Unlocking Library Coolness: Cookbooks!

Welcome back to Unlocking Library Coolness, where I take everyone on a tour of the nifty-sweet features that may be part of your local library.

We’ve covered Libby, and language learning options, and then magazine options for digital browsing.

That last one has giving me a wonderful summer of cross stitching .

Wanna see?

Well, if not, too bad, because here comes gratuitous pictures of my cross stitch in progress!

I mentioned there were many UK-based cross-stitch magazines in RBdigital – including  Cross Stitcher and Cross Stitch Collection. Subscribing would cost me over $100 USD with international shipping, but my gosh, these magazines are full of terrific patterns.

I’ve been working on “Through the Window” by cross stitch designer Maria Diaz, which was published in Cross Stitch Collection’s March 2017 issue. I’m just about to finish “Spring.”

Click here for gratuitous cross stitch in progress

Here it is on August 7:

Mostly done outside of a Spring pattern of a wood framed window looking out onto a light green lawn with a tree featuring pink blossoms in the background

 

And this past week – I’m almost done! (So much backstitch.)

Mostly finished cross stitch with half the back stitching done

But we’re not here to talk about my crafting problem, which isn’t a problem and I can stop any time, right?

Nope, this month, we are talking about FOOD. Specifically cookbooks.

I love to cook, and I love to try new recipes, but what I really love is finding new and easy recipes that are mostly hands-off, or that cook without my having to stand there with a wooden spoon and a discerning eye for how brown is “browning.” I have these humans in the house? And also these mammals with fur? And they all want things when it’s cooking-dinner-time? So a few recipes that are mostly “Put the stuff in the thing, let it cook, then finish right before serving” are among my favorites for weeknights.

Yes, that does mean I have an Instant Pot. And a slow cooker! And a bunch of sheet pans. Probably too many. But I can stop any time.

Anywhoot, over the past year, I’ve discovered that my new local, the Montgomery County Library System, has SO MANY cookbooks for me to borrow. Also, I love that I can call it my “local” like it’s a pub. Which, come to think of it, might be a fun social idea. Library Pub! Ooh, it could be called The Bone and Folder. Wait, those are the same thing. Now I’m going to be pondering names for my library pub while I walk the dogs.

(I just heard a librarian shake her head AND roll her eyes. Sorry, yes, stout near the books is a terrible idea.)

So here’s my library coolness tip! Rather than buy a cookbook if I’m curious about it, I do this instead:

  1. Borrow the cookbook from the library!
  2. Enjoy four or eight (or more) weeks (depending on if there are other holds) to try different recipes!
  3. EAT ALL THE THINGS.
  4. Decide whether to buy my own copy?
  5. Repeat!

Cookbooks can be hella expensive, and a bit of a risk if I buy one but only end up using one recipe out of it. With so many new cookbooks coming out each month, I have a pretty healthy hold and wish list of options to try from.

One-Pan Wonders
A | BN | K | AB
I reviewed one of my earliest library borrows, One Pan Wonders from America’s Test Kitchen, and I ended up buying my own copy.

This summer we borrowed The Bob’s Burgers Cookbook, just to see how it was. It was fun to read, and very clever, but I didn’t need to buy one.

Another book I borrowed this summer was Multicooker Perfection, again from America’s Test Kitchen, and I definitely bought my own copy. I’ve made the Instant Pot flan twice (it’s superb) and the parmesan risotto twice as well (again, delicious). My copy has at least a dozen post-its flagging recipes I want to try in the near future, and I’m very glad I borrowed it and tried out several before I purchased it.

BraveTart
A | BN | K | AB
One more cookbook I recommend for borrowing, trying out, and reading (it’s seriously fascinating): Bravetart by Stella Parks. Not only are there recipes for re-creating famous American desserts, but the research into how each one came to exist is really interesting reading. I particularly love the Vassar history of fudge, and how Parks was able to trace fudge appearing in various women’s club cookbooks back to a few years of innovative girls at Vassar making fudge in their dorm rooms. I know from our podcast conversation that Jessica W. Luther adores this cookbook (and she’s torturing everyone on Instagram with pictures of her creations).

Having access to a very healthy library collection (see what I did there) of cookbooks, especially those that explore styles of cooking or dietary guidelines that are new to me, has been both a money saver and a massive amount of fun. I love having the option to try a cookbook for a month or more and see if the recipes inside fit our tastes and schedules.

What about you? Do you borrow cookbooks from the library? What are some of your absolute favorites that you’ve found? 

Comments are Closed

  1. Sarah Yen says:

    Bravetart is one of my favorite cookbooks out there. I’ve been baking out of her book all year long and I know it is one I’ll be turning to in the years to come.

    Another favorite of mine is Momofuku Milk Bar by Christina Tosi; David Chang. I loved this so much that I bought the ebook as well as the hardcopy so I could have access to it at all times. Christina talks about her trials and errors and happy mistakes. More importantly, she talks about running her bakeshop like a resturant; which is to aim at the least amount of waste yielding maximum profits. The result is “mother” recipes that are used to make various pies, cookies, and cakes. Her recipes are not for the faint of heart and require some prep time to make her crumbs and crunches but the end result is well worth it.

  2. Ren Benton says:

    Dog bless cookbook Contents that list the recipes instead of just the section headings.

  3. Cathy says:

    Yes, I do borrow cookbooks from the library. For the past few years I have been borrowing them as e-books and using them with my iPad propped on an old fashioned cookbook stand of my Grandmother’s. It makes me happy to see the old and new tech working together. When I find a book I like, I now buy it as an e-book because even though I have a 10 foot long book shelf in the breakfast room, it’s sagging under the weight of my physical cookbooks.

    Also, since I joined the Food52 cookbook clubs on Facebook, this “try-before-you-buy” method has allowed me to participate without spending a fortune on books that I’ll end up not using much. I love Bravetart and One Pan Wonders too, but my go-to Instant Pot book is turning out to be Melissa Clark’s Dinner in an Instant.

  4. Cathy says:

    @Ren Benton — I totally agree. Have you tried eatyourbooks.com? I love this site so much! You add all your cookbooks and favorite blogs to your virtual shelf and then you can browse and search all the recipes and ingredients within a single book or across your entire shelf. There’s an annual subscription fee but it’s been well worth it for me.

  5. Karen D says:

    As always, I love this column. Cookbooks for the win!

    Can I just add, though, that you might also want to see if your local (library, that is) lends out cooking appliances? The district where I work has Instant Pots, air fryers, dehydrators, spiralizers, and cake pans to lend. I’m not certain how much of a thing this is elsewhere but our patrons love it.

  6. I do like checking out cookbooks! I much prefer physical cookbooks over ebooks, so I have to be restrained in what I buy versus what I try out. 🙂 Some that I’ve bought after checking them out from the library:

    *both of Katie Workman’s cookbooks (The Mom 100 and Dinner Solved), because they don’t require a lot of unusual ingredients and are very oriented toward cooking for a family with kids
    * Cara Mangini’s The Vegetable Butcher–a one-stop for how to prepare and cook ALL KINDS of veggies
    *J. Kenji Lopez-Alt’s The Food Lab–this one is SO INTERESTING to read. The author has a dry sense of humor and a great curiosity about the science behind cookery. The science is helpful for making your own dishes turn out well, plus there are recipes you can follow too.

    I liked reading Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook, Cravings, and trying out some of the recipes, but there weren’t enough that worked for me to justify buying the book. But she’s got another one coming out next month and I’m going to check that one out!

  7. Tara says:

    Wait — you use the Montgomery County Public Library System? Well, visit the other counties and get a separate library card for them too (PG, Howard, Anne Arundel, etc)!

    That will give you MORE digital access and MORE things to check out. Maryland residents can get a library card in any county public library system in the State.

    And if Montgomery County doesn’t have a physical book available, you can use Marina to request the books be delivered to your local branch from another county!

    Maryland has a lovely network of public libraries. (Okay, I will admit bias here since I am an employee of one…)

  8. SB Sarah says:

    @Tara: You are so right about that. I love the library system here (though I wish MCPL loaned out video games the way our former system in NJ did). That said, you’re right – time for a library card road trip!

    And most importantly, thank you for what you do!

  9. Kay Sisk says:

    Our library has a semi-annual used book sale. I’m in charge because I’m a writer and who else better to sell used books? Anyway, one of our largest sections is cookbooks. An hour into the sale, it is usually devastated. At $1 for hardbacks, 75 cents for trades and a quarter for the paperbacks, it is easy for our patrons to pick up a book and give it a try. So check out your local library for book sales. Once you’ve read and cooked it all, you can always re-donate and they can sell it again!

    We also have an extensive cookbook section to check out as well.

    Even given the ubiquity of the internet and recipes, it seems we all still love our books.

  10. Shana says:

    I am a hopeless cookbook addict. My personal collection regularly toys with getting out of control, in spite of regular weeding, and pretty sure my wishlist is more cookbooks than anything else. More recipes than I could likely make in what’s left of my lifetime, but I’m still going to try to make them all and I’m sure I’ll die from being crushed by a stack of cookbooks. I’m totally OK with that. 😉

    I regularly check them out from my local library systems (yes…THREE! Arlington VA, Alexandria VA, and DC Public Library). Pretty sure my fines are mainly the result of returning cookbooks late because “just ONE MORE recipe!” happens every time. Best way to try a cookbook before purchasing. Sometimes there’s just one or two recipes I liked, and I’ll photocopy those when I return the book. More often than not, unfortunately, I end up adding the cookbook to my wishlist. My budget weeps…

    Full disclosure: I’m a librarian and work for DC Public Library (DCPL).

  11. Sarah says:

    it looks like our local (rural) library has a fair number of cookbooks, but they tend to be older – a quick search shows the newest is a 2013 “Taste of Home” title and most are pre-2000. The county library consortium has recently brought inter-library loans to town though, so there are more options than there were before. I still haven’t been able to “prove” residence sufficiently to obtain a library card though, since a driver’s license apparently isn’t enough (and print outs of ebills for our mortgage, utilities, etc. weren’t “valid”).

