Willetta with a pie
Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Willetta is famous in the Ouachita Parish Public Library system for her delicious pies and baked goods. She and her mom tried their hand at the “Favorite Pecan Pie” recipe found in The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook. It was as delicious as it was beautiful. Check it out or any of the thousands of cookbooks on our shelves. You can find cookbooks in the 641.5 section of your local branch. Not sure where that is? Just ask a librarian!

Q: How often do you check out cookbooks from the Library?
A: I check cookbooks out pretty frequently, about three to four a month.

Q: What do your patrons say about cookbooks?
A: Patrons will tell us whether the cookbook was a hit or miss and with a critique on the recipe they made. We also get the occasional out-of-the-blue warning of "Don't waste your time," "Waaay too complicated for the end result," or my personal favorite from a few years ago, "It can't hurt me and my kitchen anymore."

Q: Why do people love to check out cookbooks during the fall?
A: Patrons want to get into the spirit of the holidays! Thanksgiving and Christmas are really daunting, so they’ll psych themselves up with a cookbook. They will usually say, "I think I can make that..."

Q: Why is it great to read print cookbooks in the age of cooking apps and Pinterest?
A: With a physical book, it’s a lot of fun to search for the not-so-common ingredients, almost like it’s a scavenger hunt! Online recipes are good for “in the moment” cooking to make something with ingredients you already have on hand. Still, with a book in hand, there's just something about the safety of knowing you've got the recipe right next to you. If you make a mistake, it’s got your back.

 

Browse our Thanksgiving cookbooks here. We've got cookbooks for every occasion, so browse them here!

Note: This article was originally published in the October/November 2020 Cattails publication. Read the entire issue here.