How do you store your cookbooks? - Page 2

Isa · #16 03-09-2002, 06:38 PM

I am impress Chiffonade. I don't think I could ever throw a magazine out or cut them. I do know I'll never use 99.9% of the recipes in those magazines yet I couldn't throw them out.

Have you noticed that for the last few years December issue aren't as good as they used to be? Less candy recipes, home made gifts ideas, etc.

CalicoSkies · #17 03-09-2002, 06:45 PM

Husband built me a very pretty bookcase, its in my dining room right off the kitchen. Its also full to the brim! Can never have too many cookbooks. Does anyone do like me, when you are lacking for a good book to read, just grab a cookbook and read? I love reading cookbooks.

Kimmie · #18 03-09-2002, 06:49 PM

MOI! They're such a good read!

chiffonade · #19 03-09-2002, 07:11 PM

...But I love curling up with a good cookbook!

Re: Unused Cookbooks...I used to hold onto these indefinitely. They were generally ones I did not purchase, but received as gifts from well-meaning friends and relatives trying to buy me books I didn't have. I put those on http://www.half.com. BTW, half.com is where I found an original copy of Martha Stewart's Entertaining from 1982. She just revised the dust jacket to include an updated photo - and I'm sure she nuked the original dedication to her (now former) husband, Andy.

W.DeBord · #20 03-09-2002, 07:37 PM

Hey are those orig. Martha books now collectable? I never thought about it but I suppose one day they will be, if not now. COOL I have all of them, one autographed too. Her soft cover magazine style books have self destructed from heavy use.......hope their never valuable, toooo late.

thebighat · #21 03-09-2002, 08:08 PM

Very low tech here. lots of piles. the pile of books beside the bed has been a constant in my life for over 25 years. Actually I have builtins bolted to the ceiling all the way across the back of the kitchen and more right over my head as I sit here. And shelves under the windows in the bedroom. We are literally running out of room for more books.

Isa · #22 03-09-2002, 08:36 PM

Me reading cookbooks? There are 5 cookbooks and 6 food related magazines on my coffee table right now. Plus the Larousse Gastronomique who never leaves my side.

alexia · #23 03-10-2002, 09:21 AM

Book storage: I don't even want to know how many! Oh the guilt.

I've put all my recipes and old files on the computer. I have added many recipes saved to my own files from various websites (in Text, not Web so I can access them offline). And now I scan in text from magazines or cookbooks.

Scanner: I have a flatbed type that allows easy scanning from books as well as flat sheets and magazines (HP, only c. $50). This allows me to scan any recipe I use or think I'll use into my files Just be sure to get one with a removable lid (that usually covers the light) to make it easier to copy a page in a book.

Retrival: The advantage of this for me is that my Word Perfect processor includes a QuickFinder system. With a few mouse clicks I can set my computer in search of any word that appears in any recipe. It brings up a list of every document on the computer containing that word regardless of what program it's in. This means that unless I wish to do so, I can leave the ones saved from websites in that form (or format them into WP if that's more convenient) and still access them offline. I believe QuickFinder is available as free standing software, if you use another processor. I find it works better than many of the website search engines.

This is particularly useful as I spend a lot of time out of town and often cook then, too, so take my laptop with me. It's as though I am taking my library with me. Also, by scanning useful cookbook recipes into the computer, even when I am going to use one at home I merely print it out (or take the computer into the kitchen).

I find it a workable system. It helps eliminate wondering where I saw a particular recipe and keeps my cookbooks clean. For the most part only Joy lives in the kitchen.

Athenaeus · #24 03-10-2002, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by alexia
.

Retrival: The advantage of this for me is that my Word Perfect processor includes a QuickFinder system. With a few mouse clicks I can set my computer in search of any word that appears in any recipe. It brings up a list of every document on the computer containing that word regardless of what program it's in. This means that unless I wish to do so, I can leave the ones saved from websites in that form (or format them into WP if that's more convenient) and still access them offline. I believe QuickFinder is available as free standing software, if you use another processor. I find it works better than many of the website search engines.

.

