SNOW DAYS AND CABIN FEVER have set in at my house, along with, I fear, the flu. Instead of feeling trapped, I am determined to embrace my short-term life as a shut-in…and clean out the basement. What, you may be wondering, does this have to do with you? Or that pretty cookbook up above? Read on, dear sisters, read on.
Thanks to forced confinement, I’ve unpacked what feels like dozens of boxes, boxes that (oh, the shame) hadn”t been opened since we moved into this house three years ago. On the bright side, if I didn’t miss it, I don’t need it; there’s a lot of good stuff that I might as well pass along, because I clearly don’t want or use it any more. To my surprise, more than a few cookbooks fell into this category…and that’s where you come in.
Don’t you have a perfectly good cookbook you never use? One that you could give away as a surprise to some new friend? Wouldn’t it be great if another new friend sent you a surprise cookbook that she’s no longer using?
Comments are now closed for this post! If you signed up for the swap, watch your email for your swap-ee’s information!
You’ve got two weeks, sisters, to dust off your shelves or unpack a box and find a cookbook; a good one, but one that you can part with. Then, leave a comment on this post, saying why you want to participate, and, if you have one, a particular cooking goal or ambition you have for the year.
Once comments are closed (on Wednesday, February 3) you’ll get an email from me with the email address of the person you’re to swap books with. It’s up to you to get your swap partner’s mailing address, and to mail the book (the USPS’s “media mail” is cheapest). Please specify in your comment if you are outside the U.S., or are unwilling to have an overseas partner (to whom you’d be mailing).
OK–start cleaning, already! Some of us want to get cooking (another time-tested strategy for making the sick/snow day hours pass)!
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First time here? Here's the idea:
{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
Count me in! Love the idea.
Forgot to mention my challenge: Ganache. I’m afraid to melt chocolate…as though it’s wax and going to explode and set the curtains on fire.
Did somebody say snow-day cleaning? That’s been my part-time focus most days lately. Cleaning the nest (where *does* all this stuff come from?). And yes, I definitely want to swap a cookbook.
It would be fun if we each inscribed the title pages to our new “sister” (or “brother”) maybe.
Count me in.
I’m in, I’m in. No snow in northern California, but enough rain to force us inside cleaning/sorting as well. I’ve got many cookbooks that need a new home
Reno–I will teach you how to make ganache. It’s all about the cream. You just let me know when to expect you in the upstate kitchen!
Margaret–I love the idea of inscribing our books. I might have to cook up a special-edition TSP bookplate for mine!
Ely–Rain works as a house-binder, especially when you live in California (as I know all too well from my many years in L.A.) Let us know what you find!
Love this! My cooking ambition for 2010 is to perfect several vegan fail-safe recipes, including a go-to for company.
What a good idea. Yes, please, count me in.
Gina–Consider yourself counted. Not that you’ll have much time to cook for the next few days…
Sarah–We’ll hope the swap gods smile on you and send some vegan goodness your way (or at least recipes easily adaptable to vegan!)
Cookbook swap? What a great idea. Count me in as well.
I love cookbooks; read them like novels. My cooking challenge for this year is mastering yeast. That stuff is frightening and no matter what I do, the bakery bread always tastes better.
I was just thinking of freecycling some cookbooks I am no longer using. This is a wonderful idea; I’m in! My goal for this year is to continue with meal plans but incorporate more seasonal and local foods, to eat cleaner and to relish foods season by season rather than be disappointed when I buy fruit from South America that has been genetically altered!
Oh yes! There is one cookbook, a relatively recent acquisition, I feel very guilty about never using… perhaps it could find a better home.
(if anyone wants to swap with someone as far away as Switzerland, that is… And no, it is is not Swiss…)
Oh for heavens sakes…now you’ve gone and done it.
What was supposed to be a quick trip to the cookbook stash to see if I had a likely candidate for the swap has morphed into a “haul them all out and take a look” trip down cookbook memory lane.
I’ve got a huge stack of books out now that I am seeing with different eyes, am a little starvy from reading, and resisting the impulse to make the world’s longest grocery list.
Count me in, anyway. By February I should be able to
see the light of day again!
So my challenge? To take the cookbooks I am NOT swapping and make something I’ve never tried before out of one of them at least once a month. (I can hear my family cringing from here).
