By Leslie Brenner
Diana Kennedy — the trailblazing cookbook author who devoted her career to studying and understanding the wonders of regional Mexican cooking, and sharing what she learned with the English-speaking world — died today at her home in Michoacán, Mexico. She was 99 years old.
We honored Kennedy last year in a story we published on International Women’s Day, as part of a series about stellar female cookbook authors.
READ: “Take a moment to honor 98-year-old Diana Kennedy, the ‘Queen of Mexican Regional Cooking.’ “
The contributions Kennedy made to the appreciation and understanding of Mexican cooking in the United States are immense and profound — and she reportedly continued working until the end. Her work touched me personally and deeply, as I wrote in last year’s appreciation.
Here are a few recipes inspired by techniques described in Diana Kennedy’s books, or loosely adapted from her recipes: