How Many Cookbooks Do You Have?

[Katie E]

No, chilichip, you don't need therapy. You need more cookbooks. I have at least 500 and still buy more. It's a true addiction, but a good one. I, too, read them like novels and cook many recipes out of them. It's such fun.

[suzyQ3]

Originally Posted by wysiwyg

I guess I am the odd one here, the "Less is more" approach works perfectly for me. These are ALL the books I have in order of importance:
a) Larousse Gastronomique
b) Auguste Escoffier. Cookbook & Guide to the fine art of Cookery
c) Henri Pellaprat. The Great Book of French Cuisine
d) Julia Child. Mastering the Art of French Cooking
e) Dona Benta. Comer Bem -Brazilian Cooking Encyclopedia-
If I have to pick one, the Larousse is the one without a doubt.
Note that I have them for many years and still haven't been able to produce all recipes listed on them.

Perhaps I should look for a nice Chinese food book, I really like Chinese cuisine but haven't cook much of it.

Very interesting list, if a bit heavy on theory and reference (three of which we have and use for those purposes) as opposed to practicality. But since you say that these are the only books from which you cook, I'd love to hear about your favorite recipes. Do you use these books daily?

[wysiwyg]

"The less we need, the closer we are to the Gods"
Aristotle

[buckytom]

"i drank what?!?!?!?!?!"

socrates

[lancas]

We are moving and I have packed 69 boxes stuffed full of cookbooks.
However many that makes.
I also have 5 of the extra fat 3 ring binders with pages covered in recipes cut from newspapers and magazines.
Most of these are going to go, as we are moving onto a boat, and it would sink if I tried to get them all on <g>

liz

[beginner101]

I have got a very small collection round about 10, but one can never have enough

[suzyQ3]

Originally Posted by wysiwyg

"The less we need, the closer we are to the Gods"
Aristotle

Yes, yes, got that part. Love its profundity.

Do you use these daily? What are your favorite recipes? Do you ever sneak a peek at any, you know, more mundane works -- maybe The Epicurean?

[miniman]

We had two book shelves full, prob 50-100 (after my wife had thinned them out). Unfortunately we had a fire in the house they have all had to be thrown away, so we need to start rebuilding our collection (currently 8. My son is also starting his collection of childrens cookbooks.

[wysiwyg]

Hello suzyQ,
Sorry for the late reply, I don't acces the site daily. I agree with your comments about the list: The first two books are specifically for reference, the Pellaprat is the Bible for entertaining while the other two are more on the practical side. I'd say I use the Julia Child and Dona Benta once a week to prepare dinner and the Pellaprat once a month when inviting people over.
I also make sauces every other day (Hollandaise, Mornay, etc) from these books and a make a point of preparing a nice dessert at least once a week.
Favorite recipes? from Julia Child for weekly cooking: Salmon souffle, Chicken Supremes (she has several variations) also Veal Milanese (similar to chicken), Gougeres, Crepes, Beef Bourguignon, etc. etc. from Dona Benta: Passion fruit mousse, Feijoada (Brazilian typical dish for Saturday), Four cheese lassagna, Brigadeiros (Chocolate mini balls), etc. These are all very mundane dishes that can be prepared quite fast with some planning... in gral, once I get a handle on something new, I move on to a new recipe on the book. I also make more complicated dishes, but not that often since my kids don't eat much. They would rather have a steady diet of pasta, pizza and fried chicken LOL. Let me know what kind of dishes you like to prepare.
I have not seen The Epicurean, I will check it out from the local Library.
Ohh, one great inexpensive book I failed to list is Elizabeth David (French Provincial Cooking).

[suzyQ3]

Originally Posted by wysiwyg

Hello suzyQ,
Sorry for the late reply, I don't acces the site daily. I agree with your comments about the list: The first two books are specifically for reference, the Pellaprat is the Bible for entertaining while the other two are more on the practical side. I'd say I use the Julia Child and Dona Benta once a week to prepare dinner and the Pellaprat once a month when inviting people over.
I also make sauces every other day (Hollandaise, Mornay, etc) from these books and a make a point of preparing a nice dessert at least once a week.
Favorite recipes? from Julia Child for weekly cooking: Salmon souffle, Chicken Supremes (she has several variations) also Veal Milanese (similar to chicken), Gougeres, Crepes, Beef Bourguignon, etc. etc. from Dona Benta: Passion fruit mousse, Feijoada (Brazilian typical dish for Saturday), Four cheese lassagna, Brigadeiros (Chocolate mini balls), etc. These are all very mundane dishes that can be prepared quite fast with some planning... in gral, once I get a handle on something new, I move on to a new recipe on the book. I also make more complicated dishes, but not that often since my kids don't eat much. They would rather have a steady diet of pasta, pizza and fried chicken LOL. Let me know what kind of dishes you like to prepare.
I have not seen The Epicurean, I will check it out from the local Library.
Ohh, one great inexpensive book I failed to list is Elizabeth David (French Provincial Cooking).

What time's dinner?

The Epicurean is by Charles Ranhofer, who was a chef at Delmonico's toward the end of the 19th century. The book is huge and very collectible, although for most of us, present company excluded , probably not the most user-friendly.

The first edition was published in 1894, I believe by Ranhofer himself. Hotel Monthly Press published an edition in 1920. A good 1920 version can fetch a pretty penny; the original is nearly impossible to come by. We are fortunate to have both in our collection, along with a much later edition published in 1972.