I like to cook and to read about cooking food. I have been always interested in different cuisines. I like to read about different food from all over the world .I have been collecting cookbooks. In the beginning I got books for my personal, day to day use. Gradually the interest developed in such a way that now I collect the books for love of food. I may be having more than 100 books.
What type of books I have? Mostly all types, but some thirty five years back I stopped baking cakes. Hence I don’t have such books. I make very few desserts. My sweet making is limited for festivals only, that to traditional sweets.
In the year 1975or 76 my mother gifted me ‘New Dalda Cookbook’. I was mesmerized by the coloured photos of the recipes, properly arranged recipes .Ingredients were in a column, recipe time and servings clearly mentioned. This was my first modern cookbook. For a person new to the cooking this book was great help while entertaining friends and family. I still have the book and some of the recipes have become regular in my kitchen.
I do own the books Ruchira, Annapurna etc. but I like to mention Paksiddhi by Laxmibai Vaidya. Being a teacher’s book it is very informative. It helps a lot to learn our own Maharashtrian cuisine. Measurements of ingredients are given meticulously. Even salt is mentioned in precise measurement and not ‘as per taste’ or ‘to taste’. Methods are very descriptive and do not leave any chance for mistakes. This is one of my worn out by use book. This was published in 1969.Around same time ‘Ruchira’also was published and set a record of book sale. I myself recommend Paksiddhi to any beginner first. It is a learner’s book. I myself bought both these books late in my life.
The most tattered book or set of two books is ‘Sugaran’ by Mrs. Shailaja Abhyankar and Mrs. Indu Tilak. As this book is so tattered and the recipes still very useful, I tried getting new copy. My all the efforts failed. The recipes in this book are very handy while entertaining. It helped in salads, desserts and main dishes. It has good range of fruit punch, even pickles are interesting. I guard these tattered pages.
In the beginning I used to collect books by their usefulness in my kitchen. Gradually my interest deepened. I wanted to know more about our own cuisine. I was always interested to know about other cuisines. Sometimes I was intrigued by similar recipes in different cuisines. This curiosity made me search and buy more cook books.
(to be continued)
Hello.
I came across ur blog while searching for shailaja abhyankars & indu tilaks old cookbook “sugran~ chinese & mughlai” which i lost it.
Do you have any idea where can i we find this book? I need it urgently.
~ Asha.
hi,
This is Reshma Gore. I am Mrs Shailaja Abhyankar’s grand daughter.
It is amazing to read that you all loved her book so much..
My mother ( Mrs Shailaja Abhyankar’s daughter), sister and me are planning to republish her Sugran book in English.
please do let me know if you want copies.
Also requesting you to pass the word, so that more can benefir from her book as I did and still am..
thank you
Hi I’m Anita Gore,d/o Smt Shailaja Abhyankar and me and my 2 daughters are very passionate about cooking like my mother was..we are going to print her books for her numerous fans..pl get in touch with me if you need any specific recipes,I’ll be happy to send those to you..thanks for you interest
Anita Gore,
anitagore2111@yahoo.com
I have liked your recipes !!
I am extremely sorry for responding to your comment so late.I am happy that you liked my recipes.