Cookbook challenge anyone? (Full Version)

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Mrs.Above_All -> Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 5:58:37 AM)

Are you one of those people that have rows of cookbooks lined up in your bookshelf (yet still ask, what should I have for dinner?) Have many of the books and recipes been neglected? Well I thought I would start something fun...a cookbook challenge! How about making a goal of trying every single recipe we have? It may take months. It may take years. But what's great about this is that not only will it encourage us to actually make the things we have but it will serve as a platform of rating various cookbooks and recipes.

OK so I admit. I have purchased a handful of cookbooks (as well as have received them as gifts) but have never used them. To start how about telling all of us you situation, and along the way talk about you cooking adventures. Rate them, recommend them, thumbs down...whatever.

So who's with me!

[:)]



Grace-N-Mercy -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 7:36:34 AM)

Hey, Trish! This sounds fun, but wow! It would take me YEARS to go through every recipe! [:D]

I've collected recipe books for years and some are quite large! Also, many were handed down to me by my mom who no longer wanted them taking up space on HER shelves. (Thanks, mom! [;)]) These include recipes that are very southern (I'm talking about recipes that are 99.9% sugar & fat, or include wild game. [8|]). But seriously, I do often fix the same thing over & over because I know the recipe and it's quick and easy. And then I pull recipes off the internet when I should be going to the recipe books.

Ok, if I take this challenge, I'm culling some cookbooks. Hmmmm, I wonder if my son would like to start his own collection. [8D]



creationtalk -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 11:43:36 AM)

I don't think I'd want to try to cook every recipe in some of my cookbooks. What I really want to do is go through them and copy the recipes that I might use out of the ones where there are only a few that we could eat and give away the cookbooks, keeping only the ones that have a lot we might/can eat.



uncabeeil -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 12:37:01 PM)

Um, my cookbook collection includes the official US Navy cookbook. Its recipes are designed to feed literally hundreds at a time. Don't think I wanna go there!



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 12:41:56 PM)

What about the recipes in the books that just look gross!!!!!!!! Other than those, I am in. I have some very old cookbooks that have all kinds of rabit recipes and stuff like that. I am not about to eat rabbits. [:'(]



garsyt -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 12:50:03 PM)

Jeez! That would take me DECADES. Forget months or years! DECADES!! Not to mention all the cooking magazines I get. I'm lucky tho to have a few favorite recipes marked in each of my books and pulled from the magazines that we do use on a regular basis.

Garsy



HisCovenant -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 1:17:19 PM)

I'll sign up for commiting to try new recipes in my existing cookbooks, but I con't commit to trying all of them.
1. Dh won't touch certain foods
2. Some contain ingredients that I don't eat for health reasons, such as Cream of Mushroom Soup, white flour, or sugar.

Is it acceptable if we don't try every one, but just make a concerted effort to try many of them?



Grace-N-Mercy -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 1:22:10 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: garsyt

Jeez! That would take me DECADES. Forget months or years! DECADES!! Not to mention all the cooking magazines I get. I'm lucky tho to have a few favorite recipes marked in each of my books and pulled from the magazines that we do use on a regular basis.

Garsy


Oh, I forgot about all the magazines. Oy! And let's not forget those recipes handed down to us for generations. [:D]

There are many recipes in other books I've been wanting to try. A few months ago, I bookmarked several recipes, but have yet to try any of 'em. This challenge is just what I need! I do have a couple of books, however, that I think I could try everything. There's no (or very little) refined white flour/sugar in any of the recipes. Also, I have some pampered chef cookbooks that I've been meaning to use... if I can modify the recipes.



coinpurse -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 1:37:10 PM)

Does anyone know of a good vegetarian/vegan cookbook???



Mrs.Above_All -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 2:17:19 PM)

LOLOL! Fun. I figured that many of us would take decades to make it all. Ok, so not EVERY recipe but if you can challenge yourself in any way the better...maybe substitute foods, be daring? Think of what a wonderful cook you will be through it all! [:D]

Uncabeeil you could start a food ministry or just plan a family reunion. lol Kidding.

For me, I think I will start off with this discounted Thai cookbook I bought from the bookstore. FH loves Thai food...especially Pad Thai. I have never cooked Thai at home so this should be neat. Then I will probably alternate cook books. I may make it ultra challenging for me and choose recipes in which the majority of its ingredients go on sale. [:D] The question is when can I start? I'm in the middle of planning a wedding and slowly moving. Hmm. I'll pencil it in somewhere. Ha.



Grace-N-Mercy -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 2:21:08 PM)

quote:

I may make it ultra challenging for me and choose recipes in which the majority of its ingredients go on sale.


See, this is where it gets challenging for me. [:D] I see a recipe I would like to try and then go to the store and find that the ingredients are out of season, or they can only be found at a specialty store, etc. Or... I will start a recipe thinking I still have an ingredient, but it either went bad or was just used up. Oy! [:D]



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 2:34:37 PM)

I got rid of almost all my cookbooks. I find a binder with fave recipes off the 'net or cookbooks at the library is more useful than a shelf-full of books that I only need one or two pages out of.

