Continuing to work my way through the one-photo-per-day August Break challenge set by Susannah Conway. Today's prompt is 'bookshelf'.
This is my cookery book shelf. This is where I turn to for inspiration, advice and comfort. I particularly love cookery books with lengthy introductions to each recipe, written in a friendly tone, advising, but not hectoring. Some I have owned for many years, some are comparatively new, all are loved. I have no compunction about writing all over them, making notes on any changes I have made; the exact timings for my oven, or halving, doubling or in some other way altering the recipes.
I also have an unwritten merit system for my cookery books, where, if I haven't consulted a recipe book for over a year or so, it is demoted to a distant bookshelf elsewhere in the house. If it languishes there for any length of time, it is quietly dispatched to the charity shop.
Some cookery books are kept, however, not because they are frequently consulted, but for other reasons. Perhaps because they contain one much loved recipe,e.g. 'French Leave' , bought some years ago in Oxfam, and kept for the cauliflower soup recipe. Others are kept because they have been received as gifts, e.g. 'Home Cooking' by Rachel Allen, given to me by Jacob, with a treasured message from him written on the fly leaf. I will keep it for ever.
The Readers' Digest 'Cookery Year' is the grand old man of the collection; kept because it was given as a gift from my family when Derek and I became engaged. I still turn to it regularly for no nonsense advice and classic recipes.
One of my favourites cookery books is the Roald Dahl's Cook Book, many of the recipes have introductions and explanations by Roald, which add charm and give an insight into his life with his family.
My christmas cookery books live on the shelf all year round. Opening them 'out of season' gives a pinprick of nostalgia for christmases past, and getting them down from the shelf in November for my christmas cake, or christmas pudding recipe, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the festive season.
I still remember the pleasure of saving up for and buying Delia's 'Summer Collection' and 'Winter Collection' books when Derek and I were quite newly married, and a new recipe book was a big purchase.
I love Mary Berry too, her down to earth approach with recipes, as well as her strength of character, humour, and sense of style. I have several of her books, and they are well used.
I can't talk about my cookery book shelf without mentioning the fabulous 'Home Cook' by Alistair Hendy. Written with a quick wit and sly wink, Alistair is the man to turn to when you can't quite remember how to make recipes you feel you should know. I love this book so much I bought an extra copy incase anything happened to the first one I had.
In the same way that each of our friends brings a different joy or richness to our lives, so each of my recipe books gives me pleasure. Like friends, they too have their foibles and quirks, and they are not without their flaws, but my kitchen, and home, would be poorer without them.
What cookery books you treasure, and turn to often?
