A fact finding mission

[spikesgirl58]

What is the name of your favorite cookbook(s)? Why do you prefer it over others? If you don't cook from one, is that a favorite in your past, one that encouraged you to try your cooking wings, as it were.

Is there cookbook that you would never prepare a recipe from, but you keep it anyhow?

Comments

[avery11]

Cookbooks don't work for me. I like to collect recipes individually. All my favorites are literally stuffed in one of my kitchen drawers. The only nod to a filing system is that the recipes I use the most tend to hover near the top of the pile. LOL

[spikesgirl58]

Thank sounds a bit like me. We have a ton of cookbooks, but usually it's just one or two in each book. I should just make copies and take them to the Friends of the Library, but I adore collecting older books, if not for the recipes, then for the times remembered.

[jkkitty]

Don't use cookbooks except for baking. My mom, dad, and grandma taught me to cook by the experiment and taste method. Have a Christmas cookie book I love.

[spikesgirl58]

I've always been amazed at people who do not taste what they are cooking as they are cooking it - within reason, of course.

[cosmosmariner]

My favorite cookbook is called "Kitchen of Light" by Andreas Viestad. It's part cookbook and part travelogue, part coffee table book. It's modern Scandinavian food. The recipes are interesting and one of my favorite side dishes, a lemon mustard asparagus dish, came from this book. It's beautiful and interesting and I've taken a lot of the recipes to heart, even if I probably won't make half of what's in the book.

[spikesgirl58]

I know what you mean. I have a Vincent and Mary Price cookbook and while I have only used a couple of recipes in it, I would never part with it because of the wonderful writing and the menus from various restaurant of that era (late 50's). I love reading them!

[cosmosmariner]

I have a copy of The Joy of Cooking that is from I think the late 60s. Not exactly sure, but it belonged to Rob's nana. I keep it even though I will never cook anything from it, mostly because the food is really...unappetizing? It's like What joy? LOL There are so many jellied whozits and somethings in aspic and you're like "WHO EATS THIS?" LOL But to do research, or to look back and laugh, it's great. :)

[spikesgirl58]

Exactly!!!! I can't believe new brides were given it as a 'how to' cookbook - it's impossible. I will say I use a couple of the soup recipes, but that's it and they are on my terms.

Aspic - who eats aspic???

[sheilasmiles]

I too am Betty Crocker cookbook girl - I have the copy that was give to me at my bridal shower and a newer one I bought about ten years ago.I have a large collection,but my go to cookbooks number less than 10. An older Yankee Magazine cookbook, one called Cooking by the Calendar and Mystic Seaport Christmas Collection. They are on a shelf in the kitchen and look what they are well used. I don't cook that much now-that's what my sons are for. lol

[spikesgirl58]

You sound like me - I have many cookbooks, but only a few are used again and again. They are like old friends!

[gilda_elise]

Um, I'm not really the cook in the family. What I know how to prepare are things my mother taught me. But my husband swears by the American Test Kitchen books.

[spikesgirl58]

My hubby loves American Test Kitchen as well. I find their recipes overly fussy at times, but they are tasty. We are doing a roasted chicken via one of their recipes this week, in fact.