What do trees have in common with Simple Cookery?

I love trees. Trees have long been necessary to our history and survival. They've provided shelter, warmth from fire and heat to cook our food. And, of course, the paper for our written word. It might interest you to know that in many vintage cookbooks, recipes are called 'receipts'. The books themselves are often called 'cookery books' and involve more method than recipe. Of course, there are Mom, Mama, Mamie, and Grandma's recipes. In today's fast paced world of Internet search engines, you can find a recipe for almost anything at anytime. But, I still love the look and feel of a real cookbook even if a tree was sacrificed for it. I can always tell a tried a true recipe in one of Mom's cookbooks. The 'good recipe pages' are stained with bits of love and flour from the past. Quick notes written in the margins telling of an ingredient added or left out. It seems I inherited that trait, too, for I am constantly tweaking a recipe here and there. It amazes me how many people don't know how to do that these days. It's like they think the cooking sheriff will swoop down upon their kitchen if they dare to add some garlic or leave it out! Some of my favorite meals start with a chopped onion and 'whatever is in the fridge or pantry' thrown in the pan. How about you?