Forum

I've tried to annotate every single recipe I've ever made from a book. So if I didn't write anything on the recipe it was just an oversight. But years ago I would always follow a recipe exactly and never made any substitutions. So most of my notes are very short. Just "delicious" or "yucky" or "just edible" or something like that. Occasionally, maybe I wrote something like "add more water" or "cook longer than 10 minutes". The only time I might have been reluctant to write in a book is if it were a really nice hardcover with beautiful glossy color pictures, but most of my cookbooks aren't like that. Most have available margin space to add a note. I would like to start transferring some of these notes now to EYB, but I'm in a quandary as to whether to make them public or private since they're very short and not very helpful. I mean they're helpful to me, but I don't know if a one-word review like "delicious" is really very helpful to anyone else. Any opinions on that?

Originally Posted by: whitewoods

I would like to start transferring some of these notes now to EYB, but I'm in a quandary as to whether to make them public or private since they're very short and not very helpful. I mean they're helpful to me, but I don't know if a one-word review like "delicious" is really very helpful to anyone else. Any opinions on that?

I would find that useful.

I am indexing a book right now that has some really bizarre ingredient combinations that I am not at all sure about. They may be fantastic together, or not. If someone else tries them, it would be nice to know what they think - even if it just says "delicious" or "yucky" :)

Cooking for me is a solo gig (my husband is strictly hands off when it comes to cooking), so it's nice to have someone else's thoughts on a recipe, it's like a friend's encouragement saying - "go for it!" or a warning.

You bet! I started writing in my cookbooks long before I joined EYB. At minimum I put in the date I made the recipe and whether I would make it again. If I made something for entertaining, I like to note the event and my guests’ reactions as well. I’ve started writing in measurement and temperature recalculations once I’ve done the conversations (I seem to buy European books a lot and I prefer to weigh when baking). I also make notes about any changes I might want to make next time. Frankly, my notes are very helpful when I prune my library. If a book has no notes I’ve never cooked from it.

Originally Posted by: joneshayley

I write, in pen, all over mine. I write whether it was good, when I made it, any substitutions. Sometimes I write a small story of the day I cooked it- then when I pick that book up again I’ll remember 😊 Rather morbidly, I like the idea that when I’m gone my children will still have my voice within my books. I am always thrilled to find previous owners scattered notes in second hand books

Just love this idea;  it's a legacy !!!    OXoo