I’ve got a few I seldom use, and could do with some space on my cookbook rack. I’ll do it–and I could take an address from the US and one from abroad (the overseas person will get the lighter, thinner book…don’t I wish I could say that about myself too?) –djs
Love this idea! I want in – I love my cookbooks – mostly just looking at them – rarely ever following a recipe. There are probably more than a few that don’t belong in my collection anymore.
Count me in, sisters! I must admit to cookbook addiction and can barely resist hauling home more and more and more. . .
I have a serious addiction for cookbooks. Many have been looked at only at time of purchase. Count me in. Great idea!
Count me in! I used to be so bad at collecting cookbooks but have weeded some out over the years, but still have a few I can part with. It will be fun to get one from someone I don’t even know too! Great idea!
Oh, TexasDeb, you nailed it! Even your challenge speaks to my condition (one in which “grownuppy” food is spurned). Count me in – I’ll contribute a book full of grownuppy food recipes.
Great idea. I have WAY too many cook books!
Who knew that opening this web page would alter my whole morning? It has taken me back to the cook book shelf, built just for me at my renovated house. I could actually use it if it didn’t hang six feet in the air, a full 12 inches above my head. It is also 22″ too short, making it almost useless unless I want to catalog my books and restock my own library on the days when I have nothing to do. On it;s own, the shelf would be a small thing. Together with five months of construction punctuated by endless check writing, it became a larger thing. To be honest I haven’t stopped talking about the error of the too-tall shortened shelf since we moved in. The move was two weeks before Thanksgiving and the day before my mother’s heart attack (she’s fine.) Forty-eight hours later my spouse announced we were hosting the office holiday party two weeks before Christmas and three weeks after the move. “Come to the new place, ” he said to his staff with an easy grace accessible only to the truly clueless. Now, many weeks later I have forgiven him and allow him home as long ashe promises to come alone.
Life is looking up. My cook book shelf remains a sad reminder for the sensibilities of contractors who created it. But, I can give away some books and give up the scheme of rotating my collection by season or ingredient. I hadn’t decided which. So count me in for vegetarian, (never used) appetizers, Mexican and Thai.
If someone has easy desserts, no more than 5 ingredients, I’ll swap, but a gift with no exchange is perfect.
Now all I need is a ladder.
Donna
How fun! YES!!! I will participate. I still have an unpacked box, from my move (circa 3 years ago). Because the initial move to an apartment was temporary I had to only keep my favorites within reach. The thing is, many of those packed books are probably NEW since they include recipe books I received as wedding gifts.
I’m in! I plan far too much gardening to be cooking a lot in the near future.
That said, an ethnic cookbook with real-food ingredients is always welcome. I’ll gladly send one of my cookbooks on the trip I’d like to make, anywhere in the world!
I’m in. When my shoe collection catches up to my cookbook collection, I’ll be in real trouble.
I would love to have more vegetarian, kid friendly, or crock pot cookbooks… or maybe a great one from a church group… the more notes that you write in it the better!
I’d love to receive a surprise cookbook. I’m hoping to cook more simple vegetarian meals and swap the fancier Cranks recipes. It’s not Switzerland, but my “swap partner” would be shipping to the Great White North! (Canada)
I’m in for an international cookbook swap! I’d like to cook with underrated ingredients that I’ve rarely used before (@Margaret -I’m planting kale this year). Some of the most exciting ingredients come right from home!
Love this idea! I have collected so many great cookbooks over the years that I have lots to choose from to swap. My goal this year is to write at least 2 recipes every week for my cookbook, “When the Plum Island Cookie Company Sleeps…” or “While the Plum Island Cookie Company Sleeps…”
Can’t decide which title I like better :)
Note to self: never announce a swap, and then disappear from the computer all day (yes, I do sometimes leave my office to work on something besides The Sister Project.) Welcome, all of you!
Sue–Have you tried instant yeast? I use SAF brand in my no-knead bread, and I find it kind of magical. No wondering if the water is warm enough, the bubbles bubbly enough…check it out.
Kal–I’m big on freecycle, too, but even bigger on eating seasonally! That’s a great goal.
Monika–for you, distance and postage are no objects. Welcome!!
Texas Deb–Thanks for making me howl with recognition. And I love the idea of challenging ourselves to actually use those forboding, unused cookbooks. I may have to join you in that one.
