The Wonders of a Cookbook

Many of us who enjoy exploring the world of cooking relate with the photo above. (Not that my kitchen counter looks quite like that!) We might also have a bookshelf somewhere in our home with some cookbooks on it, but more often than not, we go to the web when we want to find a new recipe. We type in something like "veggie lasagna" or maybe "homemade pita bread,"and infinite websites pop up. We might check out a few of them, compare, read reviews and decide on one to try out. There is nothing wrong with these ways of tracking down good recipes. It is fun to explore the seemingly endless recipes that are available on the internet.

At the same time, I would guess many of us are forgetting about the wonders of a cookbook. But what does a cookbook have to offer us that is different from the results of an internet search?

1. A Cookbook is Curated.

Like a music album, a cookbook is put together with intention and an overarching theme. Listening to an artist's complete album will always be different than downloading one song. The context and complete work of art just aren't there in one song. In the same way, cookbook authors put a lot of love into their cookbook. With years of experience and many, many hours of time spent in the kitchen, they put together a collection of recipes they are proud to share with us. Each person has unique experiences, a cultural background, favorite ingredients/techniques, and their own way of looking at food and the art of cooking/baking. When we read a cookbook we pick up on someone else's expertise, discoveries, and flair.

2. We Encounter Brand New Things to Make

Typically, when we do a Google search for a new recipe, we will find recipes to make something we have already heard of or tried. We could type in "Southeast Asian cooking" and see what comes up. But I would guess more often than not, we type in something we already know of like "Pad Thai." When we read a cookbook, we are often introduced all at once to many recipes we have never even heard of before. Opening a cookbook is like going on an adventure!

3. Good Writing

Cookbook authors are often great writers! They don't just print out a recipe on a page, but they may write a lovely paragraph or two telling us about how they discovered the recipe, what it means to them personally, or things they learned while working on that recipe. We feel that we get to know the person and we take in their love of cooking. Cookbooks are often memoir too. We see some of their bigger life story and pick up lots more from the author than we would have by simply coming across a random recipe. We get to take a step into their world. They also might make us laugh. Have you ever read Nigella Lawson's cookbooks? Deb Perlman of Smitten Kitchen? Such fun. (And of course if you aren't into memoir, you can certainly just skip to the recipe.)

4. You Can Make Your Own Mark

Maybe we have a few favorite "foodie" blogs that we enjoy, and come back to regularly. I do! Food blogs are wonderful and quite similar to a cookbook in many ways, though usually more dense and not quite as closely curated as a single cookbook. However, for me, the old-fashioned paper cookbook is always closer to my heart. When I flip through my favorite cookbooks, I see, feel, and remember my own experience with the recipes. I see the stains, bits of dried-on cilantro, and my handwriting marking up the page with things like "a little less salt," "black beans are a great substitute," "excellent!!!," or even personal souvenirs like, "June 2005 made for hubby's birthday." I love flipping through these old books. Cookbooks (and simultaneously, the people behind the books) become a part of our story and the story of the people we cook for - a part of our life.

So, why not try out a new cookbook today? Or dust off an old one that's waiting to bring you new adventures and delight?