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

This helped alot, Traca. I was able to cull out a big stack of

books this morning by utilizing a few of your tips. Especially helpful was copying off the few recipes of interest in a couple of books and then adding the book to the bye-bye-pile. Thanks for your help.

 
Thanks! I passed on a couple books knowing I can get them from the library

as well as being able to search the book on Amazon and copy off a page/recipe of interest. Good idea about the library.

 
A lot of the ones I'm keeping are single-subject books, and narrow the focus in some way.

Having grown accustomed to Google searches for say, salad, and finding multiple options, I grow increasingly frustrated with books that have 1 or 2 recipes, then move on to the next topic. While I like Ina Garten's books, she's a good example of the style I've grown increasingly frustrated with. (I'm keeping her books because I know them so well, but it's the style/format I'm no longer interested in.)

For instance, I'm keeping single subject books on Bread, Ice Cream, Baking (in general), etc. and also diving into ethnic foods: Vietnamese, Mexican, Spain, Middle Eastern, etc.

I have a whole book on tamales and I love it. It covers not just Mexican tamales but touches on Central America and the Caribbean.

Naomi Duguid's books are another example. While I loathe the coffee table format in many of her books, I love the focus on a specific region or style. And her recipes aren't just good, they're incredible.

 
There was a cookbook conference a while back and one of the topics delved into

the goal of a cookbook is often aspirational. Ina Garten, as an example, of her idyllic setting--in Paris, the Hamptons, or on the beach, and big platters of beautiful food. I aspire to have that lifestyle, and by extension, her book is brings you one step closer, right? Or Pioneer Woman. Funny, smart, stunning pictures, and tapping into old west nostalgia. It's marketing, with a dash of escapism.

Now when I look at a cookbook, I ask myself, what aspirational vein is this trying to tap into? Is it a match with my own goals, or a bit of fantasy?

 
Hi Cathy,

good to see you too! You're a stronger woman than I!!! Still have a tough time saying no to a cookbook that's in my hand screaming "you must buy me"! LOL

 
Good one, Marc. My five would be:

"131 Ways to Serve Weasel" by Sandra Lee
"Hooray for Hooters" by Giada De Laurentis
"Can't Cook, Can't Act" by Bobby Flay
"BLAM! uh,BIM! uh BOOM!?" by Emeril Lagasse
"To Serve Man" The Donner Family Cookbook

 
Not so much stronger

Maybe just busy working two jobs with not much time to cook much less enjoy cookbooks. Hope you are doing well!

 
I need ONLY three BOOKS . . .

Very simple answer with NO HESITATION . . .

Joy of Cooking (Mom's second version - how did baby sister end up with the original??? though my is dutifully stained and gritty)

Bebe Eisenhauer's Recipes - the family cookbook I put together of my Mom's recipes a year after she died.

Classic Greek Cooking - an "Nitty Gritty productions" cookbook circa 1974.

And to round out up to FIVE . . . I would need my "Kitchen 2" on-line file of recipes and my box of index cards (though most of these are in Bebe's book (except one - see below.)

Three books, two files. And, if I were denied the two files, there would only be one index card that I would deem necessary to "smuggle" in!

 
Tamales101, based on recipes from a tamale resto in L.A. I have a masa

recipe that I'm quite happy with, but she goes through variations--including vegetarian and vegan options. I also like the range of tamale fillings. Her headnotes are informative. I was very happy to find the set of drawings illustrating different ways to fold tamales.

When I was first interested in making tamales, I copied the few recipes that were available online and watched videos on YouTube, but this was the book that it "clicked" with me, and all the pieces came together.

http://www.amazon.com/Tamales-101-Beginners-Making-Traditional/dp/1580084281/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344790514&sr=8-1&keywords=tamale+cookbook

 
Ok, 2 thumbs up for these tamales! DH is always looking for "the best tamale"

In Los Angeles and so far, this one wins smileys/smile.gif
We tried the pasilla and cheese, machaca beef and chorizo potato. They were all really good. The only downside (to hubby's way of thinking) is that they only have one beef tamale. Half the menu is vegan and vegetarian.

Oh, and you can buy her cookbook right there, but it's $20 - cheaper by far at Amazon.com

 
Wow! I'm so happy to hear that. Thanks for the follow up. Can you describe the masa?

I was in the bookstore and at the height of my tamale making research. Even though I paid full price, I'd consider that a bargain for this book.

 
The masa was heaven! Not like the really solid heavy kind you usually get.

It was hard to pick up a piece without it breaking in two. In fact, it was my hubby's favorite part!

 
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