Can you ever really have too many cookbooks? If you’re reading my blog, you probably agree with me in the answer.
In a word, no. Even those of us who have upwards of 400, and who might be called hoarders collectors, still always want to read new cookbooks. It’s an illness obsession. It’s a crazy charming quirk.
So I signed up for a fun Food Blogger Cookbook Swap, hosted by Alyssa of Everyday Maven and Faith of An Edible Mosaic. I sent a cookbook to a fellow food blogger and received a different cookbook in return from someone else.
Thanks very much to Holly from A Baker’s House for sending me “Keeping it Simple,” by Gary Rhodes. Such a lovely book, and Holly carefully chose a title from a British chef, hoping I wouldn’t already have it in my vast collection. (She read my “About” page.) She was right! And note how food bloggers like to tie everything up in twine — even cookbooks. 😎
I set to work perusing, and found, as Holly said, that the author has “a style that highlights quality, fresh ingredients and sound technique.” I came across so many things I’d like to make.
First off is Pork Chops with an Apple Tart Topping, in which a chunky apple sauce is smoothed onto the pork shops, and thinly sliced apples are arranged like an apple tart.
A Bacon, Potato and Gruyere Frittata looks good for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner – my kind of all-occasion dish.
His Irish Stew Broth may grace my table for St. Patrick’s Day.
How good and simple does that look?
And Cherry Tomato Soup is in my folder set for the summer glut of Sweet 100s that I expect from my garden.
But wait, a Bailey’s Crème Brulee? I am all in. I even have a little torch I could dig out of the cabinet and fill with propane, to caramelize the top.
How many cookbooks do YOU have?
Mine are in a tall bookshelf in the kitchen…
…in a next-door bookshelf, also in the kitchen…
…in an overflow shelf in the office…
…and pretty much everywhere!
I sent a book to Tara of Tara’s Multicultural Table. Called “The Adobe Road Cookbook: A Filipino Food Journey – From Food Blog, to Food Truck, and Beyond,” by Marvin Gapultos, it seemed right up her adventurous alley, especially since her husband is Filipino.
Here are all of the bloggers who participated in the Cookbook Swap:
A Baker’s House
An Edible Mosaic
avocado bravado
Blue Kale Road
Blueberries And Blessings
Cheap Recipe Blog
Confessions of a Culinary Diva
Create Amazing Meals
Cucina Kristina
Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Cupcake Project
Dinner is Served 1972
Done With Corn
Eats Well With Others
Everyday Maven
Flour Me With Love
From My Sweet Heart
girlichef
Great Food 360°
Healthy. Delicious.
I’m Gonna Cook That!
Je Mange la Ville
Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Kitchen Treaty
Olive and Herb
OnTheMove-In The Galley
Our Best Bites
Paleo Gone Sassy
poet in the pantry
Rhubarb and Honey
Rocky Mountain Cooking
Shikha la mode
Shockingly Delicious
Sifting Focus
Spiceroots
Spoonful of Flavor
Tara’s Multicultural Table
The Not So Exciting Adventures of a Dabbler
The Suburban Soapbox
The Whole Family’s Food
Please visit them to see all the books we swapped and delicious recipes we found!
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
I adore your collection of cookbooks. I share that same charming, quirky, characteristic and have books in every room of the house and my car (hey, you never know when you need a recipe), and now that I am getting used to downloading books – the ones I’m not so sure about I download first and hard copy later
I love the selections from the book your received – the pork with apples on top is gorgeous.
Looking forward to meeting you at Camp Blogaway!
Christy,
Yeah for Camp Blogaway!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I love your post…and your shelves. I’m a little green with envy.
Camilla,
Don’t be envious. I have cookbooks on every shelf in the house!
How could you not want to make Pork Chops with an Apple Tart Topping? Seriously!
This was so much fun! And this is why our community is so great – we understand each other! LOL!
Susan,
Exactly right!
I have the collector gene and the problem goes far beyond cookbooks. GREG
Greg/Sippity,
Hmmmm…I wonder what else you collect?
