Cookbook Project, Books #17 and 18
Feb. 8th, 2009 12:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladysprite"Fondue and Tabletop Cooking," Better Homes and Gardens
This book was published in 1970, and it shows. Glaringly. I have a whole big stack of these single-subject skinny hardcover BH&G cookbooks that I inherited from my mom - now that she's living alone she doesn't cook much, and I can't bear to see books thrown away, especially not ones that belonged to someone I love. I knew in my heart of hearts that I'd never use them, but having them on my shelves makes me feel at least a little bit connected to her. But... well, they're glaringly... I don't want to say bad, so let's settle for dated.
But a promise is a promise, and I said I'd use every cookbook I own as part of this project, so into the depths of the 70's I plunged. (Their rarebit recipe includes Velveeta. They have a recipe for hot tomato cocktail.)
Beer and Cheese Fondue. That doesn't sound too bad, does it? And it makes a decent dinner for a night when we didn't have any other plan. And none of the ingredients included the word 'processed.'
And it wasn't half bad. At the same time, though, I really don't know if I can justify keeping this book. I don't want to get rid of my mom's old cookbooks, and I'll even admit to having used Velveeta on occasion, but I wouldn't expect an actual fondue cookbook to tell me to use it....
"The Big Book of Breakfast," Maryana Vollstedt
This book I admit to buying myself, though at a secondhand store at about half price, mostly because I am in love with breakfast. I've never been one of those people who can skip meals; when I wake up the first thing I usually feel is hungry. And on top of that, I adore breakfast food. All nutritional considerations aside, I'd be happy to live on a diet of pancakes, eggs, bacon, bagels, and coffee cake. With the occasional waffle or muffin, just for variety.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've used this book at least once, but I can't think of any specific instances. Which means it's high time I did, especially because it seems to have a good variety of interesting and simple recipes.
It had also been way too long since we busted out the waffle iron, so breakfast this morning was Buttermilk Waffles. And they were easy, and they were yummy, though I admit that the one-at-a-time nuisance of waffle making reminded me just why it's been so long since I made them.
Next week - my husband challenges me with two of the more... interesting cookbooks that he brought into our collection. Time to stock up on granola bars, in case of catastrophic failure....
This book was published in 1970, and it shows. Glaringly. I have a whole big stack of these single-subject skinny hardcover BH&G cookbooks that I inherited from my mom - now that she's living alone she doesn't cook much, and I can't bear to see books thrown away, especially not ones that belonged to someone I love. I knew in my heart of hearts that I'd never use them, but having them on my shelves makes me feel at least a little bit connected to her. But... well, they're glaringly... I don't want to say bad, so let's settle for dated.
But a promise is a promise, and I said I'd use every cookbook I own as part of this project, so into the depths of the 70's I plunged. (Their rarebit recipe includes Velveeta. They have a recipe for hot tomato cocktail.)
Beer and Cheese Fondue. That doesn't sound too bad, does it? And it makes a decent dinner for a night when we didn't have any other plan. And none of the ingredients included the word 'processed.'
And it wasn't half bad. At the same time, though, I really don't know if I can justify keeping this book. I don't want to get rid of my mom's old cookbooks, and I'll even admit to having used Velveeta on occasion, but I wouldn't expect an actual fondue cookbook to tell me to use it....
"The Big Book of Breakfast," Maryana Vollstedt
This book I admit to buying myself, though at a secondhand store at about half price, mostly because I am in love with breakfast. I've never been one of those people who can skip meals; when I wake up the first thing I usually feel is hungry. And on top of that, I adore breakfast food. All nutritional considerations aside, I'd be happy to live on a diet of pancakes, eggs, bacon, bagels, and coffee cake. With the occasional waffle or muffin, just for variety.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've used this book at least once, but I can't think of any specific instances. Which means it's high time I did, especially because it seems to have a good variety of interesting and simple recipes.
It had also been way too long since we busted out the waffle iron, so breakfast this morning was Buttermilk Waffles. And they were easy, and they were yummy, though I admit that the one-at-a-time nuisance of waffle making reminded me just why it's been so long since I made them.
Next week - my husband challenges me with two of the more... interesting cookbooks that he brought into our collection. Time to stock up on granola bars, in case of catastrophic failure....
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Date: 2009-02-08 06:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 05:01 am (UTC)Most regrettable
Date: 2009-02-08 09:29 pm (UTC)Please do not eat or drink while reading this. In fact, it could kill your appetite for days...
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Date: 2009-02-09 03:28 am (UTC)Re your mother's not-so-good cookbooks, would it be feasible to box them up and put them in a closet? That way you still have them, but you also have room on your shelves for more cookbooks that you'd actually use.