Friday, June 01, 2007

Friday Show and Tell!


Kelli over at Kellishousehttp://kellishouse.blogspot.com is hosting Show and Tell!

This Friday I would like to show and tell you about my cookbook collection.

I started collecting cookbooks when I was first married when I was 19. I already had a couple of childrens cookbooks and my mothers Better Homes and Gardens. I would buy them in bookstores, churches, yardsales, auctions, you name it! I'm always looking for cookbooks! I haven't counted them in a few years, but last count was over 1000! The top photo shows most of them, but not all!


No, I haven't made a recipe from every one, but since I love to cook, I have made 100's of recipes from them but my favorite thing to do is sit and read them like a novel. I expecially love the ones from the 1940's and 1950's with the beautiful color pictures. The New B H & G is from 1937, The Lilly Wallace is from 1947, and the American Womans Cookbook is from 1943.





The set below is one of my favorites. I found the 1st book at a flea market and then the hunt was on for the rest of the set, which I found on ebay.





Of course I have an abundance of church, organization, etc. cookbooks. I really love these as the recipes are usually tried and true!



Did you know that Nancy Drew, the girl detective has a cookbook? I searched for this book for about 5 years before I found it at a flea market in a neighboring town.


The last two are by 2 of my favorite authors, Gladys Taber and Louise Andrews Kent. Gladys Taber has many books about living in the country in her 1700's house named Stillmeadow. Louis Kent writes about her life growing up and her books deal with gardening, housekeeping and cooking. If you haven't ever read any of their books, I urge you to as they are so sweet!



Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!








26 comments:

Susan said...

What a wonderful collection of cook books. I have two friends that collect them. They go to garage sales just looking for yet another cookbook. Thanks for sharing your huge accomplishment.
Susan

Susan P. said...

I loved looking at your wonderful cookbook collection! You have such an incredible variety. I bet dinnertime at your house is a treat every night!!

Lori said...

Wow! That is quite the collection of cookbooks. Neat!
I will be posting mine around noon as my show and tell (treasure) is of my daughter today. She is having a birthday party this morning.
You'll have to check my site later.

Kim said...

Very Cool!!!

Marci said...

That is SOME collection!!! I thought I had a lot, but it is probably not even one shelf's worth of yours. =)

ellen b. said...

I'm quite a sucker for cookbooks and magazines myself. I'm with you on reading them like novels. Blessings on all you cook with those books and the joy it spreads around your table!

Kelli said...

Now that is my kind of book collection! How fun!! I enjoyed seeing the pictures of some of your older ones and the Stillmeadow one looks wonderful, I'm a big fan of Gladys Taber. Thank you for sharing your books with us!
Kelli

LadySnow said...

Oh my goodness! What a collection. And my hubby thought I had a lot. ;)

Lyndy said...

What a great collection. I too love to sit and read a cookbook just like a novel. I have found some of the ones from the 50's and I too love the color pictures.

Have a blessed weekend.

Lyndy

Tammy said...

Wow...I thought my Mama had a lot but I think you beat even her!
What a collection...I like cookbooks and have them in a cupboard, except for my newest one is on display it is the Red Hat Society cookbook...I love it!
:)

Myrna said...

what an amazing collection! I like that you have them all displayed in the bookshelves. I am not an industrious cook, but I have always liked to read cookbooks also. I also love community type cookbooks because you get recipes that people really use and enjoy.

Cheryl said...

lol...I'd cut them apart and use them in collages~

Carole Burant said...

I have quite a huge collection of cookbooks also and like you, I just love the ones from the 1940's and 50's:-) I recently found a cookbook from the 1940's at an antique shop and it's all handwritten by several women! I have half of my collection in a box because my shelf unit couldn't hold any more! lol Have a wonderful weekend my friend:-) xoxo

Sheri said...

Wow! What a diverse and special collection of cookbooks!

Betty said...

Goodness, what a collection of cook books...I bet you are a wonderful cook....and you certainly can grow turnips....Please come back to visit and thank you for the comment..Betty

Amber said...

Oh my goodness, you have quite a collection. I think that is wonderful. I love reading cookbooks like novels also. Thanks so much for all the insight!

Jenn4Him said...

Oh my goodness! Now that is a collection to behold. I am ashamed to say I gave away some of my husband's grandmothers cookbooks when we moved. Don't hate me!

Unknown said...

My goodness! I've never seen so many cookbooks in one place! I'm so glad you included a photo of one of the books opened. I love looking at the vintage styles etc.

Henny Penny said...

These are fantastic! My mom and I are both cook book collectors too! My collection seems small in comparison to yours or hers though. LOVE the shelves!

(I'm a horrible cook. LOL)

Jodi said...

Linda ~ what an amazing collection! I love to *just read* cookbooks, too. :o)

Lynne said...

Great collection of cookbooks, I have about 2 shelves of them and am always lookig to add more. One can never have enough!

Unknown said...

I enjoyed seeing such a beautiful collection of cookbooks - truly a lost art. I also love to sit and read cookbooks. I do not have as nice a collection as you do, but I love the ones I do have.

Then I took a trip down your blog to catch up as I think it has been a week since I visited. What a turnip! Yikes. That one must have been hiding for awhile. I, like you said, do not care for turnips. But it is about the only veggie that I don't love. And by the way, your spinach salads looked delicious. You SHOULD have some great satisfaction in serving that which you grow. It will be a tasty summer around your house i can tell.

Have a great week!

Heather Anne said...

What a collection you have - quite extensive! My MIL had a huge collection of cookbooks that my SIL wanted after her death. When my SIL died her husband gave them all to Goodwill - what a shame! Maybe some of them came your way - I hope they went to good homes! I love to read cookbooks like novels too - some think it is funny, but I learn so much!

Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm glad you came!

Beach Girl said...

What a GREAT collection! I love to cook too, especially bake.

My thing recently is cooking magazines like Paula Deen adn Rachel Ray. Both are full of wonderful things to feed 3 growing boys with. :-)

Vanessa

Susie said...

I am so impressed by your cookbooks. I thought I had a lot, but yours is huge! Love those from the 40's and 50's too!

Sharon said...

I love cookbooks! If I visited you, I don't think you would ever get rid of me! ;-)