There is an enormous literature on the advantages and disadvantages of electronic reading devices and the impact they are having on education and on reading. There is also a huge literature on reading itself and its history, including the ways we are extensive or intensive readers, and the kinds of reading we do. The situation today is, I have to admit, kind of baffling. Let me begin with clarity: I read on both the literal page and on the screen. I like it that my phone is my kindle. And, I like to carry books around and to read them -- even though I have been de-accessioning a lot of them lately.
More systematically: On the one hand, people are amazed and pleased that so much reading is occurring. And, on the other, they fear (as I sometimes do) that screen reading portends the coming apocalypse. (It certainly is the case that too much screen time leads me to a sort of mild distraction with everything, and some people around me might not even see it as mild distraction but as. . . well, enough). And, they fear that screen reading and the overwhelming internet information tsunami is the cause of the decline of critical thinking, the rise of alt facts (aka utter lies passing as truth because a) liars and b) lied to who kind of willfully refuse to look and c) bad education and. . . )
But, I digress.
When it comes to cooking, there is similar concern and euphoria about what we used to call the "new media" and the rise of electronic and internet based resources. Yes, it had the effect of "democratizing" both reading and writing (ignoring, here, the digital divide) and yes, it allowed this blog. On the other hand, it killed some wonders like Gourmet Magazine as it has many parts of print media -- including journalism (which we must bemoan given our radical and incredible need for journalists of conscience today and our intense need to encourage critical reading skills given our daily bombardment with what we sometimes call alt facts and know are lies and distortions). But I digress. Again.)
On the one hand, the screen offers incredible convenience -- with grocery shopping apps attached to recipes and more. On the other hand, those days of foodie inventiveness may be in decline and the relaxing feeling that comes with days spent reading cookbooks or perusing cooking magazines in preparation for. . . . whatever. In preparation for NOTHING! (The decline of the possibility of doing NOTHING is really getting on my nerves. Who can even consider doing nothing these days, given politics. And yet again, I digress. But we do know that growing food and cooking are both cultural and political acts. So, perhaps not!?!?)
In any case, here is the point (insofar as I have one): I use my iPhone when I cook. And, my partner has commented on this. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to reflect on the ways my use of recipes and thus my cooking has changed. And, as a side note, the impact of this upon my shopping.
Some days I simply stick a few ingredients I have on hand into the google search and. . then kind of fool around til I find ways to use ingredients I have. I feel like I am a contestant on Chopped but cheating. The strategy works in two ways: 1) it helps when I am at a loss on how I can possibly use the combination of things in my fridge and pantry and/or 2) when I know I am missing an ingredient for whatever vague idea I had in mind. This strategy saves me from that rush to the grocery store to get . . . a lemon or coriander seeds or whatever I ran out of or just do not have. I rarely just make the recipe I find, but it gives me ideas and then onward I go.
A few down sides: I don't google very far down past page 1 or page 2 of the search results, so I am probably making things that are . . . risking being boring? I know about how far down you truly find interesting stuff in other arenas -- including googling myself when I once found bitnet conversations from 1987 (but I digress) and from professional work trying to ensure that search results appear far enough up in search results to cause people to actually click on the result. Anyway: I am afraid the google recipe habit is bad and I am not even sure why I am worried.
I know there are apps to save recipes and all sorts of things that might be useful. I don't really use them. I cannot even imagine at the farthest reach of my imagination a kindle cookbook. And, though I once had a vague desire for an iPad in the kitchen so I could actually SEE what I was trying to do when I use my iPhone, I now no longer want such a thing. Hmmm.
So, I also read cookbooks and I am trying to get off the few pages I turn to regularly in each one. And, I have to admit, I do mourn the loss of some magazines, even though I am not as in love with them when they come as I used to be. . . . Hmmm.
Enough. Back to the kitchen. Hmmm.
And, as a side note, given how many times phrases involving hands appear above: Kali?
A few options to continue thinking about this theme: try this piece that favors reading on your iPhone (or, I suppose, Android); or this more balanced (and scientific) bit. Yes, both appeared fairly high up when I googled.