Eat Your Books -- New Version Out [Moved from Home Cooking]

[roxlet]

I have been meaning to start a new thread on Eatyourbooks.com since the other has grown so long that it is taking a while to load. I have just begun exploring the new iteration, and so far, it seems like an improvement...

[The Dairy Queen]

Look what Epicurious is doing with e-cookbooks! http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/829915

I'm very torn...

~TDQ

[buttertart]

I joined, I'm so happy. I like being able to click on books to add them, the thought of typing in titles or ISBNs as in the original version was just too daunting. This is fun, and brava again, JaneEYB! (User name is buttertart there too, I've only put a few books in so far off the top of my head.)

[JoanN]

Congratulations, JaneEYB!

No small feat to beat out Google.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/din...

[Breadcrumbs]

Joan, thanks for sharing this link!!! BIg congratulations to Jane & Fiona!! I've been an EYB member for over a year now (I found Chowhound via a post on EYB!!!. . . one more thing to love about them!!) and I simply don't know how I lived without them!

When I'm looking for inspiration of what to make for dinner or, how to use a terrific ingredient I've picked up at the market, I always turn to EYB to find out which of my very own cookbooks contain a recipe I can use. I no longer suffer any guilt in adding to my cookbook collection because I know I can put the books to good use.

I used to turn to the internet as a quick resource for recipes but have barely used online recipes at all since becoming an EYB member. I'd much rather put my cookbooks to use where I can be sure of a recipes source and, that the original recipe hasn't been lost in translation somewhere along the way and, benefit from recipe notes and reviews of other EYB members. Oh, and now (as of yesterday) EYB is also adding links to cookbook author's online versions of recipes from their books if they exist.

EYB really does have it all, far superior to Google Recipe search. So glad to know that others are now finding this out too.

Hats off to EYB!!

[buttertart]

That is truly marvelous, I was very happy to see it too.

[sockii]

I'm really eager for the add-your-own-books function to go live. I love the idea of the site but so little of my book collection is currently indexed, it's not nearly as useful to me as it could be (as of now, only 12 of the 83 books on my "bookshelf" are indexed, plus two supposedly "indexed soon." Meanwhile, I have about 30 books I've tried to enter that don't show up as listed at all.)

It seems like there's a definite leaning toward celebrity chefs and FoodNetwork types as far as which books are up...I really want to see user indexing go live so I can get to work on some of my older/vintage books that I love and find more useful...when I can find the recipes in them I want, that is!

[smtucker]

The site owners also claim that they are noting which books are owned by a large number of members, and will be indexing them on a priority basis. So if you own books that aren't indexed, do add them to they are included in these counts.

[sparkareno]

I was just on the site because I was thinking of asking for the lifetime for Xmas & I don't see it offered. I see 2.50/ month or $25/year. Am I too late?? Yikes--I would hope they at least offer it through the holidays.

[Breadcrumbs]

You're too late, the site is no longer in Beta. The lifetime membership was a limited time offer for over a year. The site has been communicating that this offer would be coming to an end and encouraging folks to take advantage.

If you have cookbooks and like to cook, I'd really encourage you to join.

I've been a member since the site's early days and can't say enough good things about EYB. It's changed the way I cook and most definitely has given my cookbooks a new lease on life. Not to mention having given me a good reason not to feel guilty about new books!

The customer support is, personal, professional and in my experience, unprecedented in terms of responsiveness.

[The Dairy Queen]

Wow, that was fast. Sorry you missed it. :(.

~TDQ

[The Dairy Queen]

I just noticed that on EYB's home page they are saying they will soon take the site out of beta, after which they will no longer offer the "lifetime" membership option. If you've been dragging your heels and are interested in a lifetime membership, you might want to jump in while you can.

I don't know what memberships will be available after the "lifetime" option is no longer available. Annual membership (which is currently $25/yr)?

~TDQ

[meatn3]

My SO purchased my lifetime membership for my birthday a few months ago. I rate that as one of the best gifts ever!

I am so thankful I finally read the EYB thread and learned about it.

[The Dairy Queen]

Nice gift! I'm sure you'll get lots of use out of it. Yes, we all owe beetlebug a big Thank You for bringing this to our attention!

~TDQ

[Rubee]

Love this site. I use it all the time, just last night looking for ideas for an appetizer to bring to a fellow Chowhound's house this Saturday. Glad I bought the lifetime membership. Thanks BB for posting the original thread!

[oaklandfoodie]

Had a great success last night, my first real time using EYB. We were grilling tuna and i wanted a miso sauce or dressing for the fish and spinach. A quick search on EYB and I ended up using a cookbook I hardly ever use (Sara's Secrets) - the miso sauce was super easy, quick and a great pair for the fish. I will definitely make it again!

[CindyJ]

A question about EYB (I haven't tried it yet) -- does it also index food magazines? I've subscribed to many food magazines over the years, but the only ones I've held on to are Cooks Illustrated and Fine Cooking. I'm wondering if any publications are included.

[The Dairy Queen]

Not yet, but they say it's on the horizon. Right now, there's currently a poll going on EYB asking the members which magazines they'd like to see indexed.

~TDQ

[roxlet]

I have been enjoying using this site recently. It is perfect for "now, where was that recipe again" moments, plus I used it to help me decide on which veal stew recipe to make. All in all, it grows more useful each time I got to the site.

[The Dairy Queen]

hey hey hey, I just noticed a NEW book has been indexed on EYB...Maybe we're up and running again?

~TDQ

[pikawicca]

Yes, and now I'm thinking I need a muffin book, since I don't have one. I must get this cookbook addiction under control.

[pikawicca]

Scroll down and you will find LOTS of new books! Why has this discussion been moved to NAF? It's a cookbook conversation, and should be on Home Cooking. The NAF folks are not going to be interested, while the HC folks are.

[oaklandfoodie]

I can tell this is going to be a huge time sink, I mean time saver, for me. I was a bit lost in the old thread (since I just signed up today) perhaps it was becauase of this new version. Regardless, I'm loving the site, and was able to add 42 cookbooks just from memory. I can't wait to get cooking! THANK YOU!!!

[The Dairy Queen]

Here's a link to the old thread, by the way. Almost 500 posts! http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/677870#5292022

Also, I've been meaning to comment on SMtuckers post wherein she says "Did discover that you can't remove a bookmark. Instead you have to remove the book from your bookshelf and then add it back."
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6778...

Actually, I don't think that's true. All you need to do is find the book on your book shelf, then click on the book's title. That should bring up four tabs: recipes, notes, bookshelves, and more detail. If you click on the "more detail" tab, you'll see all of your "categories" off to the right. To delete a category, just click the "X" next to the category.

I hope that's clear.

~TDQ

[smtucker]

Just found this thread, and the new build does include this feature. I am using it regularly now as I rotate books in and out of the COTM. Thanks for the note.

[pikawicca]

I think it is, but I want my friends back!

[The Dairy Queen]

"Friends" is one of the "missing" features that they are working on. http://www.eatyourbooks.com/blog/2010... I wish they'd hurry up and start indexing more books!

~TDQ

[pikawicca]

Yes, I keep checking for more indexed books, but it's not happening.

[The Dairy Queen]

I know, I've been checking, too.

They say (in that missing features link I gave aboce) that they can't index any books while they are updating the indexing feature to enable users to index cookbooks... I hope the wait isn't too long... And I hope users actually DO index cookbooks, thereby making this wait worthwhile!

~TDQ