My Husband’s Cookbook Surprise

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My husband Bill is a structural engineer.  He inspects everything from giant steel mills to homes with cracks and uneven floors.  Sometimes he has interesting stories after inspecting a Frank Lloyd Wright home, or a huge turn-of-the-century mansion along Lake Michigan.  It was at one of these beautiful old homes that he came home with more than a story.

Bill walked in our door with a garbage bag and said he had a surprise for me.  I couldn’t imagine what kind of surprise came in a garbage bag.  It seems as he was inspecting a kitchen problem, Bill noticed a pile of cookbooks on the floor.  He said something about how his wife collects cookbooks too.  The owner replied that she used to collect them but is moving and can’t take all her books.  The ones on the floor she was going to throw away.  “Do you want them for your wife?” she asked.  Bill knows by now to never turn down a cookbook.

I opened the bag to find two Julia Child cookbooks, one from Patricia Wells, Jane Brody’s classic nutrition book (in very well-loved condition), the classic Silver Palate, two from Marian Burros, and more.

Marian Burros is a cookbook author, and food columnist for The New York Times, a position she has held since 1983. Previously, Burros was The Washington Post’s food editor and a consumer reporter for an NBC affiliate, a position for which she won an Emmy Award.  I have always enjoyed her cookbooks and was thrilled to have these two for The Culinary Cellar shelves.

Thank you to the unknown woman who gave up her cookbooks, and to Bill for saying yes.

 

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6 Responses to My Husband’s Cookbook Surprise

  1. November 9, 2022 at 1:18 pm #

    Never judge a full garbage bag!!! The one Bill brought home for you was certainly not filled with junk but a delightful surprise! How wonderful that all those treasured cookbooks missed the garbage pile & found their way to you & your heartfelt appreciation for them. Enjoy hours of searching through their pages, and I look forward to you sharing some new found recipes!

    • November 9, 2022 at 9:48 pm #

      Let’s do that, Kim. I already have post-it notes in some of them.

  2. November 9, 2022 at 2:29 pm #

    He’s a keeper!

    • November 9, 2022 at 9:47 pm #

      He is!

  3. November 10, 2022 at 4:05 pm #

    You do know by now, that of course, these were destined to be on your shelves. You have a loving well trained hubby there! Hugs and Blessings.

    • November 10, 2022 at 5:17 pm #

      Thank you, sweet Elaine! You are my cookbook angel so I’ll believe you. Sending big hugs and blessings right back at you.

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