I highly recommend this book- AND it's currently available USED for ONE PENNY!

(Actually- I had to type all that mess below earlier 'cause for some reason I was unable to cut/paste the link. But now I am able to... so here is the direct link- now you won't have to read all my gobblty-goook below! )

http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Idones-Glorious-American-Food/dp/039454255X/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0


Some of you might remember Christopher Idone's extra-large format coffee-table book "Glorious American Food" from the 80's. Well I found used copies available for ONE PENNY at Amazon.

The hitch is- I found the one cent copies thru trial and error. You cannot just do a simple search of the book or author- otherwise you'll only find copies starting at like &18.00.

Go to Amazon and click open the BOOKS page. Type in "country gardens cookbooks". Find and select/open the book on "Apples".

When the Apples page opens- click open the author's name "Christopher Idone (directly under title). Then his page of all books he's written will open. Scroll clear to the bottom and click the last book on the very bottom- it'll say "no picture of book abailable".

When that page opens- there still is no pic and you'll only see used copies for 18.95. But ease down ever so slightly to the "formats" window. There you'll see a used copy for one penny in an alternate hardcover edition. Click on the word "hardcover" link. The page that opens will show a photo of the book and down a wee bit you'll be able to select and order the ONE CENT COPY!

Kind of a hassle- but the book is stunning. I think I paid like $40 for it 25 years ago which was way-pricey back then. It's a winner!

Being a fan of Amazon's cheap used cookbooks, I've done something recently that I am excited about. Growing up in a tiny little farm town, I loved our l'il local public library. As a youngster, I whiled away many hours there- as a form of escape.

Similarly, when I was cooking at this one particular rustic wilderness lodge in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on my rare days off- especially during the frigid winter months, I would bundle-up and trek to this l'il log cabin library where there was always a coffee-pot warming, and where there was always a soft comfy chair with my name on it to sit in and luxuriate all afternoon in the warmth near the hearth w/ a stack of books to look through.

So, I've decided that when I am at Amazon and happen to find a cookbook- or any book that looks particularly good- and that is available in good condition for under one dollar (it happens all the time!) I will send a copy of this book to each of these two libraries from my past to donate.

I have drafted letters to send to each library to inform them of what I will be doing- and I have ordered my first selected volume to be donated to each of them. It is "Glorious American Food" by Christopher Idone- both copies gotten for a measly 30 cents and 80 cents! (Which, by the way- this is one of my all-time FAV cookbooks- HUGE and LOADED w/ incredible photography and recipes!)

Amazon.com: Christopher Idone's Glorious American Food (9780394542553): Christopher Idone: Books

This is the most amazing post I've read so far! It's like I can see the little log cabin library you described. What an amazing and generous person you are. Truly...that is inspirational. I know I've mentioned that I wrote a cheeky cookbook for my husband. Since I have been so fortunate with this little endeavor, my way of giving back is donating to the American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" campaign. I also donated cookbooks to the local blood drive auction. Whatever I can do to give back is such a pleasure!

Wonderful story, PampPara!

And glad my experience appealed to you, too!

Share more about your cookbook-writing experience, if you will... we'd love to hear about it!

Kevin,

Thanks for the tip on the great bargain, I just ordered mine for>>>Yep just as you said 1 cent!!! What a bargain even with $3.99 S&H> Thanks so much for the link Kevin! You're the greatest!