Cookery Books

Prompted by a post from Shropshiregirl - I did a stock take of the kitchen bookcase and was astonished by the results. There are 83 of them - had never counted them before.
Yes - before anyone asks - they are all well used.

The collection includes:-
Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Moroccan, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Australian (their Woman's Weekly series is excellent).

Because I cook for friends with various food problems:-
Gluten free, Dairy free, Allergy/Intolerance awareness, Healing foods, Vegetarian and Vegan.

The collection also includes books on Cake Decorating, Working with Chocolate, Human Nutrition, Vital Vitamins/Minerals etc., the ever handy 'Bero Book', and several obscure volumes from when I was at Chef school.

If they all caught fire and I had to rescue just one - it would be this one:-

Ballymaloe Cookery Course, by Darina Allen

Re: Cookery Books

I to ST have loads of cookery books, the only thing is, I read them, but don't cook any of them, I make up my own ingredients instead.

Re: Cookery Books

I haven't got a single cookery book in the house. I occasionally look at on-line recipes and if I like the sound of them I save them on my laptop. I try not to do much cooking these days and all the recipes I use are in my head. Don't do much weighing and measuring either. I never was a very good housewife. Can't be doing with all the faffing around or all the prep and washing up afterwards.

Re: Cookery Books

I used to have a lot of dinner parties, so I have a kitchen cupboard full of cookery books. Many were presents or just books I would see on offer in bookstores.

I love cooking and have used all of the books, but eventually you make adjustments to your favorites, to suit you own taste. When cooking for myself I find that it is fun to go through your fridge, freezer and cupboards and just create something from what you find there...... so far I have made some really tasty meals from using that method!

Re: Cookery Books

I love finding old cookery books in charity shops, they are a social history

I have a few war time ones, some post war. One of my favourite to read is The cookery year, a readers digest publication.

As for everyday cooking I’m a hunt the fridge and make something kind of lass. I do have a few cookbooks that are my bibles, Delia I turn to for timings and recipes for new dishes, Hairy bikers for Indian , ken Hom for Chinese , but mostly if I’m looking inspiration then it’s online.

I think like so many of us, we have our favourite dishes and they have been adapted and evolved over the years they are nothing like the original

Re: Cookery Books

Wouldn't be without my 'Mary Berry' cookbook!!!