There are many things that I cook from memory but by no means are my culinary creations born easily every single day. I need a little inspiration now and again and I often turn to my cookbook library for that.
I have always enjoyed reading cookbooks just as a personal interest and have amassed quite a collection over the years. You can tell which are my favourites because they are dog-eared and splattered and, in some cases, falling from their bindings.
It is quite an eclectic collection, from the well-known chefs to the obscure, different ethnic origins, and different levels of difficulty. You never know what you may need at a particular time and there is knowledge to be gained from each one. I love to learn and will never give up that curiosity of something new to try and master.
My first cookbook (given to me by a well-meaning beau) is still one I turn to the most. It's sponsored by a flour company and spans all the basics in baking and cooking. There is no cover left on it now and it's in pretty bad shape. I also love the Anne Lindsay books - the recipes all use common ingredients, are healthy, and produce really delicious results. There are vegetarian selections, decadent desserts, and bistro "show off" recipes that I turn to from time to time. My most treasured? A personally signed Caprial Pence edition, who I met at a day-long Bistro cooking class...she even wrote "to Angela"...very exciting!
There are some that I will never use - The Modern Cookery, Illustrated for example - given to me by my British mother. The book is from London, published in 1947 and features recipes such as Sheep's Head with Vegetables ("Well clean the head. Split it in halves and remove the brains. Soak the head in warm water for some hours...") NEXT! But I keep it for sentimental value...I think(?!?!?!) Hey kids, guess what's for dinner tonight?
So do not feel that cooking and baking need to be something inherent in you and that if you lack that natural comfort in the kitchen you are lost. There is inspiration to be found, not only in cookbooks and youtube videos, but in dining experiences with friends, farmer's markets, grocery stores, cultural festivals, and family gatherings, to name a few. You don't have to buy your ideas either - the library is a wonderful resource for interesting cookbooks you might like to sample, but not necessarily use to outline your weekly meal plans! Homework assignment: pick up one new recipe this week and get the ingredients to make it when you shop so there are no excuses. Give it a try and let me know what you learned! Thanks for checking in.
Comments