EW...I have two German cook books and love the potato pancakes with applesauce. It's a lot of steps but the end result is really good.
I really miss the fried cammebert cheese with berry sauce. I used to order that at a restaurant Rudesheim ...AND believe it or not I miss smoked Mackerel for breakfast (the large one, not the littles ones). I used to buy the Mackerel in the fridge section at the German stores...I'd take that puppy home, put it under the grill and yum. Add fresh brochen and butter...ahhh.
When I was stationed in England I got hooked on Indian (dot not feather) cooking. I liked it so much I decided to learn how to make it and have 2 cookbooks that are amazing. Unfortunately, I can't get fresh ingredients here nor can I eat Indian as often...to high in fat...the Ghee alone is an artery clogger. And Ghee is what adds the flavor. Oh, where's the Chicken Tika Massala?

I have to share this. We were watching a Rita Rudner special last night. She said she doesn't cook. She enjoys reading cookbooks. She reads them like science fiction. "I get to the end of the recipe and say, 'That isn't going to happen.'"

I love looking through cookbooks. The first one I remember reading was when I was a kid (age escapes me) but it was bought from a musium I went to visit when I went to summer with my dad. Any way, what attracted me to it was the decorations the front cover displayed. All sorts of idian carvings, and beeded decorations. But on the inside was goobs of cool stuff like the history of idean cooking, how things were made what the women talked about while cooking and all sorts of recipies I had never heard of. It was just fun to read.

AS for now, its my memory of watching my grandmother lovingly prepare meals for the family. I had thought of designing a cook book filled with the respies of my past and make it 3x5 style ( since I really like them.And asking my grammy is out because she went home to be with her Lord) Cus there were things she made I only have a vage memory of ingrediants, and it saddens me. So maybe if I start it will trigger the ones I am foggy on.

Rachel, I often hear friends speak about watching and help in their grandmothers cook and bake in the kitchen. My last grandparent died when I was three so I don't have these fond memories, but I did have two aunts, one on each side, who enjoyed baking especially. I got a few recipes from Dad's sister before seh died at the age of 92, but never got any of the aunt on Mom's side which I totally regret. Boy could she bake. Her specialty was apple pie. I can make a mean apple pie, but often wonder how the ingredients compared to hers.

I'm all for you starting that cookbook. Your family will be eternally grateful.