The joy of cookbooks

Food Network Fan · 10-09-2007, 06:54 PM

The joy of cookbooks

Classic guides to cooking bring back fond memories

Cooking can be a beautiful expression of love, and that's one reason that cookbooks will always be popular gifts for bridal showers and weddings. Here are some good general cookbooks to give. They are available at amazon.com as well as major bookstores.

* "The Joy of Cooking 75th Anniversary Edition," by Irma Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker (Scribner, 2006, $30). This is a classic that explains basic techniques as well as offers many recipes.

* "Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today," (Betty Crocker, 2006, $19.95). This basic book includes more than 1,000 easy-to-follow recipes. Betty Crocker has been publishing cookbooks for more than 50 years.

* "Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over," by Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter, 2006, $35). This book follows the Food Network star's usual formula of easy but elegant dishes.

* "How to Cook Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Food," by Mark Bittman (Wiley, 2006, $21.95). This book includes more than 1,500 recipes ranging from the most basic -- buttered popcorn -- to more complicated: Death-by-Chocolate torte.

* "Once Upon a Tart ... Soups, Salads, Muffins and More," by Frank Mentesana, Jerome Audureau and Carolynn Carreno (Knopf, 2006, $22.50). Scottsdale, Ariz., corporate chef Ann Nolan cites it as one of her favorites: "I haven't made anything from it that hasn't been outstanding."

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By Mary Beth Faller
Gannett News Service

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Ann Nolan was 10 when she perceived that magic connection between cooking and love. She had just received "The Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls" for her birthday, and she made drop baking powder biscuits for her dad.
"I can still see the joy in his face when he ate those biscuits for the first time," she says. "It occurred to me at that moment what pleasure could be experienced through food and the simple act of cooking."
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BerryBaby · 10-10-2007, 11:05 AM

I just gave the Betty Crocker cookbook as a shower gift. I still have mine that we received over 33 years ago! It has to be one of my favorites of all times.

Food Network Fan · 10-10-2007, 11:54 AM

My mom has a really old cookbook. I can't remember if it is Betty Crocker or Good Housekeeping.

isilzha · 10-12-2007, 02:47 AM

We bought a few cheap cookbooks a couple weeks ago. We haven't really had a chance to use any of the recipes yet, but I liked looking through and seeing the ideas they had. We tend to eat very plain food, but it was fun seeing how different spices and the like can be used to doll up the food a bit.