My Top Ten Most Often Used Cookbooks
Ranked #8,369 in Food & Cooking, #141,607 overall
The 10 Cookbooks I Use Most
My first real cookbook is the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook you see in the picture. It's the third printing of the Revised Edition. I got it for a wedding present. It was the first in a collection that now spans three bookcases. That's a lot of cookbooks! Obviously, I don't use all of them equally. Some are very specialized and some no longer fit the way we eat now. But I still use this first one, even though I've added more recent editions to my collection which include microwave, crock pot, and food processor recipes.
The other two books below I also refer to constantly. I will tell you more about them and the other seven I've used a lot through the years. You can see how I've marked them up with sticky tags and bookmarks to help me find my favorites easily. Though some of these books are now out of print, they are well worth owning if you can pick them up. I know one can find lots of good recipes on line, but somehow having them in a book that's all mine is different. I can open them whenever I need inspiration and see the delicious looking pictures, look over the ingredients, and see if I want to try something new. As I discuss my top ten favorite cookbooks, I will also point out which recipes are my favorites. Please follow me down this culinary trail.
Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook
This was my first and still is in constant use.
Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook
Amazon Price: $6.79 (as of 02/16/2012)
Included at the end of each chapter are the recipes from the magazine that are designed to be included as desired in this loose-leaf binder edition. It also lies flat and allows for easy page removal so you don't have to have space for the whole book where you are cooking. Here are some of my favorite recipes in this book:
- p. 71 Steamed Brown Bread
- p. 86 Swedish Rye bread. I've been making this for years and everyone begs for more
- p.131 Molasses Taffy -- the kind you pull at a taffy pull
- p. 191 Baked Custard: the ultimate comfort food for sick people
- p. 165 Italian Meat Sauce: This is the sauce that gets oodles of compliments, the simmer for hours kind, but it's worth it.
Besides my favorites above, you will find plenty of your own. And, of course, it has all the basic information you would expect from a good general cookbook -- helps on meal planning, nutrition, ingredients, measuring hints, substitutions, etc.
I highly recommend it or any of its later editions. I just know where my favorite recipes are in this edition, and I don't mind the vintage illustrations.
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book Limited Edition, 12 th ed. 2005
For the Way We Cook and Eat Today
There's a whole chapter on crock pot cooking -- such a convenience for those who work all day and want to come home to dinner. Recipes are also labeled if they are no fat, low fat, or fast, so that you can see at a glance what meets your needs. Many recipes use fresh ingredients, though you can also find lots of recipes that use convenience or packaged ingredients. There's a great section on how to choose fresh fruits and vegetables in their peak seasons and how to best store them. There's a beautifully illustrated section on the more unfamiliar fruits and vegetables, as well, that includes the same information on peak seasons and how to choose and store. Directions are given for cooking vegetables either conventionally or in the microwave. In fact, whenever microwaving will work in a recipe, the alternate instructions for microwave cooking appear.
One of my favorite sections is the pink section at the back for breast cancer awareness. This 66-page section has the most up-to-date recommendations on lowering your cancer risk through diet, exercise, screening, and keeping a healthy weight. The recipes in this section make the most of the foods that are associated with lower cancer risk. The illustrations will make you want to fix these recipes right away. I highly recommend this book.
New Cook Book, Limited Edition "Pink Plaid" : For Breast Cancer Awareness (Better Homes & Gardens)
Amazon Price: $24.00 (as of 02/16/2012)
Kaiser Bakeware Classic 10-Inch Springform
Kaiser Bakeware Classic 10-Inch Springform
Amazon Price: (as of 02/16/2012)
I am not lucky enough to own this one, but I'm tempted to replace the one I have because it gets bent out of shape and is getting harder and harder to use. This one has gotten a good review and should hold up better than the flimsy aluminum one I now have. It's going on my wish list. But read the reviews for yourself. You'll see the other options when you click to see this one.
With Love from Darling's Kitchen by Renny Darling
Treasured Recipes for Family and Friends
With Love from Darling's Kitchen: Treasured Recipes for Family and Friends
Amazon Price: $17.00 (as of 02/16/2012)
If you buy this in paperback, as I did, I suggest you reinforce the cover and spine with clear contact paper at the beginning. This is the only cookbook I own that is literally falling apart with use. It has some of my absolute favorite recipes that I use over and over. Here are some of them:
- p. 67 Broccoli & Cauliflower Crustless Quiche with Onions, Cheese, and Bacon
- p. 261 Royal Chocolate Fudge Gateau wth Chocolate Rum Buttercream -- You make this in a food processor and you can have it made in an hour. I don't even bother with the buttercream for family use. I just sprinkle with sifted powered sugar
- p. 274 Company Fudge Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse Frosting. I used to make this every Christmas Eve because it was Rich's absolute favorite cake. You have to separate the egg whites on this one, so I probably won't make it anymore now that Rich is gone. The recipe above this one is almost as good and much easier to make. But if you want a cake that will really wow people, this is the one to make -- especially if those people love chocolate.
