I’m a gal that loves my cookbooks. And I have more than a few, covering subjects from chicken to gelato, and chefs from Rachel Ray to Jamie Oliver.

And I’m not alone. Over the past 10 years, cookbook sales have doubled, driven by Food Network faves Paula Deen and Rachel Ray. And these days, those books that focus on comfort foods are topping shoppers’ lists.

So when I spotted this article from Restaurants & Institutions this week that announced some of spring’s newest releases, I was interested to see which were hitting trends in consumer behavior.

‘wichcraft: Craft a Sandwich into a Meal-and a Meal into a Sandwich (Clarkson Potter, March), by Tom Colicchio

I don’t know about you guys, but sandwiches have become a weekly cost-savings dinner in our household. Chicken salad and grilled cheese are getting a little old though – time for some new ideas!

photo credit: Island Life

Eating Well in Season: The Farmers’ Market Cookbook (Countryman Press, April), by Jessie Price and the editors of Eating Well

If you have not yet heard the term “locavore,” listen up. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the impact their choices are making on the environment. Not to mention the fact that locally grown produce can often be cheaper, and help support a farmer in your area. As a volunteer at my local farmers’ market, I can tell you that this movement is growing.

Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It: And Other Cooking Projects (Ten Speed Press, June), by Karen Solomon

Sales of basic ingredients are on the rise, as consumers cuts costs by spending a little extra time cooking from scratch.

Well, that’s just a few of the new offerings. Other topics include timely ethnic – Asian barbecue and Indian cuisine – which help consumers recreate that restaurant experience at home; recreating classic recipes; and molecular gastronomy.

Are you a fellow cookbook collector? Do you use them regularly? What’s your favorite or most used? I’d love to hear from you! (My personal favorite is the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook - best chocolate buttercream ever!)

This entry was posted on Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 5:41 pm and is filed under consumer, cookbook, home cook.