I spent my day off cleaning, and part of that odious task is dusting the bookcase. It seems that even though I seldom BUY cookbooks, I somehow acquire them... to the point that my collection is now outgrowing my shelves. Okay, I'm lying- I buy them. Often. There's got to be at least 250 of them. That photo? Just a teeny sample.
How many of these cookbooks do I use on a regular basis? Maybe four or five. But every time I think about getting rid of some, I can come up with an excuse to keep every one. ("But there's that thing I want to try someday..."). It's ridiculous!
I guess as far as hoarding habits go, it's a minor one. It's not like I'm saving paper bags or string. My babies- I mean my books- are organized and orderly. People always know what to give me for a gift, and they make the perfect souvenir when I travel.
If the truth be told, I simply like reading them. Looking at the pictures. Making up elaborate menus in my head that I'll probably never tackle. But I want to start a little project for myself. I'm going to make a recipe out of EVERY cookbook I own, at least one new recipe and book a week. Many of the cookbooks I collect are the "Community" type, like you see that are put out by churches or school PTAs. Others were gotten from my mother, and feature the oh-so-dubious cuisine of the 1970's. So I'm sure I'll have some disasters- but disasters can be fun, too. If I find something great, I'll put the recipe up here.
Am I a little crazy? (Don't answer that, Tony.) Let's take a little poll- how many cookbooks do you have? How many do you use regularly? And which one would you keep if you were told you could only have one? And, finally- anybody want to join me in this project?
How many of these cookbooks do I use on a regular basis? Maybe four or five. But every time I think about getting rid of some, I can come up with an excuse to keep every one. ("But there's that thing I want to try someday..."). It's ridiculous!
I guess as far as hoarding habits go, it's a minor one. It's not like I'm saving paper bags or string. My babies- I mean my books- are organized and orderly. People always know what to give me for a gift, and they make the perfect souvenir when I travel.
If the truth be told, I simply like reading them. Looking at the pictures. Making up elaborate menus in my head that I'll probably never tackle. But I want to start a little project for myself. I'm going to make a recipe out of EVERY cookbook I own, at least one new recipe and book a week. Many of the cookbooks I collect are the "Community" type, like you see that are put out by churches or school PTAs. Others were gotten from my mother, and feature the oh-so-dubious cuisine of the 1970's. So I'm sure I'll have some disasters- but disasters can be fun, too. If I find something great, I'll put the recipe up here.
Am I a little crazy? (Don't answer that, Tony.) Let's take a little poll- how many cookbooks do you have? How many do you use regularly? And which one would you keep if you were told you could only have one? And, finally- anybody want to join me in this project?
So, I didn't know it was a 'problem' to collect cookbooks :) and like you I love to read them and look at the pretty pics and dream. Have 3 GO TO cookbooks, one from Menorah Hospital Women's group in Kansas City, another from St. Louis something-or-other group, and Joy of Cooking as well as an entire kitchen drawer full of pages I've torn out of magazines!
ReplyDeleteIf I could only have ONE cookbook it would have to be Joy of Cooking as it is such a great reference tool. Even when cooking from another source, I often look up a similar recipe in Joy just to see if I'm on the right track.
Love the blog, thanks for getting this going!
I don't have nearly 250 cookbooks, but I have lots. And I'd love to join you in your project. We could also include magazines/recipes - Southern Living, Real Simple, Bon Appetit, Taste of Home - the list is endless.
ReplyDeleteMy latest cookbook was 'How to Cook Everything' by Marc Bittman, a chef and a columnist for NYT. It's a fun read and different than most cookbooks. Different in that Bittman stars his 'go-to' recipes and the basic ones and then gives endless variations to a single recipe. Plus, he gives all kinds of tips - not only common ones, like have to make buttermilk when you don't have any, but also substitutes for cake flours, bread flours, hot to substitute whole grain flours, and on and on. Of course, I want 'How to Cook Everything Vegetarian' next.
Love the idea of your blog & your first idea for the project. Let me know how I can participate - can't figure out how to just list my e-mail in your 'Comment as' area, so I'll just list it here.
kaye.moore@sbcglobal.net