Shari–Welcome; so glad you’re here! We HAVE to cook together one of these days!
Roadchick, Lisa and Deanna–It sounds like you guys are definitely my sisters in cookbook addiction. Welcome to the swap, and hey, the first step is recognizing you have a problem, right? Change comes slow.
Knittingrid–Ooh–what defines ‘grownuppy’?? I have to know!
Heidi–Be careful. It’s readers like you who make me think that if this swap is a success, we may just have to do it again!
Donna–OMG. Your shelf story is such a metaphor for every home renovation, home improvement, self improvement experience I may have ever had. I think you’re handling it very well, all things considered! Five ingredient desserts, huh? I’m going to ponder that one, but the first thing that comes to mind is, of course, pie.
RachelRose–what is it about the 3 years post move horizon line that moved us both to action??
Jane/Mulchmaid–Well, if you’re growing, you’ve got to cook, too, no?
Joanna–My husband would say that my shoe and cookbook obsessions (purses are probably in there, too) are running dead even. Maybe we’ll do accessories next…
Paula–Welcome. I love all those sorts of books, too, and I’ll make sure to ask when we begin the swap that folks read their recipient’s comment for ideas of what they’ll like. Of course, it’s a bit of a game of chance, but that’s part of the fun of the surprise!
Tillie–Thanks for stopping by! What is (or are) Cranks? Enlighten me! I’m eating more vegetarian meals lately, too, and it’s so nice to break out of recipe ruts when you’re trying to change your habits.
Nora–Love your enthusiasm. And kale? OMG, it will change your life. I LOVE kale. We eat a simple kale salad almost every week. It’s become our family’s favorite vegetable lately.
Dawn Marie–Did you say cookies? I want everyone to go to your website right now, because those look completely divine. Yum. And as for writing two recipes a week–I bow down before you. That’s HARD. But I’m sure I speak for many of the rest of the sisters when I say, if you need testers, you know where to ask!
Paige;
Cranks is the British version of what Moosewood is to North Americans. Beyond the restaurant, and cookbooks they’ve now expanded to prepared vegetarian foods in UK supermarkets. cranks.co.uk
I’m so in! I have many great cookbooks that seem to have fallen out of general rotation and a real desire to master fish this year. After many unsuccessful attempts my family cringes at the thought of my trying again. But this is the year!
I would love to participate! My goal this year is to become more comfortable cooking without a recipe. I can bake pretty well, and when I have a recipe in front of me, I do pretty darn good cooking, too. But I want to be able to whip up a mean supper just by visiting the farmer’s market or looking in my cupboards.
So that may seem anti-cookbook, but it’s not! And if it is, I’d still love to swap some cookbooks.
What a great idea! Count me in! My plan is to reduce my carbon footprint any way I can. So I am planting a herb garden and growing tomatoes and then using them in a variety of recipes. I am in the process of seed collection right now! Wish me luck!
I just moved and had already narrowed it down but I’m sure I have a cookbook to swap. It sounds like such fun so count me in too. I am participating in a “detox week” next week so my goal for one week at least is to eat clean.
Thanks to you, Paige, I am moving on emptying that box. Or else it might have been 4 or 5 years before I finally emptied it. My only excuse is that I don’t have a big enough book shelf to unpack all of the books. And so they sit. Maybe this project will also motivate me to finally get another bookshelf.
Victoria with FeminineLiving.com….
Love… love… this fun and creative way to not only recycle…but bond and share the tradition and love of cooking with other women!!!
Count me so IN!!!
My goal this year with my passion for cooking… is to try and make my own homemade pasta’s… and attempting to make the perfect pie crust ( I am a great cook… but baking leaves me scoring… a 3 0r 4)!
Can’t wait to start this cook book swap!
Hugs in the New Year,
Victoria
I’d love to join the swap. This is year my food goals have more to do with eating than cooking – but I plan on fully mastering gluten free muffins for sure. I can’t afford (money or pride) to keep showing up at my local co-op buying every single raspberry gluten free muffin in sight – last week I asked the baker if she had any more in the back and she said no and because of me, they were considering setting a limit of how many one person could buy at once. She was kidding of course, but I can take a hint.
I’d love to swap cookbooks with someone – what a cool idea. Like many who have commented before me, I’m a bit of a cookbook junkie and need a new fix!
