My weakness for cook books

I don't buy many books.  Usually my reading material comes from the library or friends.  However, cookbooks are my kryptonite.  Especially the great finds at garage sales and Half Price Books.  The more photographs, the better.  These have their own special shelf in my kitchen; with plenty of Post-It flags highlighting favorite recipes, or recipes to try in the future.  Here are a few creations stemming from these books:

These are corn on the cob cupcakes from a cupcake cook book.  Yellow frosting, jelly beans are topped with squares of yellow Starburst "butter".

American flag brownies for my Fourth of July celebration.

Thanksgiving appetizers.  The recipes weren't from a cookbook, but the decorating ideas came from a Thanksgiving cookbook.  Next year I want to try home-made stuffing from this book.

Caramel pralines from Betty Crocker.  

Another favorite book of mine is "On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen."  It is not a cookbook, it is part-history book and part-science book on where our food comes from and how cooking transforms it .  If you've seen any of Alton Brown's shows or cookbooks, I think it must be one of his science references.  There are entire chapters on single subjects, like dairy, eggs, meat, sauces and seeds.