One of my favorite things to do at Costco is check out the cookbooks. Lately, thought, there’s been a real dearth of books on cooking there. I know — I should say, I hope — that this fall will bring more books, you know, as easy gifts for cookbook lovers like me. I’m aware that this is the lean time for new cookbooks. I guess there’s enough to do in the summer that I shouldn’t notice the lack of food reading material.

It is true, that especially during winter, there’s little activity I love more than curling up in a chair, wrapping myself in a quilt and studying a stack of cookbooks and cooking magazines with my pen, notebook and sticky notes at the ready. Armchair cooking is a lot like armchair traveling. It’s fun to imagine and plan adventures. I have to admit, I really like looking at the pictures in cookbooks, too. I know that most of my food won’t look like the professional, and probably cold, food on those fancy plates, but good photos in cookbooks make my mouth water.

Usually, I buy cookbooks for myself, but when I receive a cookbook as a gift, I always remember the person who gave it to me as I turn the pages. Just about everyone in my family and many close friends have graciously added to my cookbook collection over the years. Often, the books come with a request, a request to share any cooking as a result of the gift.
Even though I have, and use, lots and lots of cookbooks, I don’t think I have a favorite one. There’s no “go-to” cookbook on my bookshelf. And if I were to be asked to recommend a single book, I just don’t know what I’d suggest.

How about you? Do you have any favorite cookbooks?