The books I kept: More with Less and Extending the Table, The International Museum of Cultures Cookbook, Fix it and Forget it, Saving Dinner, and a couple books that were gifts or that are speciality things--like my pasta-making book for my pasta press, things like that.

I would never try every recipe, lol, but I do wish I planned more and followed through with the plan.



Miss Giggles -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 2:47:11 PM)

I have a LOT of cookbooks plus I have the mastercook software for saving and printing recipes off the internet.

I'll make some more items of my cookbooks but i can't commit to a certain amount. I got to stick to my food budget since i go over it constantly



Mrs.Above_All -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 2:48:01 PM)

Very cool Jenny. I think that this challenge will get us to a binder method. Ha


quote:

ORIGINAL: Cute-N-Sassy

quote:

I may make it ultra challenging for me and choose recipes in which the majority of its ingredients go on sale.


See, this is where it gets challenging for me. [:D] I see a recipe I would like to try and then go to the store and find that the ingredients are out of season, or they can only be found at a specialty store, etc. Or... I will start a recipe thinking I still have an ingredient, but it either went bad or was just used up. Oy! [:D]


Well there's the usual ingredients that most recipes have like pantry items. You must have very ethnic or exotic recipes. In those cases I suppose you just need to plan ahead. Say for example ginger. Make it an Asian week since lots of Asian dishes call for it. This way even if you don't have ginger on sale or anything that week you can stretch it out and make good use of it without having to use it just once.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 2:55:18 PM)

Ginger--buy a large ginger root, chop it into 1-inch pieces, and put in a freezer bag and freeze. When you need fresh ginger, take out a piece and run it under hot water or let it sit out for ten minutes and then proceed as usual.



uncabeeil -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 3:22:35 PM)

quote:

have some very old cookbooks that have all kinds of rabit recipes and stuff like that. I am not about to eat rabbits.
If I catch the ones that keep decimating my green bean plants I may be asking for some of those recipes. [:@]



Auben -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 3:26:53 PM)

I would like to make a suggestion.

Why don't we list out our cookbooks. Cook 2 recipes from each one. Then rate the cookbook.

If you can't make 2 recipes from a cookbook you probably don't need it on your shelf. Plus this will give other people ideas for new cookbooks.



Grace-N-Mercy -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 3:28:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: uncabeeil

quote:

have some very old cookbooks that have all kinds of rabit recipes and stuff like that. I am not about to eat rabbits.
If I catch the ones that keep decimating my green bean plants I may be asking for some of those recipes. [:@]


[sm=biggrin.gif] I think I might just have a recipe for Wabbit Stew!



HisCovenant -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 3:30:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Auben
Why don't we list out our cookbooks. Cook 2 recipes from each one. Then rate the cookbook.

2 seems a bit too low to me... what's your reasoning for chosing that number? I would think more like 2 from each section (appetizer, beverage, poultry- or however it's organized.)



Mrs.Above_All -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 3:38:34 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisCovenant

quote:

ORIGINAL: Auben
Why don't we list out our cookbooks. Cook 2 recipes from each one. Then rate the cookbook.

2 seems a bit too low to me... what's your reasoning for chosing that number? I would think more like 2 from each section (appetizer, beverage, poultry- or however it's organized.)


I agree. Just two from every book is not enough to rate the overall cookbook. It's like at least three songs need to be good for the CD to be considered good. Ha.

I like the 2 recipes from each food type idea. How about we go with that? Anything more is up to you.



Auben -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 3:43:56 PM)

Perhaps I don't have as many cookbooks as all of you. I assume we could all rate our cookbooks, at least most of them, right now based on what we've done from them in the past.

The 2 recipes is just to get some new things started. Priming the pump so to speak. Making us really look at them again.

If I did more than 2 recipes per book, just in my little collection of 10 or so, then it would take a good while for me to reply to this thread. If I just make two I can do a different cookbook every week. I'm sure I could work in 2 totally new meals a week.

The thing about the internet is that people loose interest quickly. If you don't give them something they can conquer their interest wanes quickly. If we have to do 2 items per subcategory I'm afraid you'll have to count me out. Most of my cookbooks have 5-12 categories. I'm not up for making 120 totally new things.



HisCovenant -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 3:48:27 PM)

That all seems reasonable, too.

What do you think, Above All? You started the thread... [;)]



Mrs.Above_All -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 4:09:26 PM)

I think we should have both options. You can do either or start off with #1 and then move to #2.

#1: Try 2 recipes per book and post your experiences.

#2: Try 2 recipes per category and post your experiences.

How often you post will depend on how often you make them. For me personally, I plan to post after one or after every two.



Grace-N-Mercy -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 4:13:19 PM)

Good idea. I think I may try at least two per cookbook. Maybe a main dish from one, an appetizer from another, etc.

Do you mind if we report on recipes we've already tried or is this to be new recipes only? I have one book I've tried many recipes from... some I really like and some I really don't.



Miss Giggles -> RE: Cookbook challenge anyone? (8/4/2008 4:19:02 PM)

Well I gotta admit I am not the greatest cook so my reviews may be a little biased.



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