I have always been the type of woman who actually thought I had some sort of control over things. That if I just stuck with my plan, everything would become what I thought I wanted it to be. But then something as unexpected as finding out I was pregnant (with an IUD floating around my uterus) happens and everything changes. Life suddenly came into an unforeseen clarity as the very thing I had been spending most of my womanhood trying to avoid was now overwhelming me with excitement. I had (yet again) been reminded of that brutal fact of life, that we really really really have no idea how things are ever gonna go down. Seriously. Ever.

I didn’t set out to write this cookbook the way it ended up either. That wasn’t in my plan. But once I began writing, I started to naturally incorporate my journey through my pregnancy into the narrative of the book as it was a complete reflection of what I was craving, creating, cooking, and experiencing during each particular stage. With each new trimester came different cravings, desires, emotions, and seasons. thus the chapter titles—Salty, Spicy, Bitter, and Sweet.

This is not a precious new-agey account of a woman’s journey through her pregnancy, just to be clear about that. This is also not, however, a “what to eat when you are pregnant” cookbook. The recipes are not specially designed to benefit just pregnant women. The recipes you will find in this book are a reflection of how I always cook, whether pregnant or not. They are seasonal, rustic, healthful, whole grain, unrefined-sweetened, and will benefit anyone desiring that kind of nourishment.

But, in the end, this is a book I wish I read when I was pregnant. I mean, pregnancy is full of beauitful challenging life changing months. But, no matter how many pre-natal yoga classes you do (or don’t in my case) or breath work seminars you attend (nope) or books you read on your “birth plan” or what you “should” be fucking eating (the worst!) - it ain’t gonna go down the way you plan. And so, if the title Pregnant Bitch offends, I say this; buck up cause motherhood ain’t for pussies.

“It is often said in the cookbook world that every idea has already been done. "Pregnant Bitch, a Cookbook" has proven everyone wrong. Aria's opinionated, hilarious, and creative voice weaves the moods and desires of her pregnancy into the fibers of a beautifully executed cookbook. Yes, her pregnancy dictates what she cooks and when she eats it, but by the end of the book the offerings include recipes we all want to eat morning, night, and noon! From the simplest breakfast smoothies and baked goods to extensive menus with recipe ideas that span the globe, I was inspired to start cooking from this book immediately! What a joy to be find a book that inspires me to cook while narrating the ups and downs of pregnancy in the most personal and authentic voice I've heard in a long time.” 

— Amanda Haas, Cookbook Author and Founder of Amanda Haas Cooks

“I’ve been a fan and follower of Aria since discovering her on Instagram reciting old movie lines in self videos shot while cooking in her kitchen.  Her theatrical heritage, dry sense of humor and colorful language combine to make for great entertainment.  Turns out her cookbook is just as entertaining.  Her first book, “Pregnant Bitch: A Cookbook” is one of a kind.  With the same edgy wit, humor, and language you’d expect from Aria, her diverse and delicious recipes are set among her personal snippets and stories.  Gorgeous watercolor illustrations and whimsical artwork weave thru the pages.  Set in the context of the seasons of pregnancy and motherhood, this book is not about pregnancy: rather it’s a book about eating in seasons.  The reader will surely enjoy these morsels, her storytelling and cooking, paired together as much as I did.” 

— Joan Smith, Owner of Rancho Meladuco Date Farm

“Despite its namesake, Aria Alpert Adjani has created a debut cookbook that we non-breeding bitches salivate for as much as any expectant Mum. Every consideration in PB is curated with tastebuds in mind, and it shows. Underneath that breezy wit is a thoughtful and sophisticated foodie, for whom cooking is clearly an avocation-if not a therapeutic art form. Listen folks, not much delights me in these strange times, but I can say that Arias book has me nodding, drooling, and making new shopping lists. I may not be pregnant but if it looks like I am, it’s probably because I made every delectable recipe in Pregnant Bitch- and ate it myself.”

— Mirran Raphaely, Co-Founder Beyond Brands

“No one knows cravings like pregnant women know cravings, but you don't have to be pregnant to appreciate Aria Alpert Adjani's visceral, sensual and hilarious take on the food we all desire. Whether you're cravings change with the trimester or the season, this book presents an entirely new way to think about what to cook. “

— Merritt Watts, Creative Content Director at William Sonoma