I really want that frittata! holy cow! I have over 100 cookbooks (plus 200 in digital format, which is sorta useless) … but you have me beat! I should be on a cookbook diet, but instead, I found myself chatting up the Cowgirl Creamery gals the other day and buying their new cookbook! Can’t seem to stop O:-)
Anne,
It’s an illness, this cookbook collecting.
There is no such thing as too many cookbooks!
and
An “E” book dose not in any way replace a cookbook!
Becky,
I agree on both counts. I don’t have a tablet or reader, so ebooks are useless to me.
That is an impressive collection of cookbooks! And I thought I had a lot on my 3-shelf bookcase in the living room next to the kitchen! Your new cookbook looks like a real treasure trove–enjoy it!
Carrie,
Don’t turn into me!
Hello my name is Lea Ann and I’m a cookbook hoarder. There, I said it and Im glad it did. 🙂
Lea Ann,
Welcome to the club!
Dorothy, that book looks great and it’s so nice to see both the book sent to you and the one you sent out chosen with such care! Thanks for participating and helping to make the swap a success!
Alyssa,
Thanks for creating the swap, which was so much fun!
What fun! I love Gary Rhodes and would have been thrilled to get another of his cookbooks. Can’t wait to see what you make from this one, Dorothy!
Stacy,
It’s a wonderful book, very inspirational.
Thank you so much for participating in the swap and helping to make it a success! I really love a simple approach to cooking and the book you received looks wonderful!
Faith,
The swap was so much fun!
Oh Dorothy….first of all….I have to say I love your existing collection of cookbooks. You have some very interesting titles there! And Holly send you a fabulous book. Those pork chops look amazing! I have some chops in the fridge and I think this is exactly what I’m going to do with them! As for my collection? I’m over 125 for baking and desserts alone. But I have them all around the house…it’s hard to keep track. But there’s always room for ….just….one……more!
Anne,
My philosophy exactly. And when I sit down and try to pare down, I just can’t part with them!
My name is Sharon, and I’m a cookbook-a-holic. It’s been one week since my last book arrived in the mail. I’d like to thank my sponsor, Dorothy, for being an enabler with these photos, since clearly my addiction is not even close to hers.
Sharon,
Ha ha! I think.
I hope you’ll enjoy this book, Dorothy. The pork chops are among my favorite recipes and that creme brulee is on my list of recipes to try. I found another used copy for myself– I really like this book! Happy cooking!
Holly,
It’s a wonderful book. Thank you so much! I put pork chops on my shopping list this week.
Thank you for The Adobo Road! I’m so jealous of your cookbook collection! I can’t wait until we move and I have room for a bookcase in the kitchen.
Tara,
You are very welcome! A bookcase in the kitchen is both a blessing and a curse. 🙂
OK, you win! Love your collection – and that cookbook you are writing about looks too tempting…
Liz,
I win the prize for being a hoarder? Where will I put it? 🙂
I wasn’t a cookbook reader originally, but Pim (of Chez Pim, and now, Kin Khao in San Francisco) changed my mind a few years ago when she took me used book shopping. I still don’t have a lot of books though but my go-tos are Mark Peel’s New Classic Family Dinner, Jamie Oliver’s Jamie at Home and Meals in Minutes, Cook’s Illustrated the Best New Recipes, and, of course, the Joy of Cooking.
Oakley,
That’s a great list!
I started collecting cookbooks 40 years ago and need to get rid of some more. I have donated to the Library. I love reading and learning from them.
Liz,
Donating to the library is a fantastic idea!
Oh my lord. Your collection!
I am happy that I collect very specific genres–I don’t have that kind of room!
Yinzerella,
I don’t either! I must *edit* my collection.
Now those are my kind of shelves – I love them, Dorothy! And I would agree, it is definitely a charming quirk ;). I haven’t seen “keeping it simple” before, but everything you highlighted looks mouthwatering!
Heather,
Thanks. That Irish broth is really calling to me, with the lamb and the simplicity.