Do you have a favorite cookbook? Please add to the list.

For some months now, I have been reading about (and longing for) Dorie Greenspan's cookbook Baking From my Home to Yours.  I finally found it in the "used" section of Amazon.co.uk (it came all the way from the States) and I only paid about $7 for it.  It is beautiful - not only in beautiful condition (like new!) but it's full of amazing recipes - recipes that are actually useable (nothing weird).   She also has little stories about each recipe and suggestions for changing them.  So, it's practical as well.  I've been reading it like a novel lol.

 

What cookbook are you longing for?  What cookbook do you use over and over again?   What cookbook do I put at the top of my "Must Have" list for next time?

 

Diana

My "cookbook bible" is my old, tattered, red and white Better Homes cookbook. It was my first cookbook, given to me at Christmas when I was about 15, by my totally bewildered parents (my mother simply can't understand how anyone, much less a teenager, could be that interested in cooking.... should I mention that she's not a very good cook?).  I promised my DD that when she moves out on her own that I would pass along the old red and white to her, but I don't know if I'll actually be able to part with it! Maybe when she's older? I've also bought a newer version (my old one is circa 1980).... maybe she'd be happy enough with the newer one?

 

I'm interested to see people's favorites!  I have an utterly uncountable number of cookbooks, and I too read them like novels, but I think everyone has that one particular cookbook that they wouldn't part with!

 

Thanks, mama.  I have that same red and white cookbook.  It has chocolate smudges by the brownie recipe, right?  At the moment, mine is in storage in the crawl space under my brother's house in CO.  I thought I was doing well to leave my stash of cookbooks back home when I temporarily moved to the UK, but I have just started a new collection over here.  

 

Diana

I have a thirty year old betty crocker cookie cookbook that was my bible for the longest time. I learned baking from there... russian teacakes was one of my starters as a new baker in my early 20's.. in our house brownies from a book or cupcakes from a book was as good as it got.. my mom was not a baker.. she was a cook.. Today, I am an avid baker of so many things, recipes from so many places.. I am the family baker for all the holidays. Can't believe how far I've come.. but more than one thing ended up in the trash along the way...

sorry last post should have said, brownies or cupcakes from a "box".. too early for me....

My future DH bought me a "Hope Chest" for my 20th birthday. The first thing I put into it was a brand spanking new looseleaf Betty Crocker cookbook. That was over 45 years ago and it is still my favorite. I have two newer versions of that same book but my old buddy is the one that taught me to cook. Mom was not a cook nor did she ever bake and didn't allow me in the kitchen very often on the chance that I might make a mess. I have since collected many many cookbooks and also enjoy reading them cover to cover.

My most favorite cookbook is our family cookbook that we put together over 20 years ago. All the recipes are tried and true and I have prepared probably 70% of them over the years. Some of the contributors are no longer with the family, due to death and divorce, but all were excellent cooks.

 

We have been talking about putting together another family cookbook for several years now, but it hasn't materialized. Maybe this year...

 

arabella

Bumping for more cookbooks

 

 I have 3 I will not Part with: No yard sales For these Guys-

 

An Old Betty Crocker Cookbook  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND

 

 

  

 

 

THE CANADIAN LIVING FAMILY COOKBOOK  

 

 

 I am Canadian and perhaps other Canadian will also like the Jean Pare Series- I have Two copies of her Main Courses  recipes since my first is worn and stained by Great Food.!!

 

 

 This one is a Mega Keeper to Me. ~Alliea

 

My favorite "general" cookbook is the Betty Crocker one -- the cover is coming off and the pages are all stained with ingredients -- the mark of a great one! I got it for a wedding gift 25 years ago, and the giver went through and wrote comments and suggestions throughout it. I really appreciated that.

 

My favorite "local" one is a church cookbook from a church in Upstate SC that my dad pastored. My mom sent me a copy when they published it, and you know that every recipe in it is "tried & true." I don't think I've tried anything from that cookbook that wasn't good.

My favorite are my two neighborhood cookbooks BUT I ALSO LOVE junior league cookbooks. The book stores dont sell them like they used too. I get so tired of Racheal Ray and Paula Dean etc... books. Jr. League books are all tried and true submitted by local women. I have always found the best recipes in them and it saddens me how hard it is to buy them now. They are the absolute best Nadine

Please add me to the list of people whose favorite is the Better Homes & Gardens red and white checked cover big looseleaf cookbook!  Got it in 1978, when I got married.  It is the best ever.

Nadine--I really like the Jr. League cookbooks, too.  I bought quite a few from Ebay and Amazon Marketplace.  They're used, but in fine shape and I only get them if they're very reasonably priced. I also found a couple at the library's used book store.  They definitely are very popular books.

carole

I was married in 1962 and received a Better Homes cookbook as a wedding gift. I still use it. My DD bought me the 75 year edition for my birthday last year.  It has a lot of the old recipes from the 1950's and 60's.

emr - Thank you for reminding me of my own roots.  I have one of those "local" cookbooks as well.  It is dated 1972 and is from a church in rural Minnesota where my own father was the pastor.  I have used this cookbook over and over again (and it looks used!!!).  I love the T&T recipes, but I love the fact the person's name that submitted the recipe is also included - my own mother's name, that of a Sunday School teacher, etc.. 

 

Diana