So, I decided I should check out the Kindle 2 before buying another gadget I would only feel guilty about not using after the first few weeks. That's when it really pays to work at Amazon, where I was able to borrow a Kindle for a few days. Now that I've given it back, I'm left wondering if maybe I really do "need" the reader. And, not because I've found more time for e) reading. But because it can support my vast amounts of time c) cooking something for someone (which is sometimes related to a) working).
One of the things that really caught my eye when the Kindle 2 first came out was the The Cook's Illustrated How-to-Cook Library, billed as the largest digital cookbook, which, by the way, is completely free right now (and only for a limited time, I understand). As a longtime fan of Cook's Illustrated, I already own many of their annual compendiums, plus the little multiyear index that helps you find what you need across all the annuals. I also own quite a few of their regular cookbooks, always a great resource for any cooking conundrum.
The Kindle version is also nicely navigable. You can click directly to individual guides and into recipes from the Table of Contents. You can also search the whole library using the Kindle search function. For instance, let's say you have some extra rhubarb on hand. Search the library and you'll instantly find 10 locations of the word "rhubarb." But, probably the thing I liked best of all was the Kindle's internal dictionary, where you can find out the meaning of any word you come across. I was looking at a clam recipe and had no idea what a quahog clam was. Luckily, Kindle knew the answer.
Another cool idea I discovered on the Kindle was using the annotate feature to make grocery lists on the fly. You can add little notes to yourself within the recipe, "Buy quahog clams," "Need more parsley." When you head to the grocery store, just take out your Kindle and you've got your list right there. Plus, you'll be able to see just how much you need of the ingredient. No more wondering, "Did the recipe say 1/2-cup of milk...or 1-1/2 cups...?" Also, you'll have instant fame and popularity as all the other shoppers gasp and say "Oh! Is that the Kindle?!" (I can vouch for this.)
Well, as you can see, I'm in love. I might just have to break down and treat myself to the Kindle 2 (pssst! my birthday's in June...). Not that the Kindle is the perfect cookbook-lover's library. For instance, the Text-to-Speech feature didn't live up to my hopes. It's really made to read running text aloud and doesn't have anything built in to deal with recipe formatting and paragraph breaks. Plus, it's unable to read fractions. So, you might find yourself putting 12 teaspoons of baking powder in that cake instead of 1/2 teaspoon. Oops.
Also, to my knowledge, there's no waterproof/splatterproof transparent sleeve for use in the kitchen. Luckily, I solved that problem easily (and cheaply), simply by putting my Kindle in a Ziploc bag while in the kitchen. Worked perfectly, though it didn't do much for Kindle's ego, especially next to my shiny KitchenAid mixer.
Have you tried the Kindle in your kitchen? Add a comment and let me know your thoughts--and especially your trademark tips on making the Kindle a culinary wonder.
