When packing and unpacking to move into our new house, I realized just how many wonderful cookbooks that I own… but never use.
I have some favorites that I use occasionally:
- The Bon Appetite Cookbook
- Rocco’s 5 Minute Flavor
- The Vegetable Dishes I Can’t Live Without
- Real Simple Best Recipes: Easy, Delicious Meals
- Williams-Sonoma Bride & Groom Entertaining
But, in general, I’m not much of a cookbook gal. I like them, but it’s much easier for me to find a recipe on a blog or website.
Well, now that I’ve moved about 2o cookbooks into my new house, my thinking has changed about them. Basically, if they’re taking up space in my kitchen, I might as well use them!
So, I’ve created a Cookbook Challenge for myself. From now until the end of the year, I plan to cook at least one recipe from my cookbooks each week. I’m sure that I will end up making more than one each week, but it’s a nice goal to start. Plus, I have a feeling that once I start flipping through my cookbooks, I will discover some really great recipes and want to make them.
On tap for this week is a little cookbook called: Sandwich. I figured since we’re still getting settled in our new place, I should keep this week’s challenge simple! 
If you’d like to participate in my Cookbook Challenge, just dig out your cookbooks and start selecting recipes to try. I really hope this post inspires you to use your cookbooks more often and/or try new recipe from them! 
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I have the Bride & Groom Entertaining cookbook and love it but haven’t opened it in a while…thanks for the encouragement! I’ll have to make something new from it this week
Nice inspiration to do the same. I know I have cookbooks out of which I have never cooked one recipe. Now’s the time. Seize the day!!
I have a similar problem, I’ve got a few recipes from cookbooks that I turn to all the time – my standby, no idea what to make, fallback recipes, but when I’m looking for something new I’ll usually hit the internet for new recipes.
I think I’ll start making NEW recipes from my favourite cookbooks, there’s a ton for me to discover, I’m sure.
I don’t have a TON of cookbooks (maybe half a dozen or so), but I very rarely use them. This inspired me to dig them out!
My cookbook collection is my pride and joy. I use if often!
I am sadly the same…I have so many. I read them like I read novels and then never really go back again. You have inspired me to do better…definitely!
i’m the same way too. recently my cousin (who used to be the food editor for bon appetit) gave me about 1/2 her collection. they just sit on my shelf, untouched. it’s quite sad!
I’m excited to see what great recipes you find!
As easy as it is to just search the internet for recipes, sometimes (to me at least) it can be overwhelming! Sitting on the couch sifting through a few cookbooks is kind of therapeutic – and sometimes a smaller selection to choose from is better.
I’ve only got about 5 cookbooks, but I don’t think I’ve used any of them! I really need to do better!
I really need to use my cookbooks more also.
I was JUST talking to Matt about how we never use our cookbooks – and I got rid of so many of them already! Challenge accepted.
What a great idea! I also have many great cookbooks that rarely get used. I think this is a good goal I can keep!
What a great idea. I get seduced by cookbooks at the bookstore because they have such amazing pictures. I want to tuck into a dish of what I’m looking at. The colors just bounce off the page.
I have a French Baker’s Rack in the dining area and the cookbooks are all in a row on the shelf below the two rows of wine bottles. But I keep walking right past them day after day. And when I need a recipe – I go where I’m already spending countless hours in my home-based business – online.
About a year and a half ago I went through and packed up a whole bunch of cookbooks (and other books not related to cooking) and donated them to the Goodwill. It felt really good to release them from my life. That got rid of the excess – but my Baker’s Rack is still full of ‘em.
I don’t use my cookbooks all that much either. Once in a while I open Joy of Cooking for reference and I think I’ll eventually make all the recipes in Laurel’s kitchen. Fortunately I don’t have very many cookbooks. They’re way too bulky!
A group of my blogfriends have been doing a Cookbook Challenge blog even once a month for the past entire year! I’m going to join in next year for the same reason you’re doing this – too many cookbooks that I never crack open! Can’t wait to see what you pull out
I need to do this challenge! I’m always tempted to buy new cookbooks or cooking magazines, but I remind myself that I have so many recipes I’ve never used. I try to use at least 1 recipe a week, too. Good luck!
I love this idea. I have a ton of cookbooks but tend to use the Internet a lot more. Usually I have an idea in mind and it’s so quick to do a Google search to find recipes, but I definitely want to use my books more!
What a fun challenge! I always look at all my cookbooks and feel a sense of guilt for not putting them to better use. Perhaps I should join in on this challenge and step up my cooking game.
