I like books as much as the next guy...

And we probably have thousands of them gracing the book shelves in our home.  In fact, I think every single room in our home has a minimum of 12 feet of shelving full of books.  We have novels, autobiographies, informational texts, you name it... even cookbooks.  However, when you rarely follow a recipe anyway, how many cookbooks does one really need?!

I ask because, while looking for something in the kitchen this morning, Bridget told me to, "look by my cookbooks" and I didn't know where the cookbooks were located in the kitchen.  After all, it's HER kitchen and try not to mess around in there too much.  It's probably a little like telling her that something was in the garage, "next to the drawer that I keep the screwdrivers in."

While she laughed at my not knowing where the cookbooks were, I asked why she had cookbooks anyway?  She's an excellent cook and almost never follows a recipe, instead trusting her keen scence of smell and taste.  She assures me that she has far fewer that most women, which begs the question...

-Posted by Kevin

Comments

[Mary Ellen Barrett]

Silly man, cookbooks are for inspiration and fun! Recipes are what you get from your mom and your friends.

[Jennifer Gregory Miller]

Ah, well-said, Mary Ellen. Yes, cookbooks aren't just a compilation of recipes! And even if they were, there are those recipes that aren't used all the time that need to be referred. Baking requires exact measurements compared to cooking meals. And holidays with the special traditional recipes and plans require those books.

And the internet, while great for recipes, doesn't give the whole package as a book.

[Amy]

I said less than 10, but it used to be more.Call me weird. :) I'm becoming a minimalist, and I look everything up on the internet anyway. I'd say 80% of my cookbooks are specialty allergy cookbooks, because those types of recipes are harder to search for.

[Milehimama]

I actually have my cookbooks on 2 shelves - the three that I actually consult (America's Test Kitchen, BHG, and Joy of Cooking) and all the rest that I inherited or that belong to husband who likes to plot about cooking exotic Asian food.

[KC]

I just LOVE reading cookbooks and recipes.

But, I completely agree with Mary Ellen.

[Heidi]

I have around 50. I have been collecting them inspired by Aunt Jutta. She had a lovely area in her kitchen that just looked so homey with all of the cookbooks in it!!