17 Responses to “Bookshelf”  

1. 1 Ali on February 14, 2008 said:

   Hi Linda!

   I have the same proplem! I love cookbooks too!

   I just bumped into your blog…a really nice one!

   Ciao,

   Ali

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2. 2 Amanda on February 24, 2008 said:

   Wow! I envy your collection! I am just starting out and it’s not nearly enough for me. I was thinking of getting the Baking with Julia book you have, and then Alice Waters’ Art of Simple Food. I want to get a good basic cookbook, but I am not sure which one. Any advice or thoughts?

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3. 3 Linda on February 25, 2008 said:

   Ali, hello! Thanks for stopping by :)

   Amanda – Great choice with ‘Baking with Julia’ as it’s an excellent baking book. As for a good, simple and basic cookbook, “The Cook’s Companion’ by Stephanie Alexander is excellent, but is an Australian book, so it may not be readily available. Anything by Alice Waters is a classic :) Jamie Oliver’s books are great basics too.

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4. 4 Amanda on March 2, 2008 said:

   So I perused my book store and couldn’t find the book by Stephanie Alexander. But I picked up the new edition of Martha Stewart’s baking book and was thinking about buying it. But a lot of people don’t enjoy Martha and her recipes. Do you like the baking handbook you have?

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5. 5 Linda on March 2, 2008 said:

   Martha’s ‘Baking Handbook’ is pretty good and covers heaps of different baking areas. I like it, but sometimes I find it a bit tedious in converting the measurements into metric, being the Aussie that I am :) I think you should get it!

   A piece of advice though, when I don’t know whether I should buy a specific book or not, I try to and see if I can borrow it from the local library or a friend first, trial a few recipes and peruse the book for a while before deciding to purchase it or not. Online reviews are also helpful in making a decision :)

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6. 6 Cecilia on March 19, 2008 said:

   Thanks so much for posting your list of cookbooks. Being a student, I can’t exactly buy all of the baking books that catch my fancy, so it helps to know what other bakers are using. I’m such a big fan of Dorie Greenspan’s blog, so I’ll have to check out her books as well.

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7. 7 Linda on March 19, 2008 said:

   No worries Cecilia! I was a student once (and might be again soon), so I know what it’s like to have limited funds to buy books :) Dorie’s ‘Baking From My Home To Yours’ is an excellent book to buy.

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8. 8 Lisa on March 30, 2008 said:

   Hi Linda, that is an impressive collection :) Just wondering where you bought your Dorie Greenspan book? I’ve had my eye out in all the book shops I can think of in Sydney, I’m *this close* to just ordering it from Amazon.com!

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9. 9 Linda on March 30, 2008 said:

   Hey Lisa! Get it get it get it! It’s a great book and I must say, the best American baking book I own. I got it from Amazon quite a while back now and paid around $45 Australian (with postage). You’ll probably get it for even cheaper considering the excellent exchange rate now!

   The only annoying thing about the book is that the recipes are in imperial measurements so a bit of converting must be done before baking. Online converters are quite handy for that :)

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10. 10 diana on June 11, 2008 said:

    my dear, I have PLENTY of books to.
    I live in Milan (italy), but actually buy english, french, american stuff to.. seems like bad drug to me :) dunno exactily how many books I’ve got, but I have collected at least 20 of them in the last two weeks.. I love cooking, but studying all these receipes is even better.. and thoght people generally loves my creations, I really do prefer reading my receipes and preparing stuff than eating and tasting..
    it is pretty a relief to hear somebody else’s like me.. ^_^
    so thanks!
    if you wish to write me, you can use my email: artiefreccia@hotmail.com

    diana

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11. 11 Belinda MacDonald on September 4, 2008 said:

    can I just ask, The cookbook “Delicious, Lets Entertain” does it have the recipe by Nigella Lawson for Chocolate Raspberry Pudding cake?

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12. 12 Linda on September 21, 2008 said:

    Diana – thank you! I have sent you an email :)

    Belinda – it sure does! I’m more than happy to scan it and email it you!

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13. 13 Babs on October 27, 2008 said:

    Hi,

    Nice collection of cookbooks but let me tell you about a few others.

    First I have to say I totally agree with you about the baking for others and for your own pleasure. I love to bake and give it to people to see their facial reaction to said gift. It is the best. I was also going to go to school, the first time some family situation happened and I couldn’t go ( i really wanted to go), the second time I realized I didn’t, I wanted to enjoy the gift of baking and not hate it later.

    Edna Lewis, if you haven’t heard of her you should look her up and read her recipes like a novel…

    Lisa Yorkelson..Baking by Flavor….love her stuff too

    I love the name of this cookbook, this ones for fun, Being Dead is no Excuse…it is the southern womans guide to hosting the perfect funeral dishes…

    Ina Garten…any of them

    Enjoy…and I like your blog….

    Babs

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14. 14 Rachel on November 8, 2008 said:

    I stumbled across your blog when I searched for a carrot cupcake recipe and I’m thrilled that I did! love your photos AND your recipes!!

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15. 15 Angela on December 11, 2008 said:

    Hi Linda-

    I just found your blog and quite enjoy browsing it!

    I think collecting cookbooks should be considered an addiction. I have well over 100 (closer to 200) cookbooks, not including subscriptions to Gourmet and Saveur magazines. Also, this is not counting the cookbooks I’ve tired of and donated to the local library.

    I agree about Dorie Greenspan. I think she’s right up there when it comes to baking. Another great author is Flo Braker (baking). I also recommend Tyler Florence (his Hong Kong style salmon cakes are SO good!!) I’ve got his cookbooks but some of his recipes are available online. Here is the one for the salmon cakes:

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/hong-kong-salmon-cakes-with-baby-bok-choy-recipe/index.html

    I’ve never tried any of Nigella Lawson’s recipes, and would love to try the Chocolate Raspberry Pudding cake. Could you email it to me, too?

    Thanks!

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16. 16 Jessica on March 7, 2009 said:

    May I strongly, STRONGLY recommend Pure Desserts by Alice Medrich… I just made her Sherry Olive Oil Poundcake for a dinner party, and no one has been able to stop talking about it since.

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17. 17 kear on March 30, 2009 said:

    Hi Linda,

    Im from Thailand and just accidently (luckily) found your blog when i search for “Chocolate cookies” :p and just have to say what an impressive collection! keep up nice work, i’ll keep comin back to ur blog

    :)

    Kear

    Reply