So collecting cookbooks has become my hobby. I have books of different types, different cuisines, written by chefs to home cooks. I have books explaining the technicalities of cooking and also science behind it.Hence on my book shelf Larousse Gastronomique and Nalapakdarpan sit side by side. Larousse Gastronomique opened a window to the world. New words got meanings and more information was at hand.
My love for cookbooks is well known so I get gifts of cookbooks. This way Dona Hay came in my house. I loved her simple recipes and food styling. I own ‘Cranks recipe book’ a classic vegetarian book. The book stands for all the best in whole food. I also have Marguerite Patten’s collection of recipes from the war years ‘We’ll eat again’. For me it is a piece of British history. It shows how the housewives of Britain helped the war effort and kept the nation fit.
I believe our new recipes are evolved from old recipes. So I habitually collect old recipes from different cuisines.S. Meenakshi Ammal’s ‘Samaithu Par’ became a must have. Katy Dalal’s book gives Parsi touch. But our own Maharashtrian recipes are always beckoning. Hence I get books small and big on the Marathi cuisine. Each book is special in its own way.
I use these books as they are useful for particular need. Apart from practical use I like to read these books. My curiosity of what or what way others cook or how the ingredients are handled makes me read these books voraciously.
After having such good collection of books also, I felt like writing my cook book. It is like leaving my foot print or my significant impression .It represents our cuisine. I have glorified our old recipes. Though the number of recipes are limited it covers most of the cuisine.It showcases my understanding of our cuisine.