Recently, somehow, a conversation turned to cookbooks, something about which I know very little. Still, it was interesting, enough so that it became a post!

I've kept my Mom's The Joy of Cooking: a Compilation of Reliable Recipes with an Occasional Culinary Chat by Irma S. Rombauer and illustrations by Marion Rombauer Becker (1943 edition) for nostalgic reasons. It is filled with mom's notes as to when something was used, if it was good, and so forth.

When I moved into my first house, Tall Reader gave me Betty Crocker's Cookbook since it is a good, basic place to start. When I get that rare urge to cook, it is my go-to, how-to resource. Even for me, the recipes work!

I remember The I Hate to Cook Book, by Peg Bracken, from my mother's cookbook shelf. The one I recently read/skimmed is an updated and revised version for the 50th Anniversary edition. Recipes still sound good, helpful hints seemed helpful, but are still unlikely to be used in my house. ;-)

Which brings me to a cookbook that my mom and several of her friends loved. The Sunset Cookbook: Food With a Gourmet Touch. I do not know why this was loved and cherished the way it was, and for that reason I passed mother's copy on to my little sister. She joined our family when I was in college. I'm glad she did, and that she is now the one loving this cookbook.

Tall Reader loves to cook and bake. For years she made all the bread(s) her family ate. When I asked about a cook book I gave her with northwest recipes, she brought over three. (We've been friends for a long, long time). I know for sure I gave her one of them so that is the one featured here. Celebrate the Rain: Cooking with the Fresh and Abundant Flavors of the Pacific Northwest, from the Junior League of Seattle. The cover caught my eye first, then the title, and finally, when I learned that the artwork was all from local artists I decided it had to go to Tall Reader. I can tell you that the artwork is wonderful, she can tell you that the recipes are yummy!

"The only reason I have a kitchen is because it came with the house" Unknown. (I have seen this quip in craft books, on aprons, on wall plaques, and decals, but never with an author.)

Reading Hermit With Dog