How many cookbooks do you own?

[Drunk Tank]

I am somewhat of a foodie, or food-a-holic. I like good food and I love to cook. I prob. have 20-30 various cookbooks ranging from Betty Crocker to all the Food Network stars, you name it. This doesnt include magazines that I have saved such as Gourmet, Fine Cooking, Bon Apetit and Cooking Light. I usually get 2-3 cookbooks for my birthday and Christmas every year, and while browsing the book aisle at Costco or when I am in Barnes and Noble, I usually am sure to get a new one. I also try to get a new one every time I go out of town or travel. Lately I have been into regional cookbooks, such as South American cuisine, etc.

There is no way i'll ever be able to use them all, but I try to choose a new recipe at least once a month or more to try out. Usually something exotic or what ever picture jumps out at me. Only problem is cooking can quickly become an expensive hobby (new gadgets, exotic spices, etc..). Before I had kids, I would try new recipes at least once a week.

So am I alone in this? Am I crazy? How many cookbooks do you have?

[Fiyero]

Two: one that came with a crock pot, and one from Giada on the Food Network, which I have never used because I don't want to go shopping for 17 ingredients.

[Katy Lied]

Two: one that came with a crock pot, and one from Giada on the Food Network, which I have never used because I don't want to go shopping for 17 ingredients.

Giada has the best recipe for caprese salad. P. 30 of your book. I make it in late summer, when I have at least two different types of tomatoes ripening in my garden. The best recipes are just a combination of really good ingredients in season.


3 T fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
1/2 t salt, more to taste
1/4 t fresh ground black pepper, more to taste
3 T extra virgin olive oil
1 1/4 lbs assorted tomatoes (red, yellow, plum, cherry etc)
6 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, drained and sliced
2 T thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

Whisk lemon juice, 1/2 t salt and 1/4 t pepper in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil to blend. Set the dressing aside.

Cut the tomatoes into 1/4" thick slices. Arrange on a platter, alternating between slices of tomatoes, mozzarella. Drizzle the dressing over. Sprinkle with the basil and additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

[TripletDaddy]

Honestly, we have started ditching cookbooks because more and more stuff is available online. Cookbooks are usually bulky and take up too much precious kitchen space. we still have a bunch of them (around 15 or so?), but many have been sent to the recycle bin in the sky.

I also am putting more and more on my blackberry so that we can try recipes when visiting friends or relatives.

We have one cookbook that was given to us by my wife's mom. It was put together by her ward in Utah. It is bound with some brightly colored yarn and consists of all the favorite recipes from the women in her home ward. Most are casseroles or other gross ideas that might come in handy when you are cooking for 9 kids. I don't think we have ever used that one, but whenever my MIL comes to visit, my wife kinda puts that cookbook somewhere visible so as not to offend.

I do keep my own personal food journals, though, which is part of my hobby/obsession. My own Movable Feast, of sorts. I was just writing in it tonight, actually.

[Drunk Tank]

I also am putting more and more on my blackberry so that we can try recipes when visiting friends or relatives.

That is a good idea. I hadnt thought of that.

[TripletDaddy]

That is a good idea. I hadnt thought of that.

Another nice thing about putting recipes on the blackberry....if someone says, "can I get that recipe?" you can simply email it to them right there on the spot.

[MarkGrace]

I don't know that we have any cookbooks. Just about every recipe we make we pull online. Most of the time from foodandwine.com.

[TripletDaddy]

I don't know that we have any cookbooks. Just about every recipe we make we pull online. Most of the time from foodandwine.com.

we love F&W. Have you tried epicurean.com? That is another good one.

The other thing about celeb chef cookbooks....why would you buy an Emeril cookbook or a Flay cookbook? The recipes are online for free.

[landpoke]

I am somewhat of a foodie, or food-a-holic. I like good food and I love to cook. I prob. have 20-30 various cookbooks ranging from Betty Crocker to all the Food Network stars, you name it. This doesnt include magazines that I have saved such as Gourmet, Fine Cooking, Bon Apetit and Cooking Light. I usually get 2-3 cookbooks for my birthday and Christmas every year, and while browsing the book aisle at Costco or when I am in Barnes and Noble, I usually am sure to get a new one. I also try to get a new one every time I go out of town or travel. Lately I have been into regional cookbooks, such as South American cuisine, etc.

There is no way i'll ever be able to use them all, but I try to choose a new recipe at least once a month or more to try out. Usually something exotic or what ever picture jumps out at me. Only problem is cooking can quickly become an expensive hobby (new gadgets, exotic spices, etc..). Before I had kids, I would try new recipes at least once a week.

So am I alone in this? Am I crazy? How many cookbooks do you have?

I think we have maybe three dozen cookbooks, but when I'm making something I almost always use The Joy of Cooking.

In college my wife worked at a cooking/housewares store in Boulder. The owner of the store had a library in her house devoted to cookbooks with somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 cookbooks. It was an impressive sight.

[marsupial]

I just bought the Sneaky Chef. I made the strawberry breakfast ice cream (frozen strawberries, nonfat milk, honey and avocado pureed) and my kids liked it. I think that was the first cookbook I have ever purchased. The others I own (which are few) were gifts. I get everything online.

[RobinFinderson]

Not counting the ones that came with appliances, we own two: Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone (by far our most frequented cooking book) and some Moosewood book that I never crack.

[MarkGrace]

Have you tried epicurean.com?

No. Our #2 is epicurious.com: http://www.epicurious.com/

Actually, it's probably not even #2. I'm guessing we use that one as much as F&W.

[OhioBlue]

I own two cooking-related books, though they're not cookbooks per se.:

Peterson's Essentials of Cooking

McGee's On Food and Cooking aka the bible.

I'm not much of a recipe guy, but when I need ideas I'll look at epicurious or blogs.

[Katy Lied]

I own two cooking-related books, though they're not cookbooks per se.:

McGee's On Food and Cooking aka the bible.

I worship this book. His second one--not so much.

[Fiyero]

Giada has the best recipe for caprese salad. P. 30 of your book.

That recipe does look good but my page 30 is for vegetarian mozzarella paninis, loaded with olive oil. Only 12 ingredients in that one.

I have no clue how that chick stays so thin.