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At a loose end just before Christmas — I was waiting on a loaf to finish its second prove — I caught a new-to-me Hallmark movie A Fabled Holiday. Partially set in a bookshop in one shot I spotted a book on the shelves and thought "I have that!" It was Claire Saffitz Dessert Person.

Mentioning it to my family over dinner my son said "Didn't I mention her Gourmet Makes series from Bon Appetit?" I didn't recall the earlier conversation but later found the series. Notwithstanding the furore that led to Saffitz (and others) quitting the channel there are some interesting re-makes of branded items. Several of those featured might well end being re-re-made in my kitchen. Over here in England we have a similar series in which two top chefs are pitted against each other to replicate some manufactured items. (Dare I say that I think Saffitz is the better of the two despite the scattering of Michelin stars in my local version.)

Hallmark Christmas movies have a purpose after all. 🤪

This has nothing to to do with cookbooks, but in "Private Benjamin," a scene begins with a closeup of the radio-cassette player some soldiers are playing. I saw it and thought, "That's my radio!"

If I were a set designer working on a film set in the current era, I'd make sure Ottolenghi's Plenty was on the cookbook shelf in any kitchen scenes.  It's on so many EYB Bookshelves that I use it as an inflormal gauge of the site's membership, and for visual purposes, easily identifiable. That big type on the spine would have some significant part of the audience thinking, "I have that!" -- always a plus to increase people's identification with the character/setting.

That would be like a status bookshelf for video "talking heads." It would place a person within society at a certain time.

As would Betty Crocker, or Rachael Ray, or ATK, or Joy of Cooking.

Unless this is a scene where "brand" preference would be a distraction.

ellabee, not only is Plenty on so many EYB bookshelves, it is #1 on EYB's list of most popular cookbooks.

And #2 is Jerusalem, which my sister gave me as a gift.