My Modern Cookbook

There are very few things I would say I have a collection of, other than maybe cosmetics (I'm a lipstick/lipgloss junkie) and bras (am I right, ladies?), but I have to say I have a small collection of cookbooks. I started collecting these a few years ago, and they are the main type of book that fills my bookshelves at home.

Between having a Kindle and an iPhone, I find I'd much rather keep digital copies of books to read. You know, like Dracula (not a small book). When it comes to reference books, I'd much rather have physical copies, which is why a heavy 90% of all my books are cookbooks. I can sit and browse through the recipes as I watch TV. I like to look at the photos and think about all the ingredients and how they work together in that particular recipe as well as how they might work together in something else. I just don't find I get the same experience on the Kindle.

However, I've found that the number of new cookbooks being added to my shelf has recently dwindled. Why? In one word, Pinterest. Pinterest has become my modern cookbook, connecting me with a recipe for pretty much anything I want. I can organize my recipes on various Boards, like tabs or chapters of a cookbook, keeping all similar recipes together. It's really fantastic. I now Pinterest search recipes before I Google search them.

All my favorite cooking magazines and websites are on Pinterest, with CHOW.com being one of my favorite references. The great thing about CHOW's pins is that you can see the list of ingredients by viewing the pin. You don't have to click a second time to open the website. This is perfect because a few months ago, I started organizing my pins in a similar fashion, listing the ingredients in the Pin's name. So when I found out CHOW has been doing the same, it was a perfect match.

P.S. If you haven't started organizing your recipe pins this way, I suggest starting. It makes for an easy quick reference when you look at your Pins. You can quickly determine what ingredients you already have in your kitchen and which ones you need to complete the recipe.

If you're not on Pinterest, it's about time you join. You can learn to do anything from making your own ricotta to 3D printing a cookie cutter and more.

If you're not actually cooking your Pinned recipes, it's about time you start. It's my new favorite source of cooking inspiration, and I highly suggest you start using it! I mean, don't' just pin, start cooking them, too.

Follow me on Pinterest.