Cook book buying addiction?!

Swan_2

arkonite_babe wrote: »

had a cookbook clear out, I'm trading in the ones that are accepted on amazon, the rest will just go to charity shops so some other cookbook fiend can have a bargain

I'm having a clearout too, thinking of moving to another city & am decluttering

I'm torn between keeping the ones I have that I don't like, just because I bought them & want to cling, & getting rid of them ... for example Ottolelghi can't define what's wrong with it, but it irritates me, however lots of people seem to love it, so a charity shop bargain will be out there soon

freyasmum

I have the apples for jam and subsequent books.

I've bookmarked maybe half a dozen recipes from the first book and will cook perhaps one from the second. They're obviously never going to be my most used books........... but ohmigosh, they're so pretty

I love that they have old family pictures and really tell a story. I will collate my own recipes in a book, when I have all the ones that I want and I want it to be reminiscent of those - part cook book, part family history which, really, the recipes are!

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I must own at least 40-50, I am in a small flat.
I also have at least 800-850 on my Evernote so I always have recipes available plus two Mark Bitman mega volumes 2000 recipes a piece on 'How to cook everything, meat and Vegetarian' versions.
My Vegetarian Collection is growing and includes one excellent Vegan one from America.
Books also on Kindle jolly useful!
I have to learn how to evaluate books and take the long view otherwise you get duplication.
When you look at recipes properly you realise there are variations on a theme that just need 1) brilliant chef 2) foolproof recipes 3) great ingredients no matter how humble 4) how to recycle ie in Pies, Frittata, Soups etc.

arkonite_babe

Swan wrote: »

I'm having a clearout too, thinking of moving to another city & am decluttering

I'm torn between keeping the ones I have that I don't like, just because I bought them & want to cling, & getting rid of them ... for example Ottolelghi can't define what's wrong with it, but it irritates me, however lots of people seem to love it, so a charity shop bargain will be out there soon

I'm dying to get my hands on that one, but can't just yet justify the cost. Lucky person who gets that in your local charity shop

mummybearx

I have the Broon's cookbook as well, mother in law bought me it for Christmas. Came as a pack with three (I think) books and a lovely apron which I wear for baking. DH know's I'm serious when he sees me wearing my apron :rotfl:

Was looking at getting the Takeaway secret book, it's only went and gone up to £4 odds on amazon

notatvstar

I was trying to go cold turkey... as in no more Cook Books for me for a while.

CURSE YOU GOK WAN....! (shakes fist)

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

@notatvstar My favourite book for Chinese Recipes besides one's by Ken Hom and that Ching lady is a 1000 Chinese Recipes a wee volume that is fully comprehensive, with tasty recipes, sufficient to give enough guidance so you can churn out your own Egg Roll and Wonton Wrappers..
Having said that one can learn from Gok Wan as well.
I am also of the opinion that TV influences us too much in the direction of TV Chefs books ie the hype over HFW Veg Book which is mostly filler recipes despite of his undoubted abilities as a Chef to turn out brilliant recipes, Veggie including.
I have gone back to the Old Guard having been sick to the teeth of TV Chef promotion by Good Food magazine (great recipes but product placement heaven and bad if you live on own), Marcella Hazan, Claudia Roden, Elizabeth David, Jane Grigson and daughter Sophie. All reliable foolproof recipes that just need decent quality ingredients and a dab hand in the kitchen with right equipment (of course!) to make an ever expanding range of deliciousness-essential to money saving.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Re:cold turkey With Recipes I observe there are only so many things you can put into a Frittata, Fritatta is a recipe you can put egg friendly ingredients in to combine flavours right.
Pies are another throwaway ingredient thing. So long as ingredients are compatible with pastry all butter ie creamy sauce or a nice meaty gravy.
Pizzas can be made on any suitable bread base from crumpets to naan bread again subject to above.
Vegetable Curries providing flavours right can be made every which way: Thai, Indian, plain veggie curry.
Eggs are versatile.
From where I am standing after spending many a frustrated year on the Good Food Website and seeing too many duplications, realise recipes go round and round.
For me cooking is about great ingredients (don't have to be expensive), super and growing cheffing skills, knowing what goes with what and most importantly wont. Knowing how to be creative ala Heston without f----g it all up. (Give me Heston for Hestonite food) to somehow put a limit on what seems an unlimited quantity of Recipe books that can financially swamp one.

Swan_2

notatvstar wrote: »

I was trying to go cold turkey... as in no more Cook Books for me for a while.

CURSE YOU GOK WAN....! (shakes fist)

me too (cold turkey, ha ha @ me) then I accidently (rarely watch telly, was a visitor in someone else's home, don't like Gok's promotion of Spanx _pale_ so would never have looked at it voluntarily) & was reluctantly captivated (apart from the fortune cookie crushing :rotfl:)

anyhoo, in spite being a big Ken Hom fan since the 80's & having a load of other Chinese cookbooks, I got myself a copy from Bookpeople for £6.99 or £7.99 & love it, it's all so simple & has masses of flavour ... I've adapted one of his recipes & produced the most exquisite chicken noodle soup, it reminds me of a memorable meal I had in Hong Kong last year which cost about 15HKD/£1.20-ish ... I could live on it :A

jeanniebeanie_2

Succumbed again!!
Love soups and love making them too, so couldn't resist the Covent Garden A Soup for Every Day

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soup-Every-Day-Favourite-Recipes/dp/0752227432/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346180895&sr=8-1

Was in Llandudno at the weekend and got it for £5.99 (new) a discount bookshop there. It looks fab. Have bookmarked so many to try. Starting with Butternut Squash, Ginger and Chilli tonight. Yum!