Notes in the margins

I think I need to install a new book shelf in the kitchen. I unpacked all-at least I hope it's ALL-of the cookbooks. It was very tempting to sit down and page through some of them, putting bookmarks in some and turning down pages of tasty looking recipes, but I resisted the urge and decided to just take a photo for now!  I do need to do a cookbook assessment and inventory and get rid of some of these that I never use.

My favorite cookbooks have beautiful pictures of almost every recipe. I like to see how food is supposed to look before I make it! Appearance and presentation of food is so important. I don't like to eat things that look bad, and I assume other people don't either. I also write little notes in the margins of my well-loved cookbooks, something I learned from my mother. My notes indicate the date I tried the recipe, and a comment like "yummy" or "not worth the effort" or "cooked too long and got dried out". It can be fun to look through my books and read the notes in the margins. Sometimes I can read the frustration in the writing of the note about  cooking project gone terribly wrong, or smile as I remember the success of an event that I cooked something for. (My mother's notes in her cookbooks' margins  generally referenced my picky-ness and general dislike of many recipes she tried...but more on that another day!) So I know I told you about my big Fall hospitality plans, but before I get going on my menu-planning ... I guess I need to find a place to stash all these books.