Too many recipes

(Warning: random rant to follow)

Lately I have come to the realization that while I like having choices, I don't like having too many choices. I like to pick between, say, seven different types of shampoo . . . not forty-five. I like the idea of a huge variety, but when faced with reality, I find myself spending far too long staring at the back of a billion pasta sauce cans to determine which is the healthiest and cheapest.

Google Image

(Cereal might be the only exception to the rule, although I doubt I'll ever be able to try them all in my lifetime. I love you, cereal.)


This issue acutely rears its massive head when it comes to recipes. Oh, I know I'm not alone. You think to yourself, "Hmmm. I'm bored of the 'same old thing' for dinner. I'll look on allrecipes, bettycrocker, kraftfoods, southernliving, betterhomesandgardens, cookinglight, epicurious, rachaelray, marthastewart, americastestkitchen (you name it) and see what looks good and what I have the ingredients for."

The thing is, WE ALREADY HAVE THOUSANDS OF RECIPES AT HOME, PEOPLE! At least I do, and I don't even have that many recipe books. I know that some women collect cookbooks like they collect handbags--one for every possible occasion and then some.

I have to admit--there is something seductive about flipping through the pages of a beautifully-photographed cookbook. I also shamelessly confess that no more than two months ago I plopped right down on the floor in Borders, longingly reading, admiring, and coveting cookbooks.
(Oh man. Williams Sonoma and their cookbooks. That company exists only to tantalize me.)

Moving on.

What is it, exactly, that makes us think that there is "something better out there?" Is it the number of finger muscles required to manipulate a mouse versus flipping a page? Is it the thirst for more choices? More variety? I mean, who, honestly, has actually made even HALF of the recipes in just one of the cookbooks they own? I gots a whole lotta recipes I ain't even tried yet. And I've been married for nearly seven years.


So, I've decided to organize my recipes. It's still in the works, but I can't tell you how thrilled I am. I have so many recipes I have yet to try. Who's to say that some homebody on Allrecipes has a better recipe than one from one of my beloved cookbooks?

I thought I'd introduce you to a few of my favorites.

Ah yes, the Mormon Family Cookbook, published in 1982. I think my mom was going to throw it out, but I mean, that would just have been WRONG.

You might be wondering what that rather fascinating-looking dish is in the upper righthand corner. It's called the Green and Gold Vegetable Ring and is made of carrots and peas, along with eggs, milk, and some other deliciousness.

What? That doesn't look too appetizing? Well, look no farther than this next selection.

Oh, don't tell me you're not dying to make a Ribbon Jell-O cake. I mean, come ON!

Actually, in all seriousness, I love the Irish Soda Bread recipe in here. And I've tried a few others that I've really liked. It's a keeper, if nothing else than for nostalgia's sake.

So if you ever need to make Bishop's Bread, Chicken Liver Pate, Salmon Loaf (those two words just should never be paired), or Pickled Beets, I'd be happy to get you the recipe.

Next, I'd like to introduce you to the cookbook of my youth. I STILL use this rock-awesome cookbook occasionally, although I unfortunately failed to give you a sneak peek. The delicious Pizza Porkchops recipe looks fancy schmancy but is easy peasy.

If any of you have ever seen this cookbook, or even, should you be privileged enough to actually own a copy, you are lucky indeed. I'm thinking I could get millions on the American Girl black market.

What do you mean there is no American Girl black market?

I adored this cookbook and still do. Too bad I have only made two or three things from it. But it's what Samantha, Kirsten, and Molly ATE! Yes, I realize I'm showing my age since I loved American Girls when there were only three dolls instead of forty. See, there are just too many choices.

Doesn't Molly just make you want to jump right in and start cooking? It did for me as a ten-year-old.


Sorry, I'm not going to show you my old Betty Crocker standby or the totally fabulous Better Homes and Gardens Baking cookbook my parents got me when I turned 16 (along with a Williams Sonoma apron that I still wear all the time), 'cuz, let's face it, those are so blase compared to these ones.

Anyway, I've decided that I'm going to organize my innumerable recipes and start--gasp!--using the ones I already have. Then I can write notes in my cookbooks or on my printouts like "Yikes!" or "Fairly decent" or "Heaven on a plate" on them so I'll remember what I thought. Or, get this, I can chuck the putrid recipes so I'm left with a magnificent collection of recipes that my baking ancestry would be proud of.


Dunford Bakery, here I come.