Quote:
Originally Posted by mudbug  This question was inspired by Kimmie's post at the "form over function" thread.
We all have a collection of cookbooks which probably doesn't get smaller. How do you sort them? Where do you keep them (kitchen counter, cabinets, closets, stand alone shelves, shelves on the wall)? Do you have a cookbook on "display" in a plate holder? Do you have blank recipe books you write your creations in or keep them on your computer? Do you use them all or do you trade unused ones at the used book store? |
My kitchen includes a small built-in cabinet in one corner (also used as a telephone stand) that I use as a cookbook library. The cookbooks are sorted according to their dominant subject matter. Regional cookbooks by the region they represent, or by subject (e.g. Cakes and cookies, Diabetic Recipes, etc.). I don't display my cookbooks. My counterspace will never be large enough, no matter how big a kitchen I have, to waste space displaying cookbooks. My computer is the mechanism I use to write recipes, but I do keep a notebook on hand in the kitchen to make notes when something comes to mind that I want to file in the computer. I use all my cookbooks, even if it's just to get an idea. I am not a disciplined recipe follower. I will ordinarilly follow the recipe closely the first time I use it but I don't feel very creative following someone elses directions and, if I believe I can improve on it, I do. Of course, the improvement isn't always better....
The only cookbooks that I discard are those that I pick up at a used book store and review at home and find it less interesting than it first appeared, or a cookbook that someone else gave me but that isn't useful (I'm not ungrateful but I do have limited space) for my needs.