I have a had a serious love for cookbooks for a while now. I realized that during our recent move I actually gave away too many of my cookbooks. Since moving is done by weight I thought I needed to pare down my collection. I sold some in a garage sale and the rest went to a charity thrift store. I now miss them on a regular basis, like when you go to the closet to find that cute shirt only to realize you gave it to Goodwill because you thought you wouldn’t wear it again. I find myself heading to the bookcase and reaching for them because I want to look up a recipe only to be surprised they aren’t there any longer. Don’t know what I was thinking. These are cookbooks not last years fashion statement. They don’t go out of style they just get better with age.
Now that we are in a permanent spot and I have a wall of bookshelves filling them up with quality cookbooks seems like the only natural thing to do. I won’t have to move them for years so aside from my budget there is nothing stopping me from filling them up again. To help with (and justify) my goal of creating a quality cookbook library I am starting a cookbook club. If you have been around the blog for a while you might remember my attempt to create a book and movie club on Facebook. I have turned that group into the Wit Wisdom & Food Cookbook Club. If you were/are part of that group you are automatically a part of the cookbook club. I hope you enjoy the new focus.
So a cookbook club on Facebook, exactly how will that work?
My main goal is to create a lively discussion about cookbooks and books about food. I will be adding questions to the group regularly as well as highlighting a cookbook from my collection each month. I will cook at least a few recipes from each cookbook so you can get an idea of the recipes in the cookbook and decide if you want to buy it.
My hope is that some of you will want to join in the cooking and will buy some of the books and cook along with me each month. This is NOT a requirement to be part of the cookbook club. If you want to participate you can add photos of the recipes, your reviews and thoughts on the cookbook to the group. At the end of each month I will feature some (or any) of the photos that were posted. If you are a fellow food blogger this could be a great opportunity for some increased traffic.
How the Wit Wisdom & Food Cookbook Club works
What I will do:
- Pick a featured cookbook monthly
- Cook a few recipes from the feature cookbook, post pictures and thoughts to the Facebook group
- Add discussion questions about cookbooks and books on food
- Share about any books I am currently reading that relate to food and cooking (non-fiction and fiction)
- Answer cooking questions and provide resources to help you cook something specific
- Share stories and recipes from some of my favorite cookbooks
How you can participate in the cookbook club via the Facebook group:
- Post pictures and thoughts from the monthly featured cookbook
- Share stories and recipes from any of your favorite cookbooks
- Ask questions and advice about a good cookbook
- Ask questions about cooking techniques
- Share reviews and information about books on food (non-fiction or fiction)
- Share current events that relate to cookbooks and books on food
- Help others that have questions about cooking or food
What we shouldn’t use this space for:
- Sharing blog posts that aren’t directly related to the feature cookbook or a book on food
- Being mean to someone else or making fun of others that don’t know as much about cooking and food
If you have any questions or need clarification on anything please get in touch. I hope to see you all in the group I think it is going to be a lot of fun.
This month, July, the feature cookbook will be The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket.
photo from The Portland Picnic Society
Picnics are something I always daydream about but rarely take the time to make or plan. Maybe this summer will be different and even if it isn’t The Picnic is filled with recipe that look delicious for a lunch or dinner served on my back porch.
Written by the ladies behind The Portland Picnic Society; Marnie Hanel, Andrea Slonecker & Jen Stevenson and boy did they think of everything when they made this book. 99 ways to use a Mason jar, rules for lawn games, and ways to avoid common picnic disasters. It is recipes like rainbow carrots with smoky paprika vinaigrette, smoky tea-brined fried chicken, and candy-striped beet, fennel, and apple coleslaw that have my mouth watering and ready to drive to the grocery store.
I must hunt down a smoky tea stat so I can make that chicken!
The cute little gingham ribbon bookmark that is part of the book and the adorable illustrations by Emily Isabella just send me over-the-top with giddy excitement. Can you feel the excitement?
You can purchase the book at Amazon through this affiliate link*: The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket
Are you a picnic person? What is your favorite picnic food to pack?
I received a copy of this book from Artisan Books. I was not otherwise compensated or obligated to write about this book and the ideas and thoughts here are my own.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small compensation at no cost to you.
Well, you know my cookbook collection. Cookbooks are like reading a good novel. We don’t picnic much but love tailgating. Sounds like this would fill the bill for that too.
I love the idea of a cookbook club! I’ve gotten rid of many cookbooks after moving, too, although I’ve kept my favorites. This sounds like an awesome cookbook. I will definitely be checking it out!
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