Will absolutely participate. I love to cook and read cookbooks. Right now, because of the weather, I’m into comfort food; soups, stews, casseroles and cobblers.
Great idea! Count me in too.
It seems that many of my books inspire my concoctions but then become dust collectors on my shelves. Most capture my attention upon arrival from the bookstore and then fade until I need inspiration. My goal is to connect with people through the social media who have an interest in home cooking while I build my blog about treasured family recipes.
I’m absolutely in. Have been coking forever and reading cookboolk since before that. I do mostly home cooking, right now , with the winter set in, I’m cooking soups, stews, casseroles and cobblers. Also teying to cook healthier.
Sorry about the spelling errors. I’m a better cook than typist.
Perfect! I was just talking about that baking book that’s really good but that for some reason I never use.
I’m hoping to cook my own home-grown vegetables this year. Lots of them. And can them. And freeze them… and *hoard* them.
What a great idea and what could be more fun than looking forward to a whole new set of recipes to try in the middle of winter! I am working on being more adventurous this year-learning to love all those veggies and fruits I would never try. Here is to figs, cherry tomatoes and all kinds of mushrooms!
Tillie–thanks for the explanation and intro to Cranks. Fab!
Julie–I understand your fear of fish. I kind of have it, too, though I have finally found a couple of go-to recipes that always work (halibut baked in parchment is a no-fail one.) Good luck!
Alison–Yes, the ability to just stare into your pantry and magically make dinner materialize is one we all long for. You’ll have to share your secrets as you approach this kind of culinary nirvana :-)
Maureen–there’s nothing like cooking food you’ve grown yourself. It multiplies the satisfaction by a factor of 10.
Nancy–Hope your detox is both successful and pleasant. Thanks for playing!
Rachel Rose–I was just (silently, to myself) bemoaning my lack of bookshelf space. There’s never enough.
Victoria–Good for you. I’ve been making a lot of homemade pasta this year, and I find it really satisfying, and not nearly as time-consuming as I thought it would be. Have fun!
Kari–Yay, Kari! So glad you’re playing. I share your GF muffin addiction, but mine are carrot-raisin, not raspberry (which sounds better!) I’m going to have to (finally) meet you for bfast so I can try one. xx
rhonda35–cookbook addiction is one we can all endorse. Welcome, and thanks for joining in.
Katherine–It is stew season, isn’t it. Totally satisfying. I’ve been making soups, too. Yum. Thanks for stopping by and for participating.
Carole–I think we are all vulnerable to paying more attention to new things. But this way, you’ll get something new and share something old. Good cycle!
Estyn–Welcome back! Seeing you here reminded me to look once again at your amazing website (everyone should go there, right now, and ogle and covet the beautiful jewelry: estynhulbert.com) So, so glad you’re joining in.
Jeanne–Let’s hear it for having a spirit of adventure in the kitchen. It’s so easy to get stuck in the same rut, and so much fun when you make something new and wonderful. Inspiring!
I just love to get things in the mail. also I am mostly eating as local as I can. I am sprouting a lot for freshness and green and I just finished off the last of my home made sauerkraut. but here in the north east the other things that are local are mostly starch and I am running out of ideas and there are only four quarts of canned tomatoes left. Help me.
I’m in.
I love all of my cookbooks dearly, but I definitely could switch one out. I will have to decide which one now!
I have a few goals: vegetarian soups, Japanese dishes, home-style Indian food… I could go on for ages.
Another great idea!
I would love to exchange a cookbook. My goal is to try at least three new recipes from the new cookbook.
i LOVE cookbooks….i know i have a few that i may be able to part with…i am now moving toward Gluten free…But i always love ethnic cooking….try something New…
i will be searching through some old standbys that i will part with, and a few obscure ones i am sure…
I, too, read cookbooks more than I cook from them nowadays. I’m sure I have several “good as new” books to part with (the others are splotched with splattered sauces and filled with crumbs–the real treasures in my kitchen). Count me in!
Me, Me, Meeeeeeeeee! Cookbooks are my choice when it comes to reading. Does it matter if they are hardcover or not? I have so many I am sure I could fit one with any category. I would like to have a US address, please, if possible. What an Awesome idea! This will be my first experience with this site.