What cookbooks would you 'save' ?

Swan_2

oh Merrywidow, I'm envious of your book collection

here’s the original Time Life Chili recipe, in my own words to avoid copyright issues

3 lb stewing steak in ½” cubes, or 3 lb minced beef
6 Tablespoons oil
2 cups roughly chopped onion
2 Tablespoons finely chopped garlic
4 Tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cummin
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 six ounce tin tomato puree
4 cups stock
1 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 ½ cups cooked or tinned red kidney beans


my scaled down current recipe

1 lb good quality minced beef
1-2 Tablespoons oil
6-8 oz chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1-2 teaspoons chilli powder*
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoom ground cummin
2 Tablespoons tomato puree
1 14oz tin tomatoes, chopped + their juice
1 Tablespoon dark soy sauce (I don’t like the additives in stock cubes)
1 teaspoon salt, to be added after beans are done
1 teaspoon sugar
freshly ground black pepper
6 oz dried pinto beans soaked overnight
1-2 sweet peppers (optional)

*if using less than 2 teaspoons, replace the missing chilli powder with paprika, smoked paprika is an interesting variation

1) heat oil & saute onion & garlic for 4-5 minutes, stirring often
2) add mince & brown, stirring to break up lumps
3) add chilli powder (paprika if using) oregano, cummin, tomato puree, tomatoes & juice, soy, sugar, black pepper, drained beans & ½ – 1 diced pepper if using, mix well
4) add enough water to cover, bring to boil & simmer till beans are just done,
adding a little more water if it looks too dry
5) add remaining pepper, simmer 20-30 minutes, season with salt & more pepper


I can’t get over the vast difference there is between the two now! I imagined all I'd done was cut down on the chilli powder & exchanged kidneys for pintos

there's a recipe for Texas Chili in the Time Life Great West book, & it's different again, but I haven't tried that one yet




OP I'm even less likely to be getting rid of any books now, I need the originals for reference

newleaf

The ones I'd have to save would be:
My 1971 Ed of The Paupers Cookbook, which was gifted to me as a teenager when I had just left home, and is how I taught myself to cook. It's yellow and falling to bits now, but still in regular use.
and
Mr newleaf's GH Cookbook, from which he has made many a delicious meal for me.

But I love all my cookbooks, and thanks to this thread I have just pottered off to Amazon and bought myself another - a 2nd hand copy of Tamasin Day Lewis's Kitchen Bible :rolleyes: (Gawd knows where I'll put it!).

Gingernutmeg

newleaf wrote: »

a 2nd hand copy of Tamasin Day Lewis's Kitchen Bible :rolleyes: (Gawd knows where I'll put it!).

Ooooo, lucky you I got that out of my local library and loved it, but I haven't got round to getting myself a copy. It's a great book

Merrywidow

Thanks SWAN - have you ever tried adding a few squares of dark chocolate at the end - they say it is great. Maybe I'll try it on a spoonful! Did you read that the Order of Service leaflet produced for Wendy Richard's funeral had her favourite chili recipe printed on the back. What recipe would you chose?

lucy*locket

newleaf wrote: »

The ones I'd have to save would be:
My 1971 Ed of The Paupers Cookbook, which was gifted to me as a teenager when I had just left home, and is how I taught myself to cook. It's yellow and falling to bits now, but still in regular use.
and
Mr newleaf's GH Cookbook, from which he has made many a delicious meal for me.

But I love all my cookbooks, and thanks to this thread I have just pottered off to Amazon and bought myself another - a 2nd hand copy of Tamasin Day Lewis's Kitchen Bible :rolleyes: (Gawd knows where I'll put it!).

Ooh I recently found a copy of the Paupers cookbook at my local charity hsop, haven't read it yet but it's top of the pile. You won't regret buying Tamasin Day Lewis's book I'm sure, it has so many recipes and one of my favourite books

sandraroffey

afraid i would want to save them all!! i collect cookery books and have done for years. i have over 300, going back to my oldest ones, my grandmothers and my mothers. and charity shops are the absolute best place to buy cookery books. i have bought some fabulous ones in charity shops, for as little as 20p each.

Swan_2

Merrywidow wrote: »

Thanks SWAN - have you ever tried adding a few squares of dark chocolate at the end - they say it is great. Maybe I'll try it on a spoonful! Did you read that the Order of Service leaflet produced for Wendy Richard's funeral had her favourite chili recipe printed on the back. What recipe would you chose?

hi Merrywidow,
I've heard of it but have never tried it, I tend to get stuck in a rut sometimes
I think I might do it next time I make some, I've messed about with the original so much another amendment can't hurt!

& I think I'll try out the Texan one, in fact I'd like to do that along with the original (with less chilli powder though!!!) & my version & have a tasting session


I didn't know that about Wendy Richards, I think it's an absolutey lovely idea
hmmm, I'll have to have a think about what recipe I'd have :think:

morganlefay

Chocolate brownies, surely ?

Merrywidow

Was routing in my bookshelves for something else and came across More Rhodes around Britain - had it for years - mistake - I started flicking thru it - fatal - an hour later and I have found lots of stuff I JUST must cook - Hey Ho.

newleaf

Does anyone have the Ottolenghi cookbook? I have been browsing on Amazon again and it is calling to me.... :rolleyes: