Sometimes older is better. I am just saying. It seems like that is a silly thing to say but it is true.

In this case I am referring to cookbooks. I love cookbooks. I have a pretty massive collection and find great comfort in thumbing through the pages of the varied ones that reside in my kitchen.

My collection ranges from church cookbooks, civic group cookbooks put out by various groups and clubs I have been involved with, handed down cookbooks, handwritten notebooks from my Grandma Bonnie filled with recipes, Betty Crocker and Better Homes and Gardens editions, cookie cookbooks, appetizer cookbooks, Pampered Chef cookbooks…..You get the idea. I have a nice collection of cookbooks.

The basic Betty Crocker cookbook is what I started out with. My mom got me my first one for my bridal shower back in 1982. It is the one that I go to time and time again. I think you might be able to tell.

There are not many pages that are still intact in the spiral binding. Most are loose and hanging out. The front cover is taped and retaped. I suspect there are pages missing. The most used pages appear to be in the bread and potato sections. I love this cookbook. One year I told my mom it was falling apart and for my birthday that year I received a new version.

I love that my mom inscribed this one. She did not do that to the first one that she gave me and so when she gave me this one with that little inscription it made me smile. I must admit that I do not use it as much as the “old”one.  I am not sure why.  It is pretty and easy to use–the pages are in a 3 ring binder version so no more having pages falling out of the spiral ring but for some reason I still go to the older version.

I realized when I started this post that I also had my mother in law’s Betty Crocker cookbook. It was stuck in the cupboard and I had almost forgotten about it but there it was. Of course I realized that it, too, was a special gift to her and I am thrilled that I got to keep it when we cleaned out their house.

I have a recipe box cram packed with recipes. I think the thing that makes me smile the most is when I pull one out and see who it came from. I have many that friends have written down for me on cards over the years and now and then I am reminded of those folks along my journey who took the time to share a recipe with me when i asked for it. That is what is friends do.  Share.

I often go to the internet and find recipes these days on Pinterest and other recipe sites.  Many of the blogs I follow post recipes. There is never a shortage of places to find that perfect dish to prepare but the tried and true, the old stained, dog-eared, dilapidated Betty Crocker cookbook is the one I go back to time and time again. What about you? Where do you get your favorite recipes?