Monday 18 January 2016

Cook the Books


This is only a portion of my cook book collection



It is no secret that I love cookbooks and food magazines.  I am always getting them out of the library, copying recipes, pinning them to my Delicious board on Pinterest.  I often ask for them as birthday or Christmas gifts.  Over the years I have accumulated quite a collection, and this doesn't include all the recipes I have ripped out of magazines and newspapers that are waiting to be glued into a large spiral bound book.

Much aslike looking through all my cookbooks, and marking recipes to try, I find that I keep returning to three or four favourite books, usually The Free Range Cook series by Annabel Langbein.

This year I have decided to set myself a challenge, to "Cook the Books".  Starting in February, I will emdeavour to try at least one new recipe a week from my collection of books, magazines clippings and pinterest board..  I am not promising gourmet meals here, it maybe a simple salad, using fresh produce from my garden, or a new soup or stew, and if my family are really lucky baking or a dessert. I also won't be able to promise photos of every new recipe I try either, only because food photos taken in the evening aren't always the best.

Hopefully, by doing this I will rediscover my love of baking and cooking, introduce new ingredients and flavours to my family  (who luckily aren't fussy eaters) and make use of all my wonderful books.

11 comments:

  1. That's a great idea, Julie. I went food shopping today and I always get frustrated because is seems like I'm making the same thing over and over again. I will check out your Pinterst board. Maybe I'll find some inspiration.

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  2. Yes, I too love Annabel's recipes, haven't had a failure so far! Look forward to hearing about your favourites as you cook the books!

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  3. I look forward to reading your reviews on your different recipes........just wish I could taste them too!

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  4. Another Annabel lover here, she has some great recipes and they are easy and quick as well, I also like Alison Holst's books as well.

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  5. Some lovely cook books there! Your plan sounds like a good one.

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  6. Sounds like a wonderful idea. Such a shame to have all those beautiful books and not use them.

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  7. I hope that you have great fun and some delicious meals cooking your books! Let us know how you get on and if you have any recommendations! xx

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  8. I think that is a great idea!! We get in a rut here. I will end up making the same meals. Looking forward to your new recipes. And I think you just gave me inspiration to "Cook the Book"!!
    Carla

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  9. I love this! i've just been reading post after post about people wanting to use up the wool or fabric from their stash this year instead of buying new, and I guess this is the cook book version. Good luck, sounds like it could be fun for the whole family too. xx

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  10. You are as bad (or good) as me with your cookbook collection Julie Lou. I have all of Annabels and love them. A couple of new books given to me by my DIL are the Revive Cafe Cookbooks!
    Mind you they don't rival my quilting books! :-)

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  11. I said exactly the same thing to Tony as a New Year resolution!! I was going to try one new one a day though which was probably a little ambitious

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