I have a bit of a cookbook habit. It’s widely known, and I’m coming to terms with it. I just love them, the pretty pictures, the mouthwatering recipes, the perfect ingredient combinations.
I read them in bed. I tag pages with post it notes and write lists of recipes to try. Long lists.
About one fifth/sixth of my collection
My sister feeds my habit by letting me know the bargains from the book people dropped in to her office. The Book Depository tempt me by emailing if there’s a special offer on an item in my wishlist (I got “Make, Bake, Love” by Lily Higgins for €5 thanks to one such email). I borrow beautiful books from the library and photograph of transcribe the recipes that I want to try.
Last Christmas I received nine cookbooks as gifts. I was over the moon!
But time is short and there are so many unused cookbooks. They deserve better.
So, I’ve decided to use them. Sure I’ve loads of time on my hands on maternity leave (cough) and I am stuck in a bit of a recipe rut. Win win.
I hope to pick a book each week and cook something from it, perhaps a dinner, or maybe a cake, or just a side dish or sandwich. But something new. I’ll also give a little review, in case you’re in the market for a new cookbook for your collection:)
This week I’ve chosen Fay Ripley’s
“What’s for dinner” as my “cookbook of the week”, it was one of last year’s Christmas haul. I’m looking forward to getting into it and trying out a couple of the recipes.
Have you a habit like mine?
Any books that you’d like to see featured, nominations are open 🙂
Bumbles of Rice 
Would you believe I own only one cookbook. Speaks volumes. Cooking is definitely not a passion of mine even though I cook for 6 most days and at least two different dinners.
I have to ask Tric- which one? Do you ever use it?
It’s not a recognised cookbook. A great friend of mine did a fundraising cookbook for her school. It features a lot of local eateries and their most popular recipes and also parents in the school. I love it. There are very few pictures but I do use it…. albeit occasionally! My children use it for nice things likes cakes, biscuits etc.
It’s not a recognised cookbook. A great friend of mine did a fundraising cookbook for her school. It features a lot of local eateries and their most popular recipes and also parents in the school. I love it. There are very few pictures but I do use it…. albeit occasionally! My children use it for nice things likes cakes, biscuits etc.
As someone who also suffers from this addiction I am jealous to see books on your shelf that I don’t have…..yet 😉
Ha, that is a problem Yvonne! I tend to try to sate my cravings by checking out my library, I’ll post more excerpts from my collection in the weekly posts, to whet your appetite some more 🙂
Great idea, look forward to reading your reviews. Feel guilty with my own stash of cookbooks as they are not used nearly as much these days
If you’ve any that you’d like me to delve into that are particularly guilting you let me know, I’ve TONS!
Oh lovely idea… do you have any Jamie Oliver? Have three of his books – cooked nearly everything from 30 min meals but other two completely neglected. Rachel Allen and Avoca cookbook feeling a bit under appreciated at the moment too. But I would be very interested in reading any that you review… I’m like you… salivate over them and read them like novels ;0)
Yes, I have a lot of the earlier Jamie ones and 15 minute, which ones are you thinking of? I’ve the two avoca ones too, and I think all the Rachel Allen so name your book and I’ll add to the list. Fair play on cooking nearly everything from 30 minute meals, I find his ingredients can be hard to get.
Great, maybe an early Jamie or an Avoca would be lovely, The 30 min Jamie book has fond memories as my hubby’s parents came round nearly every Wednesday and I cooked a different one each week (improvised on ingredients a lot though); Father in law was in failing health and now in a home so I am so glad we did this and we all have the memory!
I guess the advantage of a restricted diet is no cookbook mountain. (Though that’s only an advantage if you’re particularly short of space for said books, like me!)
That’s one advantage, although when my diet was restricted i just bought all the books that were relevant! I have a problem I know.
You should see some of the faffy vegetarian books I have. Simon Hopkinsons is Desperate. I should get Simon Rimmer’s actually… NOW look what you’ve started…
You SHOULD Jill. I want some Ottolenghi and I’ve see the River Cottage ones recommended too. Off to the library with me…
Oh I have Plenty – it’s gorgeous, there’s a particularly good aubergine & pomegranate thingy in there. No river cottage veg funnily, maybe I can’t get on board with the man that loves/loved meat that much telling me what to eat. Must get it from library & see if I’d like it.
The library is brilliant for test driving books. Definitely want an Ottolenghi on my shelves
Great challenge Sinead, I love reading cookbooks, but often don’t cook even one recipe from some!!! Ill be following closely to see how you get on.
Great idea. I have only 17 cookbooks (just counted) and I mostly cook from recipes on the Internet (and just by opening the fridge and cooking what I find). But when baking I often do crack open one of my Nigellas for a cake recipe.
I’m also a cookbook addict and come to think of it I have one of yours on loan. You now have me revisiting some of my non-Asian ones. Cook some Donal Skehan dishes please 🙂
Just catching up on my reading after the big post Christmas cleanup. I too suffer from this addiction and even though I am a vegetarian I love cooking everything and just adapt my portion. I really love Jamie’s 30 min meals too. The satay being one of the favourite meals that even the 3yo loves ( my portion is tofu) . I recently got the Ella’s kitchen cook book now that I am weaning my little man. I have to say there are some nice recipes in it that my little girl loves to make with me. Which gets her interested in cooking something other than cakes. I am looking forward to your reviews to see what may feature in my shelf soon.
Jill as to vegetarian books I have river cottage veg and I do recommend it along with colour me vegan. I also have market vegetarian by Ross Dobson and I have about 6 recipes in this that I use regularly
I’ll have to try the satay, the boys love peanut butter. Always on the lookout for recipes and recommendations, thanks.