101 Cookbooks is based off a lady named Heidi who was a self-proclaimed impulsive buyer of cookbooks. She always purchased them with the very best intentions...and she read them...and dog-eared the pages and marked favorite recipes with post-its...and then stuck those cookbooks on her shelf and never actually cooked anything from them.
One day, she looked up and realized that she had over 100 different cookbooks...and decided right then and there that it was time to stop buying, and start COOKING. So, she started a blog about her foray into all 100+ cookbooks, and the blog evolved, and she gainmed some notoriety, and now...
Guess what?
She has her OWN cookbook!!
Heidi's own cookbook...just recently published!! |
Heidi focuses on cooking with all-natural ingredients, and is also a vegetarian. Since our family is becoming more and more health-focused, this appeals to me.
But her story got me thinking about my OWN love affair with cookbooks. I have no where NEAR 101...but I have many. And I always want more.
For example, I don't own a single Julia Child cookbook...and I think this is tantamount to a sin. Julia Child is quite possibly the Saint of Foodies...so I feel this growing urge to engage in some kind of repentance.
I also want the Pioneer Womans cookbook. And the one above by Heidi. and there is one being published by another of my food goddesses...Smitten Kitchen. And then there's Molly Stevens classic, which I'd love to have because Braising is my favorite style of cooking, and I'm tired of looking up recipes on-line.
And that brings up the Internet Conundrum...I know I can find all these recipes, and millions more...on-line. and I love surfing for recipes...but there is something about a cookbook vs. a computer screen. For one thing, I hate running from my kitchen to my desktop to check what the next step is...
...and I could never bring a laptop in my kitchen because when I cook, I throw my whole soul into it and make a MESS.
So that means I'm forced to print the recipes, and that just wastes ink and paper.
It's kinda like my quandary about purchasing a Kindle...I LOVE the idea of an electronic book that holds thousands of my favorite novels and fits in my purse...but there is something about holding an actual book in my hands...turning the pages, feeling the worn paper...
I know it's a bit romantic of me...but it sums up my issue with cookbooks as well.
True, my cookbooks get worn and trashed...you can tell my favorite recipes by how bent the spine is in that spot, and how many spills and stains are on the pages. But they are trusty, and loyal, and won't suffer crashes or computer glitches. They can handle the splashes of water and sploshes of sauce, and still faithfully return to my kitchen every night.
I love them.
And so I thought I'd share my favorites with you.
Despite my utter failing at having a Julia Child's cookbook in my collection, I do possess some classics...such as Joy of Cooking ...
What other book explains how to properly trim a whole bear? |
I bet ya'all have this one... |
My mother had this cookbook... |
I love the old pictures,,, |
Some of my favorite books aren't classics OR nostalgic, but more seasonable in nature. For example, I absolutely LOVE this cookbook on grilling...
Absolutely GORGEOUS photos... |
Doesn't that look heavenly? |
So much fun and creativity... |
They have recipes that revolve around a certain type of music and/or entertainment...and have a CD that accompanies them...
For your evening at the San Francisco Symphony, Metropolitan Opera, and Garden Classical Event... |
Yup...they say "Essential MORMON Cookbooks", and yes...they have the green jell-o recipe... |
From a famous restaurant in Maui |
It was a gift from Presidents Circle, and it's even signed!! |
From a restaurant located in Martha's Vineyard |
So beautiful...but I've yet to make anything from this cookbook, although I've owned it for years... |
But I do own some cookbooks which I never plan on cooking from...ever. They are simply to look at...
perfect example... |
Yes...this is an actual CAKE... |
WOW...and that's all fondant, molding chocolate, and marzipan... |
We did a lot of the magic one while reading Harry Potter... |
I have about 4 of the Halloween-inspired booklets... |
My grandfather was the cook, and my mother and uncles waited tables and washed dishes. It's how they grew up. Now, many years later, and long since my grandfather has passed away, my cousin, who is a chef, has re-opened the shop in the same location, calling it Dan's Eat Shop.
My cousin, Dan Ewing... |
My collection... |
Look!! It's NEW!! |
Only .25 in 1953 |
I didn't know him, and honestly, I'm not as close as I'd like to be with that side of the family. I don't know why...maybe the massive age difference between me and my cousins (although that hasn't been a deterrent to my younger sister, who has always been accepted up there), or the fact that I'm forever running around the country and living in places that increasingly get further and further away, or maybe it's the actual lifestyle choices I make, or maybe I'm just darn un-likeable. Whatever the reason, I wish it was different.
So this is my piece of him...my little bit of Ewing pride.
I'd like to think I got some of my love of cooking from him, and although I don't think I'll ever be good enough or cool enough to run my own restaurant, I hope my own style of kitchen finesse makes him proud...
...as proud as I am to have him be part of me.
No comments:
Post a Comment