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One Cookbook. One Weekend. What's Your Pleasure?

My birthday's coming up and I was thinking how much fun it would be to treat myself to a weekend in the kitchen with just one cookbook that I was excited to add to my shelf but, haven't had the opportunity to cook from yet.

Tomorrow I'm going to scan my shelves and pick a book. In the meantime, I thought I'd throw the question out to everyone else.

If you had one weekend to yourself in the kitchen with one book that you haven't yet baked or cooked from...what book would you pick?

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  1. The Forgotten Skills of Cooking.

    The winter weather has limited my time and effort.

    Happy early birthday! :) Enjoy your weekend!

    1 Reply
    1. re: wineos

      Thanks for your warm wishes wineos! I have a couple of Darina Allen's books but not this one. Your post inspired me to pull some of my compendium books off the shelf though...they tend to get neglected because I often use my single-subject/cuisine books first. Good suggestion, thanks!

    2. What a lovely idea, breadc. I rec'd this cookbook some time back and have yet to do anything more than drool over the recipes. But I like your idea and in my case celebrating is months away. So, there's always hope. My selection:

      Have a wonderful birthday!

      eta: I also have the author's new one but I haven't even cracked the spine.

      6 Replies
      1. re: HillJ

        Thanks for the Birthday wishes HillJ!! Thanks for this suggestion. I have all 3 of DT's books and don't believe I've cooked from any so this is a very good suggestion indeed! Thanks!

        1. re: Breadcrumbs

          No kidding you own them too! Well that must be some kind of positive vibe we both need to fix that !

        2. re: HillJ

          I was just looking at my copy of A Platter of Figs yesterday (spine only, poor thing didn't even get picked up), wondering if I'd ever cook from it.

          1. re: debbiel

            We really should have a DT COTM and get this out of our system. At the end of the month there'd either be a lot of happy cooks or, a glut of DT books heading to the thrift shops! It seems many of us are in this position debbie!

            1. re: Breadcrumbs

              Okay. I just pulled it off the shelf (It gasped with surprise and then squealed with happiness.). I've looked through the winter menus. I don't have everything on hand needed for anything other than a carrot dish, and the ice that is coating my town means I'll not go out for other ingredients today. So no cooking from it now. But I'll put it on the coffee table instead of back on the bookshelf for now, and maybe we'll reconnect later in the week.

            2. re: debbiel

              Too funny. Another reason to use it!

          2. Oh so many choices! Have an idea of what country, proteins, style you would like to investigate for a whole weekend?

            For example, I would think buying a bunch of pig parts and working from Momofuku could be a great weekend. Other ideas:
            creating a five course meal from a Keller book.
            choosing a cheap cut of meat, braising then make hand pies with the leftovers
            Pick one ingredient, and prepare it as many ways as you can imagine.

            What a fun idea!

            1 Reply
            1. re: smtucker

              Thanks smt!!! You've given me lots of food for thought. I hadn't considered letting an ingredient guide my choice but that is a very tempting proposition. Love it!

            2. I was given a cookbook, When Bakers Cook, and it has a little of everything. Breakfast to supper and I am anxious to cook from it.

              11 Replies
              1. re: Ruthie789

                That sounds like a fun book Ruthie and I love that the author's passion drove her to self-publish. If you do dive in, please let us know about the book.

                1. re: Breadcrumbs

                  Self-publish? I thought Marcy Goldman was a well-known author, especially in Canada.

                  1. re: buttertart

                    Here's where I learned about the book bt:


                    Though I love baking, by no means am I on top of who the experts are / who's who. MG may very well be well-known here it's likely just me that hasn't heard of her.

                        1. re: buttertart

                          I just finished making the Greek Yogurt Cheesecake from the last chapter of the book. It is setting in the fridge right now, it was so easy, fast and it looks good. Can't wait to give it a try tomorrow.

                          1. re: buttertart

                            It's a very good book but she uses canned soups and soup mix in things, which I just don't do, and some of the recipes have every ingredient and its brother in them. I also wish it were better proofread.

                            1. re: buttertart

                              I did note the soup and mixes but not all recipes have them. I am thinking that these recipes come from a chef-baker who has had to cook meals in a commercial, restaurant kitchen and she is sharing her recipes which are family home-style type of meals. Many restaurants do use these items.

                              1. re: Ruthie789

                                it's true -- and the results may be super, who knows.

                        2. re: Breadcrumbs

                          BC her book Treasury of Jewish Baking is an excellent book. I originally borrowed it from the library and kept taking it out so I finally bought it.

                          1. re: Ruthie789

                            Thanks Ruthie, I'll definitely take a look at it.

                  2. For me, it depends on whether DH is around or not. When he travels, I use that opportunity to make all sorts of stuff he won't eat! One weekend I went nuts with 660 Curries and made my own paneer for saag paneer, gingery chana masala and a couple of other things I knew he would hate.

                    Currently, I would probably choose Thai Food - I have had it for a while but it's rather intimidating and I just haven't worked up my nerve to work my way into it. DH is going out of town in February, though, so maybe I'll get my chance!

                    2 Replies
                    1. re: biondanonima

                      We won't mind to be the tester of your culinary ability....:)

                      1. re: biondanonima

                        Hah biondanomima, I do the same thing. If mr bc had his way (and he often does!) we'd have Italian every day...and no, he's not Italian! I'd always gravitate towards spicy cuisine so Szechuan, Thai, Mexican, Indian are always top of my list on those rare occasions he is away. That said, since it is "my" Birthday, maybe I should indulge and treat both of us to a spicy weekend of food!