This is a great idea!! I have a slight obsession with purchasing cookbooks, reading them and then never making anything out of them. I will definitely participate in this challenge!!
this is a great challenge…I have tons of cookbooks that get no use because I like using google so much more..or my Cooking Light magazines
That’s a great idea! I’ll have to try it. Funny how we tend to rely on the internet for so much – even recipes!
Haha, I so need to do this but most likely won’t.
xoxo
I just started using my cookbooks too! Now that I’m actually getting better at cooking and baking, it’s so fun to look through them and experiment.
For a wedding present, two of my bridesmaids bought us a specialized cookbook that featured fall recipes (we got married in October ’08) and I haven’t used it yet! I think this challenge will help me crack it open.
I have a lot of cookbooks too, and only use like 2 of them. This is a really good challenge!
I have collected cookbooks for over 2o years! I have bookshelves overflowing with them. But when I need a new recipe, where do I go…the internet. So I accept your challenge….
I love this idea! I’m the same way- I always find recipes online and have a TON of printed pages full of recipes littering my kitchen but rarely use the bound books! There’s something so calming about flipping through a pretty cookbook, isn’t there?
Love this challenge. I actually intended to do this myself in September and fell of the wagon after one recipe. Well, I am ready to climb aboard and start following some recipes!
I LOVE my cookbook selection… love this challenge
Ditto to what everyone has said, because I love looking at cookbooks but rarely use them in my everyday cooking. I am definitely up for the challenge, and given the holidays coming up there is even more reason for me to make homemade goodies.
I LOVE COOKBOOKS. I always want to buy them all at the bookstores, but like you, I rarely use them when I do!
This is a great idea. I’m a cookbook fan because I find online recipe indexes overwhelming, but even so I don’t use most of the cookbooks I have! Maybe I’ll make this a 2011 resolution.
I’m the opposite, i use my cookbooks all the time. Not so much to use all the recipes but to give me ideas and help me plan a weekly menu. So, if you’re ever wanting to get rid of cookbooks in the future…yeah…I’m your gal.
i’m in! heading downstairs to pick out my book right now
Tonight, I used the only real cookbook I own! It’s called Incredibly Easy Vegetarian, and I salvaged it randomly at the end of last semester. Since I’m a recently declared vegetarian, it’s been fantastic, and my family (even my old-fashioned granparents) loves it too!
Great idea! I was just thinking the same thing today…I have so many cookbooks, yet the first place I go to search for something new? The internet!
I think I’m gonna try this one right along with ya.
Tonight, I used the only real cookbook I own! It’s called Incredibly Easy Vegetarian, and I salvaged it randomly at the end of last semester. Since I’m a recently declared vegetarian, it’s been fantastic, and my family (even my old-fashioned granparents) loves it too!
I should join in the challenge only because I eat the same things week after week. Maybe I should pick up a few news ones to inspire me
congrats on your pr this morning!
I’m just now started to collect cookbooks! It’s so fun!
I love this challenge! Especially because I recently purchased a Vietnamese cook book and I haven’t tried anything from it. I see egg rolls in my future, can’t wait to share!
great idea, i have a few that need dusting off.
i actually do not own a single cookbook! i get all of my recipes online, which is quick and easy. but there are a few cookbooks that i would love to get my hands on!
I have diagnosed myself as having a cookbook addiction. I seem to impulsively buy them but then rarely use them! Love your Cookbook Challenge idea.. I’ll be participating for sure!
This sounds like fun Tina! I want to participate
-m
That is a great idea! Once a week last summer, two friends came over and we tried a new dish from one of my cookbooks. As a bonus we rated the recipe that we tried for future reference. I need to go through my cookbooks again for new inspiration
I only have 2 cookbooks! It’s so much easier to search online than through a book, I feel. But I’m probably missing out on some really good recipes. Just looking at your books makes me want to go out and buy some.
I had the same idea so I started my blog (Cookbook Cooking) back in January! My mission statement is to stop buying cookbooks and start cooking from them! It’s been fun and rewarding…
http://cookbookcooking1.blogspot.com/
I love and collect cookbooks. If you can find one amazing recipe the cookbook was worth the cost. Although a good cookbook should have several. Have fun discovering new and amazing recipes.
I love cookbooks, I have over 100! But, I rarely, rarely use them, I much prefer reading them like regular books. I’m weird like that.
I must say though, lately I have really been wanting to try new things and have been reaching for my cookbooks again. They really inspire me to step outside of my own box in the kitchen!
that is a great idea! i have so many cookbooks and always forget about half of them despite the massive amount of space they take up
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