CL Cookbook question - help!

[newcooker]

I am looking into purchasing some older CL Annual recipe cookbooks, and I have a question for the veterans.

I really like the current mentality of CL - using smaller amounts of cream, butter, etc. in moderation. But from reading some of the posts, it looks like that is a newer trend. Do the older annuals reflect moderation or are they more along the lines of a "fat-free" mentality? If the thinking has changed over the years, at what point did it shift? I am trying to decide just how far back to go in buying these annuals, and I didn't want to end up with cookbooks I would never use.

I would appreciate any input from those of you that have been CL readers for a while. I am very new, but enjoying the magazine and BB immensely!

[KaliforniaKim]

Hi Newcooker,

My weakness is CL cookbooks, and I may have every one ever printed---or at least every one that I've been able to find.

Surprisingly, the recipes are very similar back to the early 90's, even late 80's. CookingLight's mentality has been the same, with the exception of a few years where certain low fat/salt diet products were popular: egg substitute, no salt tomato products, etc. However, you can adjust these items to your own personal preference. I think the '83 cookbook is the only one I have that I wouldn't re-purchase.

I would definitely recommend www.half.com. (http://www.half.com.) I went on a weak buying splurge a couple of months ago and purchased the remaining books I wanted. They have an excellent selection of used books, and I had a trouble-free experience. I would suggest you stay with sellers who have a 4.8 or higher rating as it ensures they have a history of following through. There is at least one other thread on this bulletin board about half.com. so you might want to search it out for other comments

[brendat4]

I agree with KaliforniaKim. The only thing I will add is that you can also find older editions of the cookbooks on Ebay sometimes. I had a CL cookbook buying fetish awhile back and wanted to get all the annuals that I didn't have for my collection. I just did a search by "Cooking Light" and a bunch of books came up. Eventually I got all the ones I wanted. Same is true for seller's ratings, etc. . . . Hope this helps!

[Jewel]

I just bought nine CL annuals on Ebay, from 1990 to 1999. The first thing I noticed, aside from the fact that they were smaller, was that the recipes seem a bit tamer in the fat category. But, that is completely fixable if one wants to add a bit more fat for flavor! There are still plenty of wonderful recipes that contain butter and cheeses. In fact, I got my CL 1991 Annual in yesterday's mail and found a Cheese-Stuffed French Toast that I can't wait to try when my parents arrive! I almost drooled all over the arm of the sofa! A cream cheese mixture, orange marmalade and pecans spread between two pieces of high-fiber bread, dipped in a cinnamon egg batter and sauteed on each side. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif YUM! DH and I already decided we'd sub Peach Preserves for the Orange Marmalade, but that just sounds too good!

So yes, as someone with recent experience buying older CL Annuals from Ebay, I say 'Go for it!' Nobody does it better than CL, and even if a recipe is a bit stingy with the more fullfat ingredients, you can improvise! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif