A small sampling of cookbooks for the frum cook:
1977, revised throughout the 70's into the 80's, 3-4 recipes per page, close to 200 pages, no photos of recipes
1985, 2-3 recipes per page, 260 pages, no photos of recipes
1990 2-3 recipes per page, nearly 500 pages, no photos of recipes
1995 1 recipe per page, lots of explanations, 400 pages, no photos
1999 Usually 3-4 recipes per page, nearly 300 pages, a small section of color photographs of a few recipes in the book
2003 1 recipe per page, close to 300 pages, many pages taken up by color photos and words from the author
2007 mostly 1 recipe per page, 300 pages, many pages taken up by color photos and lots of talk from the author
2009 1 recipe per page, many pages taken up by color photos, 200 pages
end of 2011 - 1 recipe per page, many pages taken up by color photos, 350 pages, many of which are not recipes
Summary: Years ago, we usually got more recipes per cookbook and no photos.
Commentary: Are there other parts of frum life that are similar to the evolution of cookbooks - less substance and more frills than in years gone by? In certain areas, yes. Though romanticizing frum life in previous decades does not give us an accurate picture either.
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