I have a collection of old cookbooks that takes up three shelves in my kitchen bookcases. I’d have more except that eventually I tear them up so bad that they are worthless with pages falling out, broken bindings, and stains — so out they go and I go to the used book store or thrift shop and get some more. My favorites are those with handwritten notes in the margins. I find that usually, if you follow those handwritten variations, you come out with something far superior to the original recipe.
Some of my favorite books were published by Farm Journal and most of them, no matter where I find them, have faded blue ink scrawls with notes and variations that I wouldn’t have thought of. Continue reading
