Vert Der Ferk

08/06/2026

🎂 Can regular home cooks actually pull off recipes from the Nailed It! Family Cookbook?

That's exactly what Victoria and I set out to discover in this week's Cookbook Roulette!

Inspired by the hit Netflix series, we took on one of the cookbook's colorful baking challenges—and let's just say... the results were unforgettable. 😅

Did we actually Nail It? Or did things go completely off the rails?

Watch the full episode and decide for yourself!

👇 Have you ever attempted a baking project that looked amazing in the cookbook... but turned into something completely different?

📺 Watch here:
https://youtu.be/ol6rx7oPKDA

Can regular home cooks actually pull off recipes from the Nailed It...

07/30/2026

🎩 New Cookbook Roulette episode is live!

This week's random recipe had me feeling a little... Fancy Pants.

One bowl of shrimp bisque and suddenly my pinky had a mind of its own. 😂

Was this elegant seafood classic worthy of the hype, or just expensive soup with good PR? You'll have to watch and find out!

Question for you:
What's one food that instantly makes you feel a little fancier than you really are?

Apparently, one bowl of shrimp bisque is all it takes for me to bec...

07/24/2026

We officially reached 100 subscribers on YouTube!

Thank you to everyone who's watched, shared, liked, or simply encouraged Vert Der Ferk over the past few months.

It's been a lot of fun seeing where Cookbook Roulette takes us each week, and with 140 cookbooks on the shelf, there are plenty more surprises ahead.

Thanks for being part of the adventure!

07/23/2026

🥦🍕 Can broccoli really replace pizza dough?

This week's Cookbook Roulette took me into the Buff Dudes Cookbook, where I tackled one of the most unusual recipes I've ever made: Broccoli Pizza Crust.

I'll be honest... I wasn't sure what to expect going in. 😅

Did this healthy pizza alternative surprise me, or should it stay in the cookbook? You'll have to watch and see!

🎥 Watch the full episode here:
🔗 https://youtu.be/7bVHMhxrE0U

Have you ever tried a vegetable-based pizza crust? Would you give broccoli pizza a chance?

👇 Let me know in the comments!

Can broccoli really replace pizza dough? 🤔This week on Vert Der F...

07/16/2026

🎲 This week's Cookbook Roulette had me worried before I even opened the first can...

If you know me, you know one thing:

I don't like artichokes.

So naturally, the random draw from Pass the Plate landed on Artichoke Spread. 😅

The recipe couldn't have been much simpler—canned artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, mixed together and baked until golden and bubbly.

Would this classic church cookbook recipe finally make me appreciate artichokes?

You'll have to watch to find out.

One of my favourite parts of Cookbook Roulette is discovering recipes I never would have chosen on my own. Sometimes I find a new favourite, and sometimes I learn that my opinion hasn't changed—but every recipe gives me a chance to explore another cookbook and the stories behind it.

I'd love to hear from you...

👇 Are you an artichoke fan, or are you on my side?

🎥 Watch the latest episode here:
https://youtu.be/nrhzTmnboMY

This week on Cookbook Roulette, a random draw landed on Artichoke S...

07/09/2026

🥒 Turkey, Hummus & Jicama Rollups 🦃

This week's spin of Cookbook Roulette brought me to Hungry Girl: Fast & Easy, and I have to admit... I wasn't sure what to expect.

A recipe with only turkey, hummus, and jicama sounded almost too simple. But sometimes that's exactly the point.

These rollups come together in just a few minutes, require absolutely no cooking, and make a great lunch, snack, or meal prep option. The creamy hummus and crisp jicama give them a surprisingly satisfying crunch.

Did this easy recipe earn a spot in my regular rotation? You'll have to watch the episode to find out!

📺 Check out the full video and let me know:
Have you ever eaten jicama? If so, what's your favorite way to use it?

07/02/2026

🥒 I'll admit it... I was skeptical.

When Cookbook Roulette landed on a Pineapple-Cucumber Slushee from Thug Kitchen 101, I wasn't convinced.

🍍 Pineapple? Absolutely.
🥒 Cucumber? Maybe...
🥃 Kraken Rum? Now you've got my attention!

The recipe called for blending everything with ice, but I decided to try something different and made it in my Ninja Slushi instead.

Now I'm curious...

If a recipe calls for blending with ice, would you stick to the recipe, or would you use a Ninja Slushi if you had one?

I'd love to hear what you'd do—and if you've discovered any recipes that turned out even better in a Ninja Slushi than they were originally intended.

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

06/25/2026

🐷 Can a pressure cooker really make incredible pulled pork?

I've always believed great pulled pork was all about cooking it low and slow... but this week's Cookbook Roulette had other plans.

This time, I put Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork from Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner's Manual by America's Test Kitchen to the test to see if speed could compete with tradition.

Did it turn out tender?

Did it shred beautifully?

Most importantly...

Would I make it again?

Watch the video and let me know what you think!

👇 I'd love to hear from you:

What's your favourite way to make pulled pork?
🔥 Smoker
⚡ Pressure Cooker
🐢 Slow Cooker
🔥 Oven

🎲 Cookbook Roulette

Every Thursday I randomly select a cookbook from my collection and let chance decide what's for dinner.

No cherry-picking.

No sponsored opinions.

Just honest cooking and honest reviews.

If you enjoy discovering cookbooks and trying new recipes, you're in the right place!

06/18/2026

🔥🍗 NEW VERT DER FERK EPISODE! 🍗🔥

This week, Cookbook Roulette sent me to Jamaica with Dimples' Barbecued Chicken from The Barbecue! Bible by Steven Raichlen.

When most people think of Jamaican chicken, they think of jerk. But tucked away in the pages of this barbecue classic is a recipe inspired by a small roadside eatery outside Kingston that offers a completely different take on Caribbean barbecue.

So naturally, I had to ask:

🤔 Could it actually be better than jerk chicken?

I fired up the smoker, followed the recipe as written, and put it to the test.

📚 Cookbook: The Barbecue! Bible
👨‍🍳 Author: Steven Raichlen
🍗 Recipe: Dimples' Barbecued Chicken
🎲 Series: Cookbook Roulette

Watch the episode and let me know what you think!

👇 Team Jerk Chicken or Team BBQ Chicken?

06/11/2026

🍲 Cookbook Roulette strikes again!

This week's random draw landed on Lemony Red Lentil Soup from Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook.

I'll be honest... if I was picking recipes myself, I probably wouldn't have chosen a lentil soup. That's exactly why I love the Cookbook Roulette concept. It pushes me to try recipes, ingredients, and cookbooks that might otherwise stay on the shelf.

This soup combines red lentils, potatoes, carrots, garlic, warm spices, and fresh lemon into a surprisingly hearty meal made from simple ingredients.

Whether you're a fan of plant-based cooking or just looking for inspiration from a different cookbook, this episode offers a look at one of the recipes hiding inside Thug Kitchen.

So here's my question:

🤔 What's a recipe or ingredient you were skeptical about at first, but ended up loving?

Let me know in the comments!