Cookbooks, Etc.

[cantienne]

I love historical cookbooks - both the good ones and the horrifying ones. My sister and I used to get a good laugh out of going through my mom's clipped recipes from the sixties and seventies - there were some definite winners in there, but lots of really garishly-colored nightmares, too. The old Better Homes cookbook also has fascinating sections on all kinds of outdated food.

[whatever]

I read Nigella Lawson's books cover to cover, like a novel. I do that for Ina Garten and Sara Moulton, too.

[Deleted]

Why were people so obsessed with gelatin in the 40's and 50's and 60's? I love to thumb through old cookbooks, and I'm always mouth-agape at the sheer number of "molds" that people used to make. It always makes me wonder: what will people be aghast about when they read our cookbooks, in the future?

[dwanollah]

Knobby, hon, just ask me to show you my collection of those cookbooks this weekend.... The almost unlimitedc combos of gelatin and eggs and veggies is astonishing!

I'm a sucker for themed cookbooks, and I just got one yesterday called Wild Women throw a Party... all themed parties based on various historical/famous women, everything from a Mommie Dearest brunch to a First Ladies Poker Party.

[ladymadonna]

Yay cookbooks! My dad and I both collect cookbooks so that is what we always get for Xmas, etc. Let's see, lately I've been stealing recipes out of magazines while waiting at the doctor's office, the bank, yadda yadda yadda. I have a whole 3 ring binder full of stolen recipes.

A friend of mine just bought me Paula Deen's Southern Desserts or whatever it's called. Even though Paula drives me crazy, the book is really interesting and has a nice flow to it.

[Daisy Pusher]

A Mommie Dearest Party?? Awesome! Could you share the details from the book when/if you get a chance, Dwanollah, please? Thanks!

We are planning a "girls slumber party" (you're NEVER too old for for a slumber party) to break in a a friend's new media room. We were going to do a whole Jacqueline Susann thing but I LOVE the idea of incorporating a Mommie Dearest twist.

So, with this thread in mind, I counted my cookbooks last night. 82. Holy cow. And that is NOT counting those little paperback ones--Everyday Food and Pillsbury etc--that are next to the register at the supermarket. I've probably got about at least 75-100, or so, of those. Nor is it counting all my Cook's Illustrated magazines, which I never throw away. Nor is it counting several years' worth of Gourmet and Fine Cooking magazines, again why am I saving these? Nor is it counting the 2 three-ring binders filled with recipes downloaded off the net.

eta: I love Ina Garten's books, too, Lilith. I covet all her cookware, as well.

[Deleted]

When my grandmother died, I snagged all of her 1950's cookbooks. The gelatin mold stuff cracks me up.

I can't find my Lora Brody Slow cooker book. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. It's one of the few slow cooker books, in my experience, that gives actually useful recipes that produce consistently awesome results, as opposed to a big pot of vaguely bland mush. I think my mom might have stolen it.

[Oxynia]

ladymadonna said:

Let's see, lately I've been stealing recipes out of magazines while waiting at the doctor's office, the bank, yadda yadda yadda. I have a whole 3 ring binder full of stolen recipes.

I'm so glad you admitted to this before I did, ladymadonna, now I don't feel so bad! I've stolen heaps of recipes from mags over the years and some of them have become family faves. I have about 30 cookbooks (which I used to think was a lot until this thread started...seriously, Daisy? 82? wow!) and now want to check out that train book and theme parties.

Molded food scares me.

[Auroranorth]

The Foods of the World series by Time-Life is my crack. The best cookbook authors around worked on that series. I also love the 1970's clothes/hair.

Peg Bracken died? Noooo! I loved her books- just found two at a used bookstore.

[cantienne]

My grandmother insisted on Tomato Aspic at every Thanksgiving. It must be an acquired taste, but I'm not willing to acquire it. I have no problem with plain old jello, but once it starts moving into salad or savory territory, I'm outta there.

Does anyone have any cookbooks by Paul Bocuse? Gourmet magazine had a list of their dozen cookbooks of the year in the latest issue, and one of his was on it. As a lover of French cooking, if anyone can recommend his books, I'd love to hear it. How about the Chocolate and Zucchini cookbook? I check that blog and like her writing style.