Recommend Good/Great cookbooks

[icebrat001]

I need to cook more and go out less, but we love a variety of different types of foods.

I need your cookbook suggestions. (I already use plenty on online sources, I want "real" cookbooks.

Thanks everyone!

 

[swankybeth]

The 2 cookbooks that I use the most are Betty Crocker and Better Homes and Gardens. I also recommend The Joy of Cooking as a reference book. I don't think I've ever used a recipe from there, but the advice is priceless.

 

[EthansMom]

I recommend the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. I have an older edition (Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook) that I love and also have the 75th Anniversary Edition, which is great too. Of course, there are some different recipes in each version that are well-loved by our family, so I have both on my kitchen shelves.

The Better Homes and Gardens are great basic cookbooks. Need to know the temperature at which to bake meatballs? It's in there. How about if you need to know how to store fresh vegetables? It's in there. Etc., etc., etc....

Make sure to get the ring-bound edition as it's easy to keep the book open and cook at the same time!

Here's the 75th Anniversary Edition: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/06...f=pd_bbs_1/002-0620559-4009667?_encoding=UTF8

 

[nana2tots]

Rachel Ray

 

[Gwene65]

I swear by any Taste of Home or Quick Cooking Annual recipe books. They come out every year and are full of great, easy food. I have both magazine subscriptions as well, it's what taught me to cook.

You can order them online. I think tasteofhome.com and then follow the link to the Country Store.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I love Top Secret Recipes and More Top Secret Recipes. We've tried many of the recipes and they really do come out just like the dishes in the restaraunt!

 

[tink38]

I have over a hundred cookbooks. (I inherited them from my grandmother, plus I bought a bunch myself.) The ones I use the most are Frank Davis Cooks Naturally New Orleans and Paul Prudhommes Louisiana Kitchen. Paul is a bit more involved, though. I use Frank for everyday cooking. I love the Betty Crocker Cookbook, also. The roast in foil recipe is DA BOMB. (OMG - did I just say that???)

 

[ElizK]

My very favorite cookbook in the whole wide world, couldn't do without it: Desperation Dinners! Everything in it can be cooked in 30 mins or less. Now, that's my kind of cooking!

 

[sharbear]

I just went on this thread to recommend Desperation Dinners. Love that cookbook. The authors have a new book out, Cheap, Fast, Good (or something like that, maybe Fast, Cheap, Good!). It's also great and has super ideas for saving money. Some you know, some new ideas.

 

[princess pooh]

The new Rachael Ray cookbook is my bible (I think it's called 365 recipes with no repeats???). I also subscibe to Martha Strewarts Everyday Food magazine.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I love The Joy of Cooking and Better Homes and Gardens. I have a Joy that's from the early 80's and my BHG was my mother's, which she got from her mother. It's from the late 50's and has both of their notes in the margins. They were faboo cooks. It actually has a recipe for possum

Seriously, either of these books are great. If you aren't terribly health conscious then get the oldest versions you can. Otherwise, go for the newer ones.

 

[luv2nascar]

I love Rachel Ray's cookbooks. She has the new 365 recipes one. I love the magazine and cookbooks for Taste of Home especially Quick Cooking.

 

[Alice's Mom]

I work in a store with cookbooks, so I of course own many!

Rick Bayless, Mexico One Plate at a Time
Rachel Ray, 365 No Repeats
Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa and Barefoot Contessa Family Style
Kitchen Companion as an excellent reference
Alton Brown, Good Eats is a great cookbook and reference too.

at Williams Sonoma they have great themed books, like Soup, Fish, Italian, Grilling, they can also be found for a little less at Costco. There is a picture for every recipe and tips.

I also like Cooking Light Magazine when they release all their recipes of the year in book form.

 

[Alice's Mom]

I love The Joy of Cooking and Better Homes and Gardens. I have a Joy that's from the early 80's and my BHG was my mother's, which she got from her mother. It's from the late 50's and has both of their notes in the margins. They were faboo cooks. It actually has a recipe for possum

It also shows you how to skin a rabbit with your boot, eek!

 

[clh2]

My favorite - very new - cookbook is The Warehouse Gourmet. Click here for the link.

This cookbook was written by 3 women who each own their own meal assembly business. Most of the recipes are geared to assembling, freezing and cooking later.

The recipes we have tried so far are fabulous. While each recipe calls for about 6 pounds of meat (i.e. the size you would get at a Warehouse store - i.e. Sam's Club or Costco), each recipe makes about 3 entrees. The recipes are easy to assemble, and, if you don't want to make 3 entrees, it is easy to do the math to make a smaller quantity.

Unfortunately, their first printing of the book has sold out, and they are hoping to have more by the end of April.

 

[icebrat001]

Thank you everyone, I will look into these. A trip to barnes and noble is in order!