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.
Trudy Says
In the back of my cookbooks on those empty pages I write the name and page number of my go to recipes for that book. I’ll also take a few minutes and type it in my word doc under it’s category (chicken, beef, etc).
Clean Mama Says
Post authorLove this!
Karen Smith Says
The booklet in the photo above with the spiral binding – menu and shopping list – is that in your shop? I couldn’t find anything like it. Thank you
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI used to have it in my shop and no longer do.