How many cookery books do you own? And do you use them............?

[MakemineaGandT]

I am a real cookbook addict and have over 40. I really shouldn't need any more but I still like to get new ones (though I didn't bother with "Cook with Jamie" as it seemed too basic as does "Nigella Express".....so I guess I am getting a bit choosier...)

In my defence I do use my books - a lot - I like to try out new recipes all the time

So, fess up - how many do you have and which ones do you turn to regularly?

I have a fair number. The one I use the most is Domestic Goddess (because I am).

[chortle]
[splutter]

I find it virtually impossible to stick to a recipe even the first time I make it though. I have to tinker in some way.

I have tons, including some Fanny craddock ones from my Nana, which I read more for comedy value than anything else.
I like being snuggled up in bed, pouring over my books planning wonderful meals for the future. Sad I know
It's interesting comparing differences in recipes, which initially I follow religiously and then I adapt and adopt from different recipes to make my own version

I think I've got about 20 (but several of those were presents are from different countries or eras or passed to me by my mum, eg, Elizabeth David and Patience Gray)

I tend to use Delia's Complete Cookery Course or Nigel's Real Fast Food more than the others. I also have a small but good, basic authentic pasta one which I use a lot. I would like to get a Nigella one (have read the earlier ones are best)

Btw, I am basic cook and need help and ideas!

hundreds.
and no.
not after the first few weeks.
keep meaning to go through them one by one, photocopying the recipes i like the look of and building up a folder of favourites.

which of course ill never do.

ho hum.

(bet the structure of that post really pissed greensleeves off, if she read it )

Mercy, I think her best one, is "How to Eat", that really is worth buying. I use it loads

I have about 65 and I'm always on the look out for new ones.

I have about another 6 in my amazon basket waiting for a weak moment I use mine all the time, but my current favourites are Appetite by Nigel Slater and Ainsley's meals in minutes trilogy.
This will probably change next month to something else.

We have a few, but I almost always improvise. Occasionally I google a recipe.

Got loads and loads. Just bought Nigella's Domestic Goddess and a book called Gorgeous Cakes by Annie Bell.

I do use them though.

Forgto to say, my MIL is a great cook and has lots of Australian Women's Weekly magazines. But she mostly uses a huge scrapbook of recipes which she's had for years: either handwritten or torn out of magazines - complete with amendments!

I've started to build one up too - it's very useful.

Lots. When we moved house I finally got bookshelves in the dining room to house them all properly. I love them, especially ones like Claudia Roden's, which are a bit of a travelogue as well.

I have loads and some I haven't made anything out of yet but to be fair I have only had some of those for 5 days!

Off to count...

I've probably got about 20 but only about 3 or 4 which I use regularly (weekly for inspiration or memory jogging).

The ones I use a lot are

one called Comfort Food which is fab - really nice meal ideas which are yummy and actually do comfort you rather a bit. It's got good instructions and photos too so I can see how horribly wrong my version turned out

1001 recipes - got everything in it in easy to use sections

'How to boil an egg' - got it when I was 15 and had started buying and cooking all my own food. It is great for jogging my menory as I can never remember how many egg and how much flour goes in pancakes etc.

and the good old 'Dairy Diary' a bit dated as it is from the 70s bit some good ideas in there...plenty of avacado recipes and 'microwave tips' .

I'm going to try and pick up some nigella ones at the library if they have any.

I have 49 cook books and 2 more A4 hard back books with recipes stuck in.

Mercy I bought the Australian Women's Weekly cook book for a £5 down from £25 in Smiths 2 weeks ago. Do you know what meal is?

We have about 40 - dh is a good cook (will do fiddly stuff) and I like to bake but have less patience for proper cooking, so like speedy recipes. Have just Nigella Express and there's some good things I will try for fast suppers. The books we come back to time and time again are Nigel Slater's Appetite, Rena Salaman Healthy Mediterranean Cookery, Nigella's Domestic Goddess, Australian Woman's Weekly Home Baked (fab!) and their Vegetarian Cookbook and Good Housekeeping's 1001 recipes as there's always something in there that fits the ingredients you have. For more impressive stuff we have Lorna Wing's Party Food and sometimes Gary Rhodes At The Table.

Am hungry now.

I have just under 60 on my kitchen shelves, and I would say at least another 20 knocking around the flat. I also have loads of those free recipe leaflets that Waitrose give out. I used to have loads from Sainsburys, some of which I used regularly, but they got lost in the last move. I still mourn the loss of the coriander chicken pitta pockets recipe.

My current favourites are Falling Cloudberries and Apples for Jam both by Tessa Kiros. They were on offer on The Bookpeople so I bought one and loved it and then bought the other. I haven't made anything from them yet.

I do use some of the books occasionally. Delia's complete thingy is good for cooking times and preparation for things I haven't cooked before. I use Madhur Jaffrey and Anjum Anand a fair bit, but I always adjust the recipes. When I first left home I used GH Step-by-Step a lot, because it has pictures of the methods and I was useless to start with.

Mostly I look for inspiration, and just because I like reading cookbooks. Some writers put together ingredients that I would never have considered before and the resulting taste is amazing (houmus, natural yogurt and mint/parsley/coriander for instance, who knew it would be so fab).

Oh, and just like SnappyVelour I plan one day to photcopy my 30 or 40 favourite recipes, notate my own variations, laminate them and compile them in one folder. It will never happen, but I'm ever hopeful.

Over 60, plus two folders full of clippings frommagazines and a recipe book of ones I copy from books I borrow from the library.

I rarely cook directly from them but am often "inspired" by them iykwim.

My favourites for reading are:
Madhur Jafrey's World Vegetarian
Nigella's How To Eat, Feast and Domestic Goddess
The two World Food Cafe books.

My favourites for inspiration are Nigel Slater's Real Fast Puddings, various Rose Elliot ones, the Madhur Jafery and World Food Cafe ones and an old Indian veggie cookery book.

I am an avid reader of cookery books and often tuck myself up in bed with a pile of books and a packet of post-it notes!

I'm liking the look of "Falling Cloudberries".

NAB, I can only find cornmeal in my one and only copy of AWW. I assume meal means ground anything. (eg, cornmeal is ground corn)

Best ask Suzywong to interpret!

So far these things have confused me -

rice bubbles
almond meal
unsalted pepitas (nuts?)

Far too many.

The ones I use again and again are all of Nigel Slater's, Nigella's How To Cook and Feast.

Rice bubbles are rice crispies (just asked dh)

Almond meal I assume is ground almonds

Pepitas - no idea I'm afraid!

Thanks anyway!

Just googled - they are pumpkin seeds.