Saturday, January 2, 2010

Cookbooks



I just saw Julie and Julia for the first time (I tend not to see movies until they come to my corner Redbox) and I really enjoyed it. I used to love watching Julia Child on TV and it was fun to see her portrayed by Meryl Streep.

My sons watched it with me. It wasn't their favorite I have to admit (not much of a guy movie), but we did have some fun conversations about cookbooks and blogging afterward. I started thinking about my cookbook collection and if I had to pick one to blog about for a year which one would it be. My 1975 version of Joy of Cooking probably has the most variety and is one of my most loved cookbooks, but there is no way I could bring myself to cook through the game chapter that includes recipes for rabbit, opossum and raccoon. I can hardly even read that chapter...it has diagrams. Ugh!

Two of my favorites are Moosewood Cookbook or The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook. I know that's an odd combination and the two don't really go together. The Moosewood Cookbook is a vegetarian cookbook with lots of healthy recipes and of course we know Paula Deen's recipes are down home country cooking with lots of butter and calories, but I love them both. I could see myself cooking all the recipes in either of them. I've pretty much already cooked my way through The Pioneer Woman Cooks, so that would be an easy one.

My most retro cookbook would have to be The Ground Beef Cookbook. It was published in the 1960s, but I found it at a garage sale. It has over 500 recipes and includes Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's "Pedernales River Chili," and Mrs. Hubert Humphrey's "Dinner -in-a -Dish". There's a whole chapter of "first lady favorites" from the first ladies of Alabama, Alaska, Louisiana, Kansas, Ohio, and several others. It would be a fun cookbook to both cook from and blog about.

Would you ever consider cooking ALL the recipes in one particular cookbook and/or blogging about it? If so which one would you choose?


26 comments:

Cherish said...

I don't think I could ever cook every recipe in a cookbook. I do too much improvising and altering in the kitchen. That is a fun idea though. Maybe I can make it through a single chapter.

Kelly said...

What a great film!
My Mum bought me 'mastering the art of french cooking' for Christmas beacuse we went to see the film together. I don't know ablout making all of the recipes from those books!
If I had to pick one book to make everything from it would have to be Nigella Lawson 'How to be a domestic goddess' because I love baking!!!
Happy New Year!!!

Anonymous said...

I would probably choose a cookbook written by local folks and sold as a fundraiser. Those are the kinds of recipes I like best.
Retrohousewife

Cedar Acre Lady said...

Betty rules at my house. I have several Betty Crocker cookbooks and esp love the ones about 30 years ago. Susan Branch make great displays and good recipes too. Lisa Yockelson on baking, Nigella, Gooseberry. Herbal and Vinegar books. Okay so I have a cookbook fetish going. I just my extra cookbook shelf and took some 30 books in that I liked and didn't love! Oh, I also own about even low carb cook book available.

Susan said...

Hi!

I watched that movie also... It was good. I love the part where she couldn't put the lobster in boiling water...LOL...

You just mentioned some of the cookbooks I have. But I'll have to check that Ground Beef cookbook.

Come see my blog sometime... It's a combination crochet & cooking.

~ Susan

myhookandI

Love the Decor! said...

Love that movie!!
Can't imagine cooking through any cookbook in a year
I have several cookbooks and I use a few recipes out of most all of them, but I don't think I would be disciplined enough to attempt that :)

Dawn said...

I love cookbooks! Haven't cooked everything in them yet of course but I do enjoy my collection. :)

I collect mostly Amish / Mennonite cookbooks, Gooseberry Patch, and cookbooks from the 1800's and Depression era.
Oh and those 'cooking with 3, 4 or 5 ingredients' cookbooks. :)

Also have a nice stash of Taste of Home magazines going on.

This is fun to see what cookbooks the other ladies use on here.

Yah Bless,
Dawn in TX

detweilermom said...

I don't think I could cook through a whole cookbook because my family is much to picky. I just watched that movie recently myself and have decided to do a small variation of the idea. I have alot of recipes that I have gotten through email and I have decided to try 2-3 of them every week and blog about them on my blog. Not the committment Julie made but this way I can try some new recipes and my family won't get so bored with the same old stuff to eat.

The Farmer's Attic said...

I have a huge collection of cookbooks, cooking magazines, cooking software and I have to say none are actually a favorite. There are some recipes that are tried and true and some that, as my family would say, "not a do again". I love to experiment and change things up somewhat but for the most part I follow ingredient lists and exact measurements.

If I really had to choose my favorite foods to cook, it would have to be bread. I think I would consider blogging about my bread baking experiences :)

Lucy
www.farmersattic.com
www.farmersattic.blogspot.com
www.lucy43g.etsy.com

megan said...

I'd cook through my muffin cookbook. ;) I don't think I could cook thru any of my other cookbooks. I get sick to my stomach if things get too wierd! =)

-Megan

Anonymous said...

