June 25, 2016 - Cookbooks

How many cookbooks do you need?

From where I sit, I can see eight. There are over 30 within ten feet of me, and I'm not in the kitchen. That's not counting the ones on the bookshelf upstairs, or the ones in boxes in the basement.

Plus there are online sources, and the recipes that got printed out to try, or to save.

One of the best organizational ideas we have had, was to print and laminate the recipes we like, and store them in a binder as our 'go-to' recipes.

If I had to start over again (and I might), I think I would keep the binder idea but I would run the recipes through a word processor first. Mostly to standardize formatting, but also to incorporate changes, and cooking notes.

I have started to write a notebook with some of my favorites. I know that goes against what I just said about running recipes through a word processor, but I do have a reason.

I have a nephew who is 16 now, and he will soon be embarking on his life journey, making his own way. I also have some hand written recipes from my mom, dad and grandparents that I would like to share with him.

I am hoping to finish up the notebook before he starts university. I would like to give it to him so he can cook tasty meals for himself, plus have some family recipes. Basically, the things I didn't have when I was first away from home.

But I won't give him a cookbook.