Day 17: Anna Thomas Vegetarian Epicure Book Two

This book was written in 1979. Can that really be 30 years ago?

Day 16: Another Cookbook – Anna Thomas, The Vegetarian Epicure – 1972

I  love cookbooks. They comfort me. When I’m sick it makes me feel better to curl up with several and read about all the food that doesn’t taste good at the moment. Strange, I know.

I love the idea of cookbooks. When we re-did our kitchen I insisted on a built-in book shelf for cookbooks and cooking magazines.  I love the way all the books look on our shelves. They make me smile.  I do occasionally actually cook something from a book, although these days I’m just as likely to go online or just make something up.

The cookbook shelf is overflowing its banks and despite that I have acquired several new cookbooks recently. Something has to give, so I’ve been going through cookbooks with a critical eye.

I discovered several that I’ve never liked, and some I’ve outgrown. I’ve been spending a little time with each of them and passing on the books I’m pretty sure I’ll never use again. This book by Anna Thomas is one of them.  It’s really fun to read, spending time with it is like a little step back in time–back to a time when bean sprouts were exotic food. But like some other early vegetarian cookbooks, it depends on too much cheese and the recipes just are not that fun. 

I’ll pass it on.

Day 13: Exene Cervenka – a CD I Never Listen To

For a brief time I was a member of a mail order music club. Just like mail order book clubs, they used to send you a notice each month that listed the current feature. If you failed to reply, you received their selection in the mail a few weeks later. They counted on slightly disorganized people like me to carefully check the “do not send me this selection box,” put a stamp on the envelope and let it languish in the bottom of their purse for two weeks. This is how I came to own many CDs I did not necessarily want, including Exene Cervenka’s “Old Wives’ Tales.”

Just not my style

I got rid of most of them, but for some reason hung on to this one. I peeled the plastic wrap off and listened to it for the first time yesterday. A cross between indie folk and punk rock, it’s not bad—there are a few tunes on it that are actually kind of nice—but I can’t imagine myself listening to it again. Someone will discover this treasure—either at the Goodwill or by reading this blog and speaking up. It will make them happy and that will make me happy.

Speaking of making me happy, I no longer let un-mailed letters and bills rattle around in the bottom of my purse. I check the boxes, write out the checks, seal the envelopes and hand them over to my husband, Brian. He puts them in his briefcase and never, ever forgets to mail them. It’s a sweet deal.

Day 11: Better Homes and Gardens New Crockery Cooker Cook Book

This isn’t a bad book, but I have a better one. “Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Cookbook” is way better. And my mother gave it to me. And a person only needs so many crockpot cookbooks. What more can I say.

Day 4: Laurel’s Kitchen, 1981

I've outgrown this tired old cookbook.

I’m so much older than I think I am.

1981 was just a few years ago, right? I was a few years out of college, cooking for myself and volunteering at the local coop.  There is no way this faded and torn book can be 28 years old. That would make me…

I bought this paperback copy of Laurel’s Kitchen in the hopes of mastering the art of vegetarian cooking. I had plans to save the world through virtuous eating. There were two problems with the plan. 1) I liked meat – still do. 2) The recipes were not that good.

I later learned that the recipes are not that healthy either. They rely on a lot of “bad fat” like margarine to make up for the lack of bacon fat.

I’ve learned a few things about vegetarian cooking over the years, and have found cook books that I like much better.

Tomorrow night  I’m cooking brussels sprouts with carrots and a little bacon, and roast chicken for a Valentines Day dinner for my love. Laurel would not approve, but I don’t care.