  12. Shana says:

    FYI – check your local neighboring library systems. There’s a good chance you are eligible for a card due to reciprocal borrowing agreements. DC Public, for example, allows anyone who lives in a county that touches DC’s borders to get a DC library card. Proof of residency can include your home/renters insurance policy with the address on it, your lease, or a utility bill.

    @sarah – if you’re having trouble, ask to speak to the branch manager or the library director. Ask for a specific list of acceptable options to prove residency. Frankly, I’m ashamed for your branch that they’re making things so difficult. There’s no excuse for that.

    Also, when in doubt, ILL (inter-library loan) is the way to go. You may have a small borrowing charge (to pay for fees, mailing, etc.), but it will still be much less than purchasing the title directly. 🙂

  13. Critterbee says:

    I borrow cookbooks constantly, and refuse to buy unless I have had repeated success with the recipes in a particular book. Nava Atlas’s books and Moosewood Restaurant’s books match my cooking style, so I have bought a few of their titles.

    Our library has a monthly Cookbook Club, where everyone chooses recipes from that month’s chosen cookbook, cooks a dish or three, and brings them in to share with others and discuss the book. Your library might have one also, check it out!

  14. SB Sarah says:

    @Critterbee: I LOVE the idea of a monthly cookbook club potluck. That’s so great! Thank you for the encouragement – I’ll definitely look for one here.

  15. Kay Sisk says:

    @Critterbee: Love the idea of a cookbook club potluck. I’ve belonged to a monthly group for over 25 years that does similar with a twist. The name of the club is–don’t laugh or shudder–Ptomaine. You are assigned a course to bring–veg, salad, meat, dessert, etc–and are supposed to make a dish you’ve never made before. Hence, the name Ptomaine because some of the dishes have been what we call ‘true ptomaines.’ Creamed radishes and tofu chocolate cheesecake stand out. The latter would not have earned this title had the other dessert not been the real thing, loads of cream cheese and all. It lost by comparison.

    We meet again tomorrow and I’ll suggest the cookbook idea. We might all gather the same magazine or internet site.

  16. AnnMarie says:

    Love cookbooks but for some reason have not really checked very many out at the library. If I had I’m sure I could’ve saved myself a ton of money. I have bought a bunch at the Friends of the Library in Montgomery County. Not always a lot of recent editions but have found many a gem during my frequent trips.

    By the way, the Kindle version of Multicooker Perfection by ATK is currently on sale for $1.99. Down from $10.99. Not sure how long the sale will last.

  17. Karin says:

    I don’t check cookbooks out, and if I did I would probably spill food all over them. But what I do is browse through them, and if I find a few recipes I want to try, I photocopy the pages right in the library.

  18. Nerdalisque says:

    I live in DC and have cards for five — count ’em, five — library systems 🙂

  19. Kate says:

    @SB Sarah, Baltimore County lends out video games in MD

  20. Karen D says:

    @Critterbee, I run a similar cookbook club at my library! I choose 2-3 cookbooks that fit my monthly theme, we try out recipes for the month, then bring in a dish to share. We eat, discuss the cookbooks, share tips, etc. It is soooooo much fun. Best part of my job:-)

  21. BellaInAus says:

    The problem I have with cookbooks at my local library is that I loved all my favourites so much I bought them and now I don’t have anything to borrow from the library any more.

  22. SB Sarah says:

    @Kate: WHAT IS THIS, YOU SAY VIDEO GAMES ARE JUST UP THE (really weird) HIGHWAY?! SCORE!

    Ahem. Thank you!!!

  23. Rosario Garza says:

    As a retired librarian (and an avid library user), MAHALO (that’s thank you in Hawaiian) for continuing one of our most under-rated resources: libraries!!!

  24. excessivelyperky says:

    I was tragically forced by researching a story into borrowing a couple of Russian cookbooks from the library (oh woes is me!). The borscht was right out, because me and beets Do Not Get Along, but it was made up by the seventeen different recipes for piroshki (sp), snowdrop cookies, and other delightful concoctions (me, and my character, gained weight).

  25. Linda says:

    @excessivelyperky, Russian food is SO underrated! I went to Russia a couple of years ago and it was delicious! The breads and cheeses and potatoes and pickled things!

    I also borrow cookbooks from the library to try them out before deciding whether to buy them. Sarah, if you like One-Pot Wonders (which I haven’t tried but will grab at the library when I go into work on Tuesday) you might also like Dinner: Changing the Game by Melissa Clark. I’ve gotten SO much out of my copy. There are a ton of really easy recipes that are super tasty.

    My library has a Cookbook Club too! And I run it! We pick a cookbook each time (it’s every other month) and everyone signs up by sending me the recipe they want to make and then we get together with our food and gorge ourselves. It’s a great way to really try out a cookbook without having to do the work yourself of trying out enough recipes to decide if the book is worth the investment. Plus we talk about how easy (or not) the recipes were, which is super helpful.

  26. Critterbee says:

    @excessivelyperky and @Linda
    I remember visiting Russia as a tween, and being served caviar for breakfast. Not sure if that was standard, but I guess eggs for breakfast is the thing.

    So happy to see more libraries with cookbook clubs – it is such a wonderful community get together!

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