Are cookbooks a thing of the past?

Recently I had some guests over my apartment and as they are also cooking enthusiasts, I decided to show off my very large collection of cookbooks. I was mocked that I had so many and was told that cookbooks aren't needed any more- "there's the internet." I decided to go to the book store and see if that was true.
Over the weekend I spent a few hours at the local book store to see the cooking magazine headlines and to check out the latest wave of cookbooks... I found that I was bored with the predictability of cooking magazine headlines... Spring cooking, Grilling, Cinco de Mayo & Taco headlined magazines galore, and cupcakes... apparently they are still the "in" thing. It was difficult to find a magazine even worthy for me to take a second glance. If I found 1 or 2 tips I didn't already know about- that was saying something.
Then I checked out the cookbooks. I would say that most of the cookbooks I saw were duds, except 2 that I noticed right before I was going to leave. One I would have purchased immediately- but upon closer inspection, all the recipes could be found on the internet... There was only 1 book (and I really didn't get too much time to study it) that really grabbed my attention as possibly being worthy enough to add to my collection... but it remains to be seen... :P
As I drove away empty handed I realized that if a cookbook is well put together and contains MANY recipes that appeal to a person, then yes-- it's worth it. You're paying for the convenience to reference something very quickly without having to rely on the internet. But, I felt pretty dismal about the outlook on physical cookbooks... When I finally got home I sat in the parking lot and thought about the cookbooks I have. I purchased a lot of basic cookbooks when I was starting out... I bought a lot of cupcake cookbooks to give me a lot of ideas when I had to bake a wedding cake for a friend, I bought a lot of ice cream cookbooks when I got my ice cream maker... And that made me realize that not all of them were a waste of space. For a novice, a cookbook like How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman may be a good choice- that's what I would give someone... If someone was a garlic lover, I'd give them The Stinking Rose cookbook coming out of the San Fransisco restaurant that contains the non-traditional combination of garlic ice cream and caramel. VERY YUMMY! So, I realized that people may rely on cookbooks less. I certainly left empty handed when I left the store... but there will always be a time, place, and reason why we still buy them. All that information is out there... but cookbooks give you the convenience of that knowledge on your bookshelf.

FANTASTIC chicken marinade....

You will not regret this one!!

Marinade you chicken (I used thighs, but I think any piece would do here) in

1/4C- Soy Sauce
2T- Brown Sugar
2T- Rice Vinegar
2 Cloves- Garlic
1 teaspoon- Ginger
and Pepsi to fill ( so, if you're marinading in a bowl or ziplock bag, put enough in to cover the chicken)

Marinade as long as you can and then grill... this one was a winner!!

DIY Popcorn

This whole idea came to me because I realized I never had popped fresh popcorn and always had it from a microwave bag or pre-made bag. Before I tried it for the first time I checked online. I checked YouTube and came across a home video. It was clearly an amature video and the woman couldn't even speak very well... but I found myself interested in her tiny little kitchen, her flawed ways that she spoke into the camera and then I realized-- I was more interested in this unrefined woman than I was most TV Chef personalities. You know who I'm talking about- the ones with manicured kitchens, fridges full of food... you look at it and think-- That's not my kitchen! And no, for most of us, it's not... and those that I know that have kitchens like that- don't use them. Go figure. One of life's cruel ironies. She also mentioned about how she can't afford to go to the movies anymore and buy that oober expensive popcorn. And I realized neither could I. That's why I make everything that I want at home. I want to still eat everything I crave, but not pay a babysitter to watch my kids- tip a waiter- or have to fill my car up with gas. If I am dreaming about it I generally have to make it at home. And then I thought, maybe other people out there would like to satisfy their cravings or desires but don't feel empowered enough to do them at home. I used to crave crepes all the time, now that I make them I get snooty when I go out somewhere and they aren't as good as mine.
I was ordering a kitchen gadget for myself today and the woman I ordered it from said that my family must be very lucky to have me make things for my family like that. I didn't think about it, but after reflecting on it... I guess they are. There are quite a few people I know out there that don't do it. There are some people out there that think I can buy ____ somewhere so I don't have to make it. Then they begin relying on that frame of mind more and more and really get away from real cooking... until they're not cooking at all anymore. This is to bring cooking back. Bring baking back. Bring everything back home.
I saw a food trend prediction for 2012 and it was the rise in popularity of DIY cooking trends and websites. I think it's great. I love looking at websites that inspire and let me really stretch my abilities to their limits and then turn that on it's head again. I love it, I think it's great and I hope that the "trend" of people Doing MORE in the kitchen continues and I want to be a part of that.
I welcome everyone else out there to be a part of this DIY Cooking Nation!!