Years ago, I realized that I had a serious cookbook addiction. I had topped the 150 mark and my collection was growing weekly. I took a hiatus from buying and forced myself to fall in love only with books I found in local library sales. I also gave away boxes of the recipe-d madness until I felt lighter and well– less mad.

Alas, today, the urge is creeping in once more. I am cursed with new found shelf room. There is a natural law running its course, filling the empty space with bound pages of spun sugar creations and tomes of minted rack of lamb. What is a girl to do? I suppose I could read.

Click & Shop.

In bookstores, I’ll catch my hands trembling when I discover a book whose language and ingredients speak to me and whose photographs whet my visual appetite. Oh, like you haven’t been there!

But, I’ve also discovered a new weapon in my book-buying arsenal– buying used books online.

Arriving home to find a neat little brown-paper package wrapped up and waiting on you.. and inside the box, treasured words and pictures, redolent with just-baked goodies and ripe with hope for delicious meals to come..well, this is the life. Eat that Mary Tyler Moore.

Oh lucky day, the Paper Apron now has an online store filled with my favorite cookbooks and food stories. If your shelves are filled, don’t feed the madness, just browse a while. But, if you have a small opening…treat yourself! Many of these are available as slightly-used books. I’ve had wonderful luck when I’ve ordered the slightly-used and like-new conditioned books. I’ve also saved a few bucks.

And if you have favorites, please share. And be quick about it. My shelves are mysteriously fuller this week.

I’m also in the process of listing my favorite shiny objects and power tools, er…appliances. So, consider the shop a work in progress.