Downsizing the cookbook collection. One of the most challenging tasks I've encountered. Anyone else

P

pat-nocal

Well-known member
have the problem of more books than you really have room for (or need)? Why oh why did I acquire all these (over 1,000) cookbooks? LOL

If you've done it (downsized), feel free to pass along tips or hints. And please don't say buy a bigger house. smileys/wink.gif

 
They are taking over the house. I'm sure Pat in Bastrop would appreciate

Some since all of hers burned with the house. You can mail them media (used to be book) rate pretty cheaply. I sent her some.

 
Awesome idea. Anyone know how to contact her? I'd better ask if she wants

them before sending. Wouldn't want my problem to become hers. smileys/wink.gif

 
At this point, filling up the floor to ceiling bookshelves in the kitchen and library...

I can't think of a reason to downsize. But then, that may change later.

Well over a thousand as well...

 
Same challenge....

We're well over a thou here, and my approach is the same as yours, Richard. Have more floor-to-ceiling shelves built so:

1) We don't look like candidates to go on hoarders, and
2) So my Virgo neat-freak husband doesn't shove a pillow in my face while I sleep.

I believe there's no such thing as too many cookbooks as long as you love and use 'em. Pat, it's time to build an add-on for your house LOL

 
Since I have a box of about 35 cookbooks sitting in my entry way waiting to be

picked up tomorrow by the VVA, I feel comfortable advising you to strike while the iron is hot - do it now while you are motivated.

smileys/bigsmile.gif

I made myself feel better knowing that I can always check out something from the library if I need to have access to it again. Some of them I have not opened in years - those were easier to part with.

 
Culled

I culled many when we moved/retired eight years ago and unfortunately continued to buy. Shelves are full, dressers, bed side table and floors have stacks. Can't find areas to build more shelves.

 
I'm fortunate that my house is small, and I start overflowing at 100.

I give them away if I haven't used them in a few years. If there are only a couple recipes I use they can be copied out.

 
Pat, I've been culling my collection in stages and finally getting to the tail end. A few thoughts..

When I first became interested in food, early on I was working with chefs. I bought the books they were interested in. (Multiple components, tweezers and white linen-type books). Now, I realize that's not my style of cooking. I ditched them all.

I also bought several CIA-instructional books. Upon further inspection, some are written for restaurant volumes, others take smaller portions into consideration. Volume book -- gone.

I made a pile of all the books I've never cooked from. After I got over the separation anxiety, I went back (about a week later) and gave them a hard look. You know how some books are so compelling, they drag you into the kitchen? Are any of those books in this pile? Probably not, but worth another look. If not, out they go.

Next I made a pile of all the books I've cooked from, but had less than spectacular results. I've tried two or more recipes and despite the reviews on Amazon or the Big Name Chef on the cover, my results were lackluster. Then I asked myself...do I really want to invest anymore time or money trying to convince myself that this is a great book? No? Out they go.

From there, I went through another cull, ditching anything I'm no longer inspired by, currently have a solid mastery of, etc. As an example, at this point, I no longer need 7 ice cream books. I picked my two favorites and ditched the rest.

And lastly, a friend of mine gave me some terrific advice. If you really end up missing a book, you can always buy another copy. Surprisingly, this gave me terrific peace of mind. I knew I wanted to purge a large chunk of my collection. Once I got past "Mine! Mine! Mine!" and letting go...knowing I could actually buy another copy if I really wanted, made me dive in much more enthusiastically. So far, I haven't replaced anything.

The other thing that helped...I pictured myself explaining to someone, "I love this book because..." If I was grasping for something to say, I ditched it.

While I'm not completely done, I'm getting much closer to what I envision as a "hit parade" of my favorite books.

 
Favorite?

So downsizing or collecting more, I'm curious what everyone's Top 5 cookbooks are? If you HAD to get rid of all of them but 5...

For me:

1. Giorgio Locatelli - Made in Italy
2. Jerry Traunfeld - The Herbfarm
3. Teage Ezard - Lotus
4. James Oseland - Cradle of Flavor
5. Christine Manfield - Spice

 
I am with Earnie, not that I have moved and culled, but that there are piles everywhere

in my home of cookbooks. I do try to pare down sometimes but haven't reached the point of getting over that separation anxiety that Traca spoke of. And, I find that my point of view is continually evolving and just because I haven't opened a book in a long time doesn't mean that I won't bring it back to the top of the pile at some point.

I am trying very hard to be much more selective about buying new ones. Right now I am trying to resist the temptation to buy that ice cream book Marilyn spoke of. I keep seeing it mentioned on different blogs too.....

 
Pat! Where have you been? So good to see you again

I try to cull out books but never am able to get rid of more than 3 or 4 at a time. I solved the problem by just not buying any new ones.

 
I have the affliction of buying cookbooks as souveniers of travels. have a hard time parting with

those, even if I don't cook from them----Jr league books especially.

 
That's a tough question....

It's hard to choose a mere handful but I guess I'd have to say I'd probably go with more technique-driven cookbooks by chefs/authors like James Peterson, Julia Child, Marcella Hazan, Jacques Pepin, Peter Reinhart, Anne Willan, etc., and even my culinary school textbooks (huge enough tomes in and of themselves that perhaps one might never even need another *cookbook* just by utilizing the content to learn how to really cook). But I *love, love, love* all my other cookbooks, especially the ones with colorful photos that makes you just want to dash right out to the kitchen to create that item.

It's fun to also curl up with a stack of cookbooks and a cuppa and dream away...reading the books like novels at times. But where I really find myself doing a majority of my cooking these days is from the internet. It's so easy to just google and come up with great recipes, often highly rated and with suggested tweaks, that it takes less time than pouring over cookbooks for something to make.

I guess I didn't really narrow that down to five, did I? LOL

 
That's a biggie for me, keeping myself from buying more, even though

I'm on a self-imposed cookbook-buying-restriction. I'll see a cookbook I believe I can't live without and think "oh what the heck, it's just one book, I'll find a home for it". *sigh*

My hubby says I need a 12-step program. smileys/wink.gif

 
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