How Many Cookbooks Is Too Many?
I can’t be the only one with a fondness for collecting cookbooks. Over the years, I have amassed a bundle, enough to start my own bookstore even. One side of the store would feature cookbooks, the other would be devoted to the fictional works of Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum and Clive Cussler (those would be my hubby’s fav authors).
Pretty much at least half the cookbooks I own I purchased myself or were given to me as gifts, but the remaining half were handed down from my Grandmother after she moved to a nursing home and no one else wanted the many that she had collected as well (see? this love of cookbooks is totally hereditary, I swear).
I have cookbooks for Desserts, BBQ ideas, 1001 uses for Chicken, Breads, Soups, Salads, Vegetarian, Pasta, Mexican cuisine (probably the largest collection within a collection as I love all things Mexican), Spanish and Italian cuisine and even have one devoted to the best thing ever invented…
CHOCOLATE
But the cookbook I treasure most is one that was given to me as gift by my Aunt back in 1991. She obtained it from somewhere in Manitoba, the often referred to Ukrainian bread basket Province in Canada. More Ukrainian’s settled within Manitoba than any other Province from 1891 to 1914 and more still after WW II.
This cookbook has recipes, traditions and culture detailed with such clarity, even if you are not Ukrainian, you will appreciate what the pages of this book have to offer.
Not just recipes for the staple perogies (varenyky) or cabbage rolls, but mouthwatering bread recipes, interesting dessert concoctions, side dishes by the dozens, main course meals as well as soups and stews. Now if you are up to experimenting with nose to tail cooking….Well, let’s just say that there are a lot of recipes that feature the less often used animal parts…. me, I skip over those, I may be of Ukrainian descent, but I am not sticking a pig’s brain or eyeball into anything remotely considered food for my hubby and I.
One of my favourite recipes in the book though is for pancakes (called Mlyntsi in Ukrainian), I know, pretty mundane, but it makes the lightest and fluffiest pancakes you ever tasted. Round, golden pillows of tastiness that my family has been spoiled with over the years. Forget the store bought boxed stuff, serve up a platter of hot, fresh from the griddle home-made pancakes with real maple syrup and ding ding ding ~ you have a winner. They are a special treat at the homestead served with Ontario produced Maple Syrup, thick cut bacon and maple breakfast sausages.
The second most-often used recipe would have to be the one for Paska Bread. Traditionally a bread made for Easter, but in my family, has also been made for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and whatever excuse my hubby and kids can think of to get me to make more. A rich, egg-laden bread that will easily become an instant hit in your household. You can find the recipe here if you care to make some for your own family, but be warned though, it is an all-day affair to accomplish, and then you are trapped into making it forever…like that is a bad thing…
So this brings to my final thought on cookbooks…
I know which one is my favourite…what is yours?
I have a Lithuanian cookbook that I finally procured somewhere. I have disposed of many of my books and put a lot of the recipes on line (great stuff for an iPad). What’s the recipe for your pancakes? Sounds interesting. I could never get mine right, or at least as ‘right’ as my grandma.
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Where can I buy the Ukrainian cookbook?
Hi Nadia – Sorry, the cookbook is out of print, you could try at a local library or by looking on e-bay or some other similar website for a used copy.
I have two copies which I was going to put on Ebay. They are being going to be put on Auction starting at $125 which is way less than are sold at bookstores. I you are interested let me know.
I have this cookbook, hence my post if you read it through, so I do not need another one, nor would I pay the amount you are asking.
I LOVE this book. Wish they would reprint so I could pass it on to the younger generation M.
HI Marilyn, I apologise for the lengthy delay in answering, summer canning chores have been a zoo! I wholeheartedly agree with you though that this book,should be reprinted as I have had many requests on where to find it. I am happy to hear that someone else cherishes their book as much as I do!
You can find a new unused copy on Etsy. Although it’s pricey, it’s still much cheaper than Amazon. It is a Collectors Item.
I am not a fan of 3rd party sellers price gouging out of print materials. Simple greed is all it is. Thanks for the info about the Etsy seller.