thread: Do your cookbooks bother you too???

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    Do your cookbooks bother you too???

    I have a pile about 1 metre high of cookbooks that I DON'T ever use and they sit in our spare room downstairs taking up space!!

    I am tired of the clutter and slowly tidying up and donating things to Vinnies...... do you think I should just part with these too?

    Are they worth trying to sell on ebay? In bundles? Seems like a lot of work and hassle for probably very little money. Easier just to give them away!!

    I am thinking of keeping just 3 or 4 that I will probably use again and like the Weight Watchers and Simplicity (?) one's are really great cookbooks but besides those, I don't really need the rest......

    Why am I finding it so hard to part with these cookbooks?!?!?! LOL

    If I want a recipe these days, I just head to taste website or those similar ones and find oodles of recipes!!!! for free!!!

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    In Bankworld with Barbara
    14,222

    I reckon keep the ones you know you use and then give the rest away. I used to love buying cookbooks, but found that they either had recipes in them that I had in other books or they were full of things that I'd never make. I have 6 core books that I use all the time and everything else I just download and print out and put them in a folder.

  3. #3

    Jun 2010
    District Twelve
    8,425

    My cookbooks and mags are like my porn stash. Every now and then when I'm not getting any (yummy food), I drag them out and drool over them for a while

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Apr 2006
    Perth
    4,203

    I had massive piles of cooking magazines, cookbooks and recipes I'd ripped out of various newspapers and magazines over the years that filled an entire bookshelf. Last year I got a heap of lever arch files and plastic sheets (I won't tell you how many boxes of them cos that would be embarrassing!!). Then I went through and pulled out all the recipes I really liked and could see myself making, put them all into plastic sheets and then filed them all in categories - chicken, casseroles, cheesecakes etc. I was pretty ruthless and ditched everything else.

    It is fantastic in that now if I want a pasta dish, I've got all my recipes in one place and can just flick through and choose something. I'm trying to keep on top of it as I buy more magazines etc, and it was hard initially to rip pages out of books because I'm seriously OCD about how carefully I treat books in general, but its a lot more practical and useful now.

  5. #5
    Administrator
    Add Rouge on Facebook

    Jun 2003
    Ubiquity
    9,922

    My cookbooks are my method and taste inspiration. Like n2l my food porn. I prefer them much more for inspiration than online recipes. But I have been know to google a recipe I have on my bookshelf for the quick factor.

  6. #6
    2012 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
    Add AngelPants on Facebook

    Feb 2010
    Under the rock
    1,320

    My cookbooks and mags are like my porn stash. Every now and then when I'm not getting any (yummy food), I drag them out and drool over them for a while
    This is me. I love my cook books, but I also have display folders of ones I've found online or photocopied/hand written from ppl, mainly MIL or my grandma. That being said I have 2 or 3 that I use much more than others.

    sent from my watzamajig so may not make sense....

  7. #7
    Moderator

    Oct 2004
    In my Zombie proof fortress.
    6,449

    Another one here where cookbooks are porn!
    I love most of my cookbooks. I would only ever think of getting rid of some, there are just a few that never get looked at (well meaning gifts that were off the mark).

    I do often google recipes, but I find it impractical to look at a screen and cook. I prefer to refer to paper, but of course that might change if I get a tablet

  8. #8

    Jun 2010
    District Twelve
    8,425

    In fact, I got off on a couple of back issues of Family Circle only about half an hour ago.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Sep 2007
    Brisbane
    5,729

    Shanti, you can always freecycle them

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Jan 2004
    Melbourne, Australia
    1,002

    I had too many taht I did not look at and they sold really well at a garage sale we had. only 1 or $2 each but they went. Still have a few I can't get rid of. kept the old women's weekly ones. Not sure why as I don't look at them! think postage would make them not worth selling on ebay.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    Luluhb I am loving your idea!! I already have a folder where I save printed recipes but I like that idea of ripping pages out of books too lol!

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    Finally got rid of my excess cookbooks and it feels great!! Our local vinnies now has loads
    I kept just a few.

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    In my own little fantasy world
    2,946

    Finally got rid of my excess cookbooks and it feels great!! Our local vinnies now has loads
    I kept just a few.
    Yay! Well done. I gave away a heap when pg with DD because I had them in her room and we needed to clear it out so a baby could actually fit in there lol! We have a select few now. Just recently though, DH was looking for one that I'd gotten rid of. First time in 10 years lol! I might do another cull soon. I love google for recipes. We've got a few favourites from there now.

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    Feels great doing a cull huh? My dh is a bit of a hoarder and finds it hard to do but I'm like 'Nup get rid of it" haha

    I use taste website a lot!

  15. #15
    2012 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
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    Feb 2010
    Under the rock
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    Shanti where do u live so I can go trawl them lol!

    Rowellen, Gawd DH would only notice if I got rid of his bodybuilding nutrition books!

    sent from my watzamajig so may not make sense....

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    Northern nsw!!

    I even threw out a Jamie Oliver and a Gordon Ramsay book that were given to dh by me as gifts but never used!!
    I think I went a bit carried away??? Lol

  17. #17
    2012 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
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    Feb 2010
    Under the rock
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    Damn that's not much use to me! Don't ask me I keep all books, I'm only just getting into the habit of throwing things away, starting with my wardrobe...

    sent from my watzamajig so may not make sense....