Cookbooks

Katherine here. There have been a lot of changes in my life and Alyse's life over the past few months. I just moved into a new (rented) house with my boyfriend, Ryan, after graduation. Seeking employment in this economy has been a challenge, to put it politely.  Alyse just got engaged and is pursuing her degree while working.  It's comforting to have our craft and cooking projects to keep us occupied and grounded.


One of my favorite things about the new house is my kitchen. Notice how I said "my" kitchen and not "our" kitchen. Ryan is banned from the entire area, as a trail of dirt and grime seems to follow him around like a lost puppy. As a result, it's my choice to arrange the kitchen however I please, and one of the first things I did was to put my cookbooks on the counter.

This is only a fraction of my cookbook collection - mostly the ones that were near the top of the boxes we've unpacked thus far. These were all gifts from my mother and grandmother. There are some classics in there, namely a vintage copy of the Moosewood Cookbook. There are also cookbooks which were far more in vogue back when my mother first bought them - is anyone using their microwave to prepare meals these days instead of to just warm up leftovers? - and cookbooks geared towards healthy, low calorie meals (is that a hint that I need less junk in the trunk, Grandma?). There's something pleasant about having these books near me as I putter around - it's nice to know that if ever the urge to try a new recipe strikes me, I'll be armed and ready, internet or no internet.

Fellow crafters, where do you keep your cookbooks?