Cookbooks: What is a Cookbook Buddy Read?

[Lisarenee]

So I asked in the buddy read section if any one would like to read and try out recipes in cookbooks together. We could try the same and different recipes in a book (you know, the divide and conquer theory) to find out which are the best recipes. We can discuss if we like the recipes, post pictures of our final masterpieces (optional), ask questions about where to find an ingredient, if a substitution can be made, or what a particular ingredient is (I remember scratching my head as to what oleo was the first time I saw it mentioned. It's butter by the way). I'll be creating a thread for possible suggestions and we can see which books are available at everyone's library. This would be the perfect way for me and hopefully everyone else to determine whether or not to buy that tempting cookbook before investing all that money into one.

Questions? Well, ask away. We'll be making rules up as we go. I doubt there will be many, but this is where we'll brainstorm.

[Sonia]

oleo is the Portuguese word for oil, so my wired brain is making me scratch my head with a confused look at the thought of butter.

I love this idea. I discovered a few years ago the joys of some American baked goodies - brownies, blondies, red velvet... - I love anything baking related so I'm for this one.

The substitution ingredients is a good help, since sometimes I have to creative since things like buttermilk, sour cream, butterscotch chips, etc are not easy to find on Portuguese lands.

[Lisarenee]

Well I can help with the buttermilk if you have apple cider vinegar available.

[Leslie]

Also maybe we can post tips to make the recipe either easier or tastier.

[Lisarenee]

Leslie wrote: "Also maybe we can post tips to make the recipe either easier or tastier."

True or make them healthier.

[Leslie]

Lisarenee wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Also maybe we can post tips to make the recipe either easier or tastier."

True or make them healthier."

That true too. I have an aunt who notorious in our family for making recipes vegan. Lol.

[Sonia]

Lisarenee wrote: "Well I can help with the buttermilk if you have apple cider vinegar available."

I usually use lemon juice to make the milk curd, till this day I was out of lemons or any kind of vinager... Only thing around was limes. It was super-fast. Best fake buttermilk ever :-)

[~Leslie~]

This is a the other Leslie and I would love to do this!

[Barb]

This sounds like fun :) I'm with Sonia, I love almost any kind of baked good ... Yummmm!

[willaful]

As a word puzzle fan, I know oleo as margarine. In fact, the full name was once oleomargarine, but it got shortened to margarine in the US and oleo other places.

Of course you should always assume they actually meant butter. ;-)

[willaful]

I really enjoyed , which has some odd ingrediaets in it, and would like to try something from it. (Though one review said the recipes weren't very good.)

[Elizabeth]

This sounds great! I was looking through the Goodreads groups just the other day hoping to find one that chose a cookbook of the month to try. This is even better. :)

[~Melissa~]

What a great idea! I'd love to do this.

[Chatterjak]

I think this is a super idea! I can't wait to try our first recipe! I was recently given the 'hairy dieters' cookbook, and that has some delicious sounding recipes that are healthy too (although I haven't tried any yet, I have to admit!!). They (the hairy dieters - or the hairy bikers as they are usually known!) are very popular in the UK, but I'm not sure if they are well known in the USA or other countries? Anyway, if anyone is interested I'd be very happy to share recipes from it :) - I'm also very happy to try less healthy recipes - you just can't beat a nice bit if cake really can you?!! ;)

The Hairy Dieters: How to Love Food and Lose Weight

[Chatterjak]

Oh, and by the way, I've had brownies, but never heard of blondies? Not the baked goods variety anyway!! ;)

[Barb]

As far as I know, blondies are simply blonde brownies, using brown sugar for most of the flavor, rather than chocolate. Some have walnuts or chocolate chips in them, but most of the ones I've seen are plain.

[☆Joycedale☆]

I want to do this. I'm usually trying new recipes anyway

[Kristie]

Chatterjak wrote: "I think this is a super idea! I can't wait to try our first recipe! I was recently given the 'hairy dieters' cookbook, and that has some delicious sounding recipes that are healthy too (although I ..."

Chatterjak - Why don't you nominate that cookbook in the nominations thread? Sounds like it could be a good choice. :)

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[Chatterjak]

Will Dom:)

[Chatterjak]

Barb wrote: "As far as I know, blondies are simply blonde brownies, using brown sugar for most of the flavor, rather than chocolate. Some have walnuts or chocolate chips in them, but most of the ones I've seen ..."

Apologies Barb, I've only just spotted this (I'm still just learning to navigate my way around the GR site!) - thanks so much for the answer! Mmmm, sounds delicious! Although I luv choccy, I'm not always a big fan of chocolate puds/cakes (weird I know!) so I might well prefer blondies! Hmmm, sounds like a plan! Does anyone else find brownies 'too chocolatey'?! - I have to admit though, for all that I wouldn't normally choose them, when I'm really in the mood for something super sweet & chocolatey they really hit the spot! Does everyone have a bit of a split personality with food like this?! ;)

[Barb]

I have my moments when it comes to chocolate :) Sometimes it's the only thing that will satisfy my sweet tooth, but other times, it's the last thing I want!

[Chatterjak]

Glad it's not just me Barb!! I'm very faddy with food.