I ran across the link to Feeding America: The Historic American Cookbook Project and every time I go back to dip into these wonderful books I am amazed at the writing. I find myself admiring and being inspired by these women.
You can Browse the Collection using images, text or PDF. There is is GREAT stuff here.
Don't miss the Museum Objects with pictures and descriptions of cooking utensils and kitchenware.
And no..I would never challenge myself to cook all the recipes in a cookbook. Actually I like reading them as much as cooking from them :)

sandi said...

I would have to use the church cookbook... those tried and true recipes the elder church ladies make that are just scrumptious at pot luck dinners. What is great about those is they are not using test kitchens with expert cooks, just ordinary housewives with normal ingredients.

ChaChaneen said...

Sure! I'd be game if my schedule would allow it. I've got lots of cookbooks too, many not even opened yet but that is going to change this year because I've decided if the book isn't for me, it's time to pass it to someone else who would enjoy it. I'm going to make that part of my blog, start doing giveaways and bless others while making room on the shelf for the tried and true recipes!

Tickled Pink Housewife said...

I too love the Lady & Sons cookbook, but I think if I cooked out of that cookbook for a year, the next year, it would have to be only Weight Watcher cookbooks! = )I would love to cook through the original Better Homes cookbook. I have almost cooked everything from Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess. her books are truly amazing. I feel like I'm reading a novel when I read her books.

Carey's Farmhouse Kitchen said...

I just watched this movie last night and was very excited to see it. Meryl Streep is a my favorite actress. I could see myself cooking and blogging about many of the cookbooks you mentioned. I'm like you the unusual fare might pose challenges.

Carey

Belle (from Life of a...) said...

Just recently discovered your blog. Love it! I'm afraid that I don't have the patience or the time to cook my way through one particular cookbook BUT if I did, I think it would be Charleston Receipts, published by the Junior League of Charleston, South Carolina WAY back when.

FlipFlop Mom said...

I just watched that movie today with hubby.. he LOVED it... but he also loves Amy Adams... ( ha ha ha) who many of people have told me my daughter looks like!!( never hurts to be cute!! wink wink)...

After watching this movie..I thought.. what a great idea... but knew that many others would do this.... and never even thought about a cookbook I could cook through... if I had to pick one... it would probably be a Gooseberry Patch one... or two... maybe 5-10 for a whole years worth... although they are not difficult recipes... they're great for a busy mom and wife...

Jean said...

Moosewood is my favorite cookbook ever and it's so stained and worn, I may have actually cooked my way through it over the years. I would never be disciplined enough to do with Julie did in that movie. (what a wonderful movie, wasn't it?) Truly except for Moosewood, I enjoy reading cookbooks more than using them! They're always such a great read.

Unknown said...

I haven't watched Julia & Julia but I might rent it out today from Redbox. It's snowing and has been for 2 days straight now... I feel like I'm getting cabin fever from being holed up! So it would be a good idea for me to trek out and rent a movie :)

I would definitely want to cook every single recipe in Dean and Deluca cookbook. Hands down -- they have the best recipes!!

Mary said...

No, I don't think I would ever cook every recipe in a cookbook, unless it was a small one -- too expensive to try to do that. But, if I were to do that, I would choose The Southern Living Cookbook that was published like in the late 80's or early 90's. It was great.

Nel said...

I think my favorite are the Fundraising Cookbooks, you know the ones from churches or organizations. I actually am working on putting a cookbook together. I have alot of good recipes that have been given to me or have been passed down, favorites, and I wanted to get them in some order so I decided on a cookbook. My daughter is always asking for recipes, so I thought this would be good for her too.
Enjoy your blog!

Lynda said...

I've watched this movie twice already. It's so cute! I haven't tried any of Julia's recipes yet, but I absolutely LOVE Paula Deen's recipes! And she is so right. Anything with butter is good.

I stumbled upon your blog the other day and I have to say, I have added you to my list. It's so adorable.

Linda Atkinson said...

I went to see Julie & Julia at the movies, not expecting much, so what a delight to come out having seen one of the best movies of the year! Don't know that I would have the patience (or skill!) to cook my way through an entire cookbook, though - unfortunately I'm not enough of a foodie for that lol!

Health-news said...

I absolutely LOVE Paula Deen's recipes! And she is so right. Anything with butter is good.

Cherish said...

As soon as I start eating carbs again, I'm going to try baking all the way through my bread cookbook. http://www.amazon.com/Better-Homes-Gardens-Homemade-Bread/dp/069600660X I have already tried a number of the recipes and there are so many more I'd like to try. I'll definitely blog about it!

Amy M said...

I know this is an old post but thought I would jump in:)

I would choose either the Betty Crocker Picture cookbook (1950) Or my 1957 copy of Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook.


The only thing would be figuring out how to go about it. WIth things like Beverages and appetizers it makes it a bit more confusing.