipe, so that can help reduce cost

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TES Food::Cabbage Biscuits

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Cabbage Biscuits | 4

Although Balmora has since been destroyed, many Dunmer remember the good eating that could be enjoyed when visiting House Hlaalu's stronghold. These delicious biscuits make the best of Morrowind ingredients such as scrib cabbage. Heavily textured, but lightly flavored, they are a great base for a variety of toppings or as an accompaniment to a hearty soup.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4/5

This gets made quite a bit, despite having the unfortunate typical tedium associated with baked goods. It's soft, slightly flaky, and just offers such a unique taste on bread. There's a slightly tangy taste from the cabbage-yeast combo that's quite delightful. No butter or other condiments are needed, but feel free to add them anyways. Keeps for ~4-5 days on the countertop. Best served warm

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2/5

Medium-High prep: it's a yeast-baked good, which means dealing with rising wait times, and also kneading dough. Additionally, squeezing liquid from the cabbage can be a little tedious

🚩Tooling: you need a fairly large, and high-powered food processor to shred this to the fine grate necessary for this recipe. Otherwise, you'll get chunkage using a lower-powered one, and hand grating kinda sucks. That said, this recipe makes great use of leftover cabbage (including napa!)

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4.5/5

You likely have most of the ingredients in your pantry already

Cabbage is oh-so-cheap, and dry yeast lasts for months in the fridge

Because this uses so little heavy cream (only 1 tbsp!), plan other recipes to use up the rest of the heavy cream. This is really the only mildly expensive ingredient on the list

Notes:

It was brought to my attention the recipes in the official TES cookbook are plagiarized from tastes of tamriel. Therefore, going forward, I will double check that site for its recipes, and if indeed it is the same, I will add a tag for tastes of tamriel. That said, this particular recipe does not appear to have been plagiarized

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TES Food::Apple Cobbler

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Apple Cobbler | 4

That the gnarled and twisted trees in Skyrim's orchards still produce such bounty of fruits is nothing short of a marvel. Their round green and red apples are sold and stored all across the region, making their way into various desserts and drinks or eaten raw as a quick, healthy snack.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4/5

Definitely delicious: the cobbler part is great, as the Nord Spices (double it up as usual) really come through nicely. Also, for a dessert, this is surprisingly simple to make. Will be making again

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3/5

Medium prep: slicing apples into wedges is a little time consuming, but for a dessert, this really isn't that bad. Additionally, this dish will require 2 bowls, plus a baking pan, but again, this isn't much considering what you're making

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4/5

With the exception of the apples and buttermilk, you likely have most of the rest of the ingredients in your pantry already

You could opt for cheaper apples, since this recipe doesn't use granny smiths, but I find honeycrisps are pretty mid-tier for apple prices, so this was fine

Buttermilk can be something a little pricey considering it isn't an ingredient that gets used much

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TES Food::Chicken Dumplings

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Chicken Dumplings | 3.5

These dumplings are a specialty of many an inn across Skyrim, where travelers can enjoy them hot after a long day's journey, but they're also a popular pick in one's own homestead kitchen. In either case, the creamy filling has restorative properties, especially washed down with a flagon of the local specialty.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4/5

The flavor is there, but it isn't as good as it should be given how much work is involved. As usual with these recipes, at a minimum you want to double the custom seasoning (Stormcloak in this case). There are a lot of other pot-pie-like filling recipes you can use that involve a lot less work

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2/5

Heavy prep: you have to make the dough beforehand, and additionally, baking the chicken ahead of time and then pulling it apart into bite-sized pieces to then re-bake is time consuming

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cost to Make: 2.5/5

Cheddar isn't the most expensive cheese ever, but with only needing 1/4 cup, you're not exactly getting your money's worth

Rye flour for the rye pie dough is a more specialty flour, and thus commands a specialty price

You can probably substitute onions for leeks in this recipe, so that can help reduce cost

Notes:

When each recipe is cooked for the first time, there are no substitutions used; the recipe is cooked exactly as the book states, with the given ingredients. I only recommend what I feel could be good substitutes, if any, after the first time making the recipe

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TES Food::Honey Pudding

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Honey Pudding | 4

Originally a Khajiit dish, this pudding has evolved without the moonsugar, letting the natural sweet flavors of the honey shine through. Different varieties of honey will each give a slightly different flavor, depending on the flowers it was made from.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4/5

This is actually incredibly delicious, and the flavor is better when warm, as it becomes higly aromatic. That said, the texture is closer to a custard than a pudding, if you're into that sort of thing

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3.5/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable

⏱ Quick prep + cook time

🔪 Little prep: only the vanilla bean pod requires prep. Otherwise, no prep besides mixing ingredients

🚩Tooling: requires some kind of sieve to help with chunkage

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ | Cost to Make: 5/5

This uses mostly ingredients that people already have in their homes at all times, except for maybe heavy whipping cream

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TES Food::Horker Loaf

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Horker Loaf | 4

While horker meat might not be everyone's first pick, it sustains many a coastal family. It's considered lucky to eat the roasted garlic "tusks" at the top of the loaf, and children will often compete with one another to get them.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4/5

Texture is a little weird due to the oysters, but if you like pâté like I do, then you'll like this a lot. The oysters give just enough sea taste, that this meal tastes like a surf n' turf

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

⏱ Quick prep

🔪 Little prep: everything is put into a blender, so the carrot is the only thing you need to chop beforehand

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3/5

This is actually relatively inexpensive, with the primary money sink going into the beef and bacon. If you have a local butcher, the meat would be even less, and you could purchase just enough bacon instead of a whole pack

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TES Food::Kwama Egg Quiche

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Kwama Egg Quiche | 3.5

"Originally only known in Vvardenfell, this recipe traveled with Dunmer fleeing Morrowind after the Red Mountain's eruption and has been well received throughout much of Tamriel, albeit with various regional tweaks to the ingredient list. The lightly seasoned filling and crisp crust can satisfy even the pickiest palate."

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3.5/5

Texture is a little weird, as all quiches tend to be, where they are simultaneously thick, yet pillowy. This is also somewhat greasy due to the amount of cheese involved

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2.5/5

Medium prep: you have to make the dough beforehand, and grating 1.5 cups of cheese takes up some time as well

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cost to Make: 2.5/5

While cheddar and parmesan cheese aren't pricey cheeses, they are still more expensive compared to normal ingredients. Additionally, rye flour for the rye pie dough is a more specialty flour, and thus more expensive

Notes:

For those with a more salt-heavy palate, you might need to add more salt to this