Do you ever use the cookbooks that came with small appliances?
The collecting thread made me think of this. I'm in the process of scanning in all the little pamplets and manuals and cookbooks that I've got, and some of them are from appliances like crockpots. Not all of them are applicances I've owned, like the blender cookbook from 1955.
I have a few of these types of cookbooks that I refer to regularly, like I'll check the pressure cooker one for how long a specific item should cook. But I don't think I've ever needed to open a blender cookbook to make a milkshake. On the other hand, now that I'm scanning these things in, some of the recipes look halfway decent and I might be more likely to use them if I've got them on the computer and can do a search. Otherwise, the chance of me wading through a dozen pages of "how to assemble your blender" just to see if there's an egg salad recipe is pretty slim.
So how about you? Do you ever use the recipes that came with applicances? How about the little Pillsbury Bake-Off type cookbooks that they sell at checkout stands?
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16 Comments:
I use the recipe book that came with my food processor to make pizza dough. I also use a book that came with a smoker. It has specific smoke times for various foods that you need for that product, so it is not so much a recipe book. That's about it.
Remander at 6:49PM on 04/17/09
Yes I have, I scan the booklets too and if something looks good then I will use it. The last one that I used was for a marinade for steak from the pamphlet that came with the Omaha Steaks I ordered.
pjracz10 at 6:58PM on 04/17/09
Not really. Most of the recipes I see in those little books are the same or similar to the zillions I already have, so I don't bother keeping them when I already have the same on the shelf/computer file. I do keep them if they are attached to the instructions, but I don't think I have ever used a recipe from them. I have seen ideas/tips for recipes that have made me go look up one to use though.
Also, many of those booklets seem to have recipes that call for fakey processed ingredients, or they are 'branded' recipes which bug the hell out of me and make me NOT want to even look at the recipe. (When each line calls for such-and-such brand of butter, flour, eggs, raisins etc. as if you could only use their brand to cook with, and even though the booklet already has the branding across every single page and picture. Ugh.)
sadiepix at 7:15PM on 04/17/09
I use the book that came with my bread machine. Not so much for the actual recipes, but for basic amounts that I can then play with. For my rice cooker, slow cooker and ice cream machine I don't use the actual recipes either, but for ideas on how the machines actually work with the food. How much liquid to add, stuff like that.
chisai at 7:18PM on 04/17/09
I've got a couple of ice cream machines that each came with a pretty good recipe booklet. Most of the time I try new things with ice cream, but I have honestly used those booklets more than any of the other ice cream recipe books that I have.
My cookbook library has a couple of manuals for appliances I don't even have, mostly those came from lots at yard sales. I'll often read through them to see if anything jumps out, but I don't think I've ever made anything from them verbatim.
I was surprised to find that I don't actually have any of those Pillsbury Bake-off cookbooks. I do have some top notch corporate cookbooks including a Baker's Chocolate cookbook from 1922, and "Better Baking Proper Frying" by Crisco from some time in the 70s. Best title ever: "its mainly because of the meat Cookbook" by Dominion (the big supermarket chain in Toronto, used to be related to A&P)
drastic at 7:29PM on 04/17/09
I love it when I see a box of those goofy little 50's and 60's Pillsbury Bake-off type cookbooklets at yard sales. Can't say I've ever made a recipe from any of the Jello or Spam pamphlets, but it makes me smile imagining folks actually making and eating some of the recipes. I found a hilarious web site that does a great job looking through the pages of some of those curious old cookbooklets-if you get a kick out of them like I do, you might get some laughs here (the Knox Gelatin one really cracked me up) http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/index.html
kathyvegas at 8:27PM on 04/17/09
@drastic....If you liked the "It's Mainly Because of the Meat Cookbook" you'll love "Meat! Meat! Meat!" on the link I left on my post above this one.
kathyvegas at 8:41PM on 04/17/09
I usually scan these cookbooks when I first open the appliance. If something sticks out, then I'll probably remember it.
When we use the bread maker, the book is definitely helpful since it spells out all the setting you need for it.
engmcmuffin at 8:59PM on 04/17/09
I think some of the old product booklets are actually better than the appliance ones. They're trying to get you to buy more of the product, so the recipes seem to be a bit more creative. The applicance ones sometimes seem like the recipes are there to give you lessons on how to use the appliance. Like making salsa...or milkshakes.
I've got a booklet from Royal Baking Powder from 1925 that's kind of interesting. Next to each ingredient is the calorie count for that ingredient, they give the total calorie count for the whole recipe, and then at the end they tell you how much you can eat for 100 calories. So the butter cake, you can have 2/3 of a portion for 100 calories.
Here's a great quote from that booklet: "Pastry when properly made and baked is digestable but is not desirable for children."
dbcurrie at 9:35PM on 04/17/09
@dbcurrie I love those old books, I grew up using an old rumford baking powder cookbook, and not all the recipes even called for baking powder.
As far as appliance cookbooks, I glance through them but usually just end up tossing them, too much clutter and I need the room for coffee cups ;-)
huneybumper at 9:39PM on 04/17/09
my friend's mom makes the most delicious cookies out of her food processor cookbook.
cybercita at 10:49PM on 04/17/09
@kathyvegas I have 2 of those bakeoff booklets (hand-me-down from mom), one is from 1955 and the other is 1959, they are hilarious and yes I have made some of the recipes. Really good stuff.
pjracz10 at 1:17AM on 04/18/09
my mom got me a few of those checkout cookbooks when i was in college. i tend to hoard stuff, so i still have them & occasionally will flip thru to get inspired for a weird appetizer or something.
however, my great aunt gave a couple of new england cookbook paperbacks to me, which i treasure.
gastronomeg at 12:00PM on 04/18/09
I've used the cinnamon bun recipe from my Kitchenaid mixer booklet (but Alton Brown's recipe is much better). I've also consistantly used the pizzelle recipe from the press I received and the spritz recipe from my cookie gun book.
I love reading through the old Pillsbury Bake Off booklets that I inherited from my grandma-in-law, but I have yet to use them. I often do refer to some recipes in current little booklets found at the grocery store register, since people always buy them for the baker in the family (me). I have an M&M booklet that's great.
meem21 at 10:32AM on 04/20/09
It's always worth looking through the cookbook and seeing what's there. I have an awful lot of one-hit-wonders on my shelves and I am grateful for the one-hit!
smallblondemom at 10:38AM on 04/20/09
kathyvegas...
Those were some funy points on the Knox On-Camera Cookbook.
I've used that cookbook for a few years and have had great results. Their chiffon pies are great. I live in Texas, and their's nothing better than a cooled chiffon pie for a hot afternoon snack.
Now, about Spam recipes, I'm just not too sure. Besides, I prefer my spam simple, a slice fried in between 2 slices of plai white bread, with mayo and onion of course.
lochaven at 5:27PM on 06/16/09