A clutch of cookbooks
As gifts on my birthday, I received four different recipe books. No, my family is not trying to tell me something about my cooking (I think?). In fact, I know I'm a brilliant cook, the fact that no one ever says so doesn't worry me. I believe everyone bought me the books to try and shut me up.

Whenever, I was asked what I would like for my birthday all I could think of to say, and all I really wanted, were cook books. But I didn't really think my family would take me that seriously!

I love cook books. I'm also an absolute food channel fiend… watching every chance I get; I make notes of the recipes, and try them out. Okay, maybe I don’t try them out, but I plan to one day.

Well-thumbed but not used...
The cook books, although new, look anything but. I thumb through them all the time, constantly. Initially, my husband was quite impressed at how much I enjoyed my gifts, he even allowed me to bring the baking one to work once... until he realised that all I ever do is stare at the pictures! Now, I'm not allowed to take any of the books with to work and recently, he started giving me strange looks every time he sees me with one open.

You might wonder, how did a perfectly sane, township girl from the East Rand (read: Ekhurhuleni) find herself in pitiful condition? At least if I did cook something… I blame the scourge of consumerism that is currently gripping our country, in fact the whole world!

But wait, there's more...
It's consumerism that keeps me wanting more... this obsession is not just limited to cook books, oh no! There is the food processor, stick blender, hand mixer, whisk, pie maker and all other kinds of things which I bought and made other people buy for me to support this obsession.

I won't even go into the endless trips to the fresh produce market for all kinds of herbs and fancy or unfamiliar delicacies that I simply had to try! All of which wound up in the bin after stinking up the fridge for a few weeks.

Shamefully, most of the gadgets don't see the light of day. Although I do bring out the food processor to grate cheese, now and again, and I've found out that the stick blender is quite nifty for shredding chicken pieces for a chicken mayo sandwich. Oh, and yes, hubby loves the glass blender for crushing ice.

We are still waiting for that magical dinner party, at which all the recipes I love to look at will finally be magically transformed into the reality of a five course meal during which, the blender will finally be used to make super cocktails with sexy names. I know it sounds like a dream... but it could happen...

How about you? Are you addicted to cookbooks, but not actually cooking? Do bunches of basil moulder in your fridge, waiting for the mortar and pestle that never come?

Share your experiences below.