Can someone explain to me the Word Perfect? Do you mean the Word of Office Windows?

Can I find Quick Find in Tucows ??

Thank you in advance

alexia · #25 03-10-2002, 11:24 AM

Atheneus, QuickFinder came with my WordPerfect Program (mfg by Corel). I believe QF is part of another free standing software program that they add to WP as "added value."

WP is not a microsoft product it is a "competing" word processor/office system that is compatible with any Windows, Mac, or Linux PC - they have a version for each, I believe. I have stayed with it because a) I like it and b) they have terrific support.

There are versions of WP in several languages (or used to be) and for those use a second or third language, you can get supplements that support you in spell check, etc. I've been told that WP is more versatile for academic uses. I primarily use it for the word processor.

I looked up QF (INSO) in Google, but what I came up with emphasized other functions. Perhaps if you contact them about QF they can give you more information. It is entirely possible you have this program in Windows as well. Unfortunately, my knowledge of computers is very limited. Others may know more.

nancya · #26 03-10-2002, 01:10 PM

Word Perfect is the best avaliable in my not so humble opinion. I have used every version of WP from 3.0 to 9 and can make it sing and dance and do the dishes.

Word is improving but still doesn't give you the options and performance of WP. But it does use the same icons so you can be fooled into believing that it is almost the same.....

NOT!!!!

Don't settle for less than the very best.

Gosh, I wish I could upload a picture about now....doing the attachment thing for a gif is just too silly.

Brook · #27 03-10-2002, 03:09 PM

I have three areas for cookbooks -- the most frequently used ones are around the corner from the breakfast nook. They are arranged by category: general, all-purpose reference, followed by type of food and within each type, by type of cuisine. The second batch of cookbooks, primarily arranged by type of food and cuisine since all the reference type books are in the first set, are in another sets of bookshelves off the living room, with the final set of books, again arranged by cuisine and type of food, next to my bed for browsing and reading at night!

I put magazine recipes I really like onto index cards and file them in recipe boxes because periodically, when the numbers of magazines get too many, I cull my collection (not the Saveurs though). Recipes I have yet to try are stored in files until I test drive them. I have an indexed looseleaf book in which I write down recipes I have tried, where they are located, and other relevant comments, like how well I liked it and the preparation time. That way, I don't have to hunt so long to find a recipe I used ages ago and want to repeat.

Is it my imagination or has the quality Gourmet really deteriorated since they changed editors?

monkeymay · #28 03-10-2002, 08:53 PM

No it's not your imagination. It's a travelog filled with ads.
The old ones were better.

marmalady · #29 03-11-2002, 07:08 AM

I go through my cookbooks once a year, and get brutal; if I haven't looked at a book in the last year, it goes! unless it has sentimental value, of course!I have several autographed books which i don't really use, but keep on hand remembering the chats I had as they were signed. I donate the books to the Vo-Tech school down the road, for their culinary program; to our local library, and to friends and co-workers.

Magazines - If I kept all my mags, there would be no room to walk in my house! I wait til I have a few months accumulated, and then sit down on a rainy day, clip the recipes/ideas I want to save, and put them on my recipe software program.

I have two bookshelves - one in the dining room, which has all the 'working' books, sorted loosely by category - baking, ethnic, seafood, vegetarian, etc. Then in the living room (which has one wall of bookshelves!), I have all my reference books and 'general' food books.

Pete · #30 03-11-2002, 08:18 AM

Get rid of unused cookbooks!? Is there such a thing as an unused cookbook? I never get rid of my cookbooks, though, on occasion I will give one away as a gift (though often times I will then go out and replace that book).

As for magazines had many years worth of Saveur, Food Arts, and a number of Food & Wines, Gourmets, and Bon Apettits thrown in. But once again, I am contemplating a move so I have decided that they must go.

But before they have gone, I have been going through them and coping an recipes that I might want (very hard decisions) and putting them into one of the cookbooks I created in my "MasterCook" software. Yes, it pains me to do it, but I get so tired of moving all those mags. on top of the numerous boxes of cookbooks I have.