September 20, 2018
What’s On My Cookbook Stack
I love cooking and even in the age of Pinterest and everything going digital, I still love (and collect) cookbooks. I have a pretty extensive collection of cookbooks but I went through them this summer and got rid of anything that didn’t fit our cooking and eating style any longer.
We have a bookcase around the refrigerator (which I love) and two built-ins in our island. In one of the built-ins I keep the cookbooks I’m currently using for menu planning. I thought you might like to see what’s on my cookbook stack and get some ideas for menu planning at the same time. I have links to the cookbooks below the post.
Here’s what’s on my cooking from cookbook stack right now:
Here’s what I do…
On Fridays (catch-all day) I take a couple minutes to plan out the menu for the next week. Once I have my plan in place, I do a quick wipe down of the refrigerator (while it’s empty) and head to the grocery store to fill it up. I typically shop for the weekend and into the next week. Monday or Tuesday I usually go back for fresh produce and any odds and ends I need to pick up. I’m using my menu planner from my shop – you can see all my planners here.
hazel Says
Today, a bit of a cook-in as tomorrow the weather will be foul and I want to stay inside. Just prepared, fennel risotto (which I wolfed down) and bolognese sauce. Tomorrow, as I have lots of interesting vegetables, a huge ratatouille. Have to feed the freezer!
b r Says
Post authorSounds delicious Hazel!
Denise Says
Becky: How the heck do you go through 20+ cookbooks in “a couple of minutes” to plan out next weeks menu??
It would take me at least 2, or more like 20 hours to complete this task!
I would so love your suggestions and input. Thank you.
b r Says
Post authorI don’t! These are the cookbooks I’m currently using – I have them at the ready for recipes I’m already using or have used. I start with a framework for recipes – like Monday is busy so let’s do something in the crockpot, Tuesday we will be home for dinner, let’s do enchiladas, Wednesday I’ll make a big dinner salad and clean out the fridge, etc. Once I have a basic idea I look in my cookbooks – I’m not just looking for something without an idea of what I’m looking for (that would take me hours too). In the back of my Menu Planner I also have a ‘family favorites’ page – I use that for ideas too! I never re-invent the wheel, I go with what works! I hope that helps 🙂
Margaret Says
A good way to keep on top of this (viewing it as a task) is to include cookbooks in your (pleasure) reading pile, tabbing the recipes that interest you. This is also a good way to weed through a collection that has grown too large for available space. You can copy the few recipes you may mark and then sell or donate the book.
GreenDoor Says
I have a lot of cookbooks too. I plan a month of meals at once and find it helpful to use themes. So sometimes my themes are my cookbooks – Americas Test Kitchen Slow Cooker on Mondays, Pioneer Woman on Tuesdays, a church cookbook on Wednesday, and so on. This gives me a good opportunity to get actually use my cookbooks, try new recipes, and sometimes determine that I actually don’t like anything much in a particular book and can get rid of it. No point in spenidng money on cookbooks if you never actually make use of them.
Rebecca Says
That is a great idea (greendoor)! These meals based on your cookbooks. I have a collection I love, but I do feel like I don’t use them as much as I could. I also would LOVE a list and links to the cookbooks currently on your shelf (I can’t see some of them clearly in the picture).
Anu Says
😀That’s a really neat idea to go through the different cookbooks! Thanks, going to try that!
Candis Says
I also plan a month at a time, and have many cookbooks, but I have never tried planning our meals using cookbook themes. I love this idea, and I cannot wait to try it. Thank you for sharing.
Rebecca Says
Ah! Found the list of books below the picture! It didn’t display on my phone 😉
Lauren@SimplyLKJ Says
I love the idea of bookcases around the fridge. It’s always such wasted space! You meal plan very similar to me. Such a time and money saver.