new cookbook!

I saw a deal on Groupon the other day (I love that site! and living social) for the 75th anniversary edition of Joy of Cooking for $12 + shipping ($6), and I thought I just couldn't pass it up. I have definitely used the internet much more than the couple of cookbooks I have, but I thought a standard like this should definitely have a place on my shelf. I've made one cookie recipe from it so far (an interpreted version of snickerdoodles thanks to poor reading skills on my part), and I do like it. I think the format is a bit different, what with the ingredients listed as you use them and amongst the direction text, but I'm adjusting to it and I'll let you know my thoughts on it after more time with it. I'm excited to read more about different things and learn about food from it.

cookbooks

Well I officially own three four cookbooks, all my own! Yes, I still use the internet most of the time, but I will dabble in these and it's fun to have them on my counter. In my free time, reading through them and planning recipes with them is something I'm aiming for. In the order that I procured them:

Muffins. This is a little French cookbook that I picked up for 4 euros in Paris at a little market under a bridge (names are escaping me right now). So in addition to having lots of yummy looking muffin recipes, it is also an opportunity for me to practice my translation skills. Luckily, I can understand most of it without a dictionary, which is a great feeling. Also, I can read outloud in my terrible French accent in my kitchen and pretend that I am an eloquent and sensual French mademoiselle and I won't have anyone around to contradict my fantasy.

BLBC Cookbook. I mentioned this a while ago when I first finished it. It's a cookbook compiled by the members of my book club in Bulgaria that I put into book format via blurb. Then I ordered 12 for my family (at the neat cost of $6 each! still available and no profits). So a couple of my contributions are in there along with many others. I haven't truly read through it and tried anything yet, but I have eaten many of the recipes in the past year and they were tasty.

Barefoot Contessa at Home. Okay, I'll be honest. I never watch the show and she looked annoying (why I didn't want the show). But my mom gave this to me for my birthday. Then I saw the name. Ina Garten. I recognized it from SK and decided to give it a second try to impress me. I haven't made anything from it (give me a break, my birthday hasn't actually happened yet), but I read through a few sections and it looks good. Not healthy or like it will help me with my diet, but delicious. I'll be posting things from it soon enough.

The Essential Pasta Cookbook. Ebe gave this to me this past weekend for my birthday. It does include some recipes of how to make pasta by hand, but mostly it is for pasta dishes. It is really extensive and we both like how many pictures it has of all the food. Plus, I love carbs and Italian food.

BLBC Cookbook

I just got a mountain of grading. Did I start tonight? Heavens no because I make silly decisions sometimes. I did, however, finish taking the word document of the BLBC cookbook and transforming it into a 120 page book for sale on Blurb. I think it took me about 6 hours to do, which really isn't so bad. I hope that the ladies of the BLBC like it and are all right with the executive decisions I made; at least I like it and will be excited to have one at home! For anyone else who is interested, here is the information:

BLBC Cookbook
$6 plus shipping for softcover
http://www.blurb.com/books/2242451

From the info page I wrote up for the book:

BLBC Cookbook

The ladies of the BLBC, or Bulgarian Ladies Book Club, for the 2010 - 2011 school year were all International women of the American College of Sofia. In addition to reading seven books, having deliciously hosted meetings, going away for a spa weekend, and rafting, we also compiled some of our (and our friends and family's)  favorite recipes into a cookbook. We hope you enjoy it!

The BLBC 2010 - 2011 Book List:

October:  

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

November:  

Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey by Isabel Fonesca

December:  

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

February: 

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

March: 

Cold Snap: Bulgaria Stories by Cynthia Morrison Phoel

April: 

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

May:    

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

The ladies of the BLBC:

Abby Noel, Amanda Crocker, Carolyn Emigh, Hanna Soltow, Jaime Johnson, Jenn Lawrie, Jess White, Kate McKenna, Katherine Conaway, Kristina Pappas, Lindsay Bouton, Magda Bucior, Pei Pei Liu,  Shannon Savage, and Teresa Monicken

A special thank you to Kate McKenna for organizing the BLBC!