There are many other great and uncommon recipes in this book, but you will have to explore the rest yourself.
Bread Winners by Mel London
More Than 200 Superior Bread Recipes and Their Remarkable Bakers
Bread Winners: More Than 200 Superior Bread Recipes and Their Remarkable Bakers
Amazon Price: $0.23 (as of 02/16/2012)
If you have never baked bread before , this book will explain the things you need to know about equipment, ingredients, and technique. There are pictures to show you how to knead, when a loaf has risen enough, and how to shape loaves. Most pictures are in black and white, but there is an occasional color picture to make you drool. Here are some of my favorite recipes in this book:
- p. 64 Ever-Ready Bran Muffins. Makes about 7-dozen. You can make the dough and store what you don't use in the refrigerator -- then take some out whenever you want to bake them fresh before breakfast.
- p. 85 Corn Bread. This is made with whole wheat flour and cornmeal.
- p.245 100% Whole Wheat Bread. Makes 4 large loaves
This book has an array of sourdough recipes, including several different starters. You will want to try many of them.
Reader's Digest Great Recipes for Good Health
This one is full of easy-to-prepare dishes.
Reader's Digest Great Recipes for Good Health
Amazon Price: $1.49 (as of 02/16/2012)
This is another one that's falling apart from use. It has a special section at the front with dietary guidelines and menu plans for healthy eating , as well as a great section on making homemade substitutes for the convenience package mixes for quick breads, dressings, and sauces you may buy at the store. It has recipes for making your own relishes, salsa, ketchup, Dijon mustard, mock sour cream, mock mayonnaise, and moch sour cream, as well.
It has a lot of good soup recipes, and my favorite is on p.56 -- Hearty Black Bean Soup. Whenever I'm in need of really quick hot meal I can make in a flash, I turn to page 67 and make Quick Steak Pizzaiola. It uses minute steaks, garlic, and canned tomatoes. I try to keep minute steaks in the freezer, just in case. Add a baked potato or heavy bread and a big green salad and that's dinner
. The color pictures of meals will tempt you, and you will want to explore this book on your own to find your favorites. Recipes list their nutritional breakdowns per serving for cholesterol, fat types, protein, sodium, carbohydrates, added sugar, and fiber..
The Garden Way Bread Book: A Baker's Almanac by Ellen Fosue Johnson
This book begins by giving you reasons to make bread, a list of bread-making necessities, a list of nice things to work with (both ingredients and equipment) and a list of options. Instead of having general bread-making instructions at the front, it covers the basics by using a basic easy white bread recipe and telling you all the important stuff you need to know as you go through that recipe. This is followed by a brief check list to help you review the directions in a quick summary. It's a very practical book.
Also at the beginning you will find information on the basic types of bread: quick breads, corn breads, steamed breads, little breads, fired breads, sweet and festive breads, and sourdough breads (with five different starter recipes)
The Garden Way Bread Book: A Baker's Almanac
Amazon Price: $64.92 (as of 02/16/2012)
Here are some of my favorite recipes from the 1979 edition I have.
p. 139 Cream and Honey Whole Wheat Bread
p. 164 Sourdough Prune Nut Bread
p. 166 Walnut Oatmeal Bread
The More With Less Cookbook.
Find this at e-Bay, below
As you can see, I've used this book a lot in the past thirty years or so.The edition I have and love is the 1976 edition, spiral bound, with the white cover and red title. The recipes I share below are from that one.
p. 78 Basic Corn Bread
p. 270 Apple Crisp
p. 283 Roman Apple Cake
p. 285. Oatmeal Cake -- the cake I most like to make
p. 292 Date or Prune Bars. Easy and nutritious
Great Stuff on eBay
Quasar Microwave Cooking
Insta-Matic, Variable Power
Quasar Microwave Cooking Insta-Matic & Variable Power
Amazon Price: $0.75 (as of 02/16/2012)
It has great guide for cooking fresh vegetables in the microwave, and I've learned to get my corn on the cob just right. Here are some of my favorite recipes from this book if you can get your hands on it:
p. 179 Ratatouille. Use a really big dish.
p. 217 Basic Egg Custard the easy way.
p. 218 Baked Apples
p. 229 Peanut Brittle. It's so easy to make your own.
The Joy of Cooking
You know I couldn't leave it out.
Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006
Amazon Price: $16.75 (as of 02/16/2012)
I use this primarily for reference. It covers just about everything, and the section on ingredients is well worth the price of the book. i have the Bobbs-Merrill 10th printing, June, 1978, so I wont' even try to give you page numbers. The reviews say this new anniversary edition has slow cooker recipes included for the first time. It's tempting, but my husband doesn't think I need anymore cookbooks since I hardly ever have time to cook anymore. .
Vote For Your Favorite Basic or General Cookbook
If it's not here, just add it.
Click the arrows up or down to vote for your favorite. Then hit refresh to see you vote matter. If your favorite basic or general cookbook is not here, please add it.
Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker
When the last edition of the Joy of Cooking appear more...1 point
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book: Celebrating the Promise, 14th Limited Edition "Pink Plaid" by Better Homes & Gardens
In addition to the inspiring Pink Section-the Promise more...1 point
New Cook Book (Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbooks) by Better Homes and Gardens
%u2022 More than 900 new recipes-1,200 in all-reflect more...1 point
The Taste of Home Cookbook by Taste of Home Editors
Your purchase of The Taste of Home Cookbook also includes more...0 points
Like Grandma Used To Make by Reader's Digest
Enjoy more than 450 of America's best-loved recipe more...0 points
The Good Housekeeping Cookbook: 1,039 Recipes from America's Favorite Test Kitchen by The Editors of Good Housekeeping
This updated, comprehensive compendium of recipes, more...0 points
Pillsbury Complete Cookbook: Recipes from America's Most-Trusted Kitchens by Pillsbury Company
The Ultimate Kitchen CompanionEvery recipe triple-tested more...0 points
I saved the best for last.
It's one of a kind and you'll have to make your own. You can only buy it's shell. You have to supply the content yourself.
Barb's Absolutely Essential Personal Recipe Notebook
You can't buy it in any store.
This is the best one of all and I use it several times a week. This contains all my tried and true, tested in my own kitchen recipes. To keep everything in one place, I photo-copy my favorite recipes from all my cookbook collections and paste them into here. I also put all those recipe clippings I've tried and we've liked in this book. Sometimes, rather than making a copy, I just write the name of the recipe and the book and page number of where to find it on the first page of every division. It's a loose-leaf notebook of manageable size. I have four notebooks, actually. Three volumes hold recipes I haven't tried yet, and this last one is where they go after they've been tested.
Having this book was very useful when we had to live temporarily in different places when my husband worked on contract. It's also useful if you are sometimes at one house and sometimes at another. You just pick up one book and go. I do suggest you get a notebook of manageable size. The paper in mine is about 9.5 x 6.5. I also have some recipes from cooking classes that were regular binder size, and it's much more awkward to use those notebooks.
Of course, it's also nice to have one of those pretty folders for clippings that's divided into sections by recipe classes. Those also make nice gifts for brides or people setting up housekeeping for the first time.
Do you want your personal recipe book to look like mine?
I didn't think so.
Thanks for stopping by. Please sign my guestbook so I'll know you were here.
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cffutah
Jan 19, 2012 @ 10:18 am | delete
- good to know about the books that people that cook want to buy.
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Dec 29, 2009 @ 7:06 pm | delete
- Well, Barb ~~ I've visited this lens before & already blessed it. I would bless it again, if I could. I love all of the personal references.
My binder looks something like yours and I've recently fallen in love with the cooking binders at Zazzle. If you are a Zazzle Affiliate, you might want to consider adding one here. Once you've seen them, you're sure to want one, too!
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JoyfulPamela
Oct 16, 2009 @ 7:49 pm | delete
- Boy - will my husband ever be happy that I found this lens! I will have to check out these books. Thanks for the great lens.
Pamela
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BarbRad
Oct 13, 2009 @ 1:50 am | in reply to GonnaFly | delete
- I have quite a few loose papers floating around in mine, too, as the pages start falling out. But I feel its too late in life to make a new one. I'm currently looking through all the old clippings I have stashed away through the years, all the ones my mil stashed away, and all the ones my mother left. I'm having a bit of trouble with the ones written in Serbian, LOL, but I'm not allowed to throw them out until Hubby has gone through them. Most of the special ones she already showed me how to make and I wrote them in English as she worked. Most of them I would never have time to make. I don't add anything to my book until I've made it and found we liked it.
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GonnaFly
Oct 13, 2009 @ 1:22 am | delete
- Great lens! I have a recipe book that looks similar to your homemade one but I've also crammed a whole lot of loose papers in the front ;-) Congratulations on graduating rocketmoms session 3!
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KarateKatGraphics
Oct 10, 2009 @ 1:37 pm | delete
- I was in awe of my mom's personal recipe book, and it looked about like yours ;) 5* and great job
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WindyWinters
Oct 9, 2009 @ 2:05 pm | delete
- Great List of Cookbooks. Lensrolling to Cdn Cookbooks! :)
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momto4
Oct 9, 2009 @ 10:03 am | delete
- Great lens! I'm always looking for new cookbooks! I love that you added some of your favorite recipes. 5 *'s
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whitemoss
Oct 8, 2009 @ 11:29 am | delete
- A great idea for a lens Barb-, I loved it- I've rolled it to my Top 10 lakes lens too!
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sandyspider
Oct 8, 2009 @ 11:09 am | delete
- Nice lens! Betty Crocker is one of my best friends.
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More about BarbRad
These lenses share some of my most used recipes.
Enjoy.
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by BarbRad
In my life I've been student, public library clerk, English teacher in public school, elementary teacher in private schools,card buyer for Logos Bookstore... more »
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