All Time Favorite Cookbook?

I also am a cookbook fanatic. I have shelves and shelves of them. One of my faves is called The Recipe Hall of Fame Cookbook. They have a whole series with one from every state, and this one is compiled of some of the best from these state books. I can honestly say I have never tried one recipe that wasn't great. Their dessert one is fantastic too! I got them online from the publisher, Quail Ridge Press. This is the one I always give as a gift to new brides.

I am a huge cookbook fan...I bought 10 this month. My all-time favorite author is Ina Garten (aka The Barefoot Contessa) but her stuff can be pretty fattening(though delicious!). I've given her first cookbook for many many gifts and see if on top cookbooks lists all the time. Also LOVE the Cooks' Illustrated books and there are several on baking and desserts. It's the same group as America's Test Kitchen. I've seen lots of all of these at Costco.

My favorite is a church cookbook from my grandmother's church. It has all the old recipes.
Sorry I know no real help because you can't buy it lol. But you might check to see if your church, if you go to church , or a near by church has a cook book. They usually have family recipes in them,

Well, my "Joy of Cooking" just fell apart after forty years. So evidently that's one I should recommend.

I also love Jan Karon's cookbook, because there are a lot of yummy Southern recipes in that one. There's only one recipe I had trouble with, and the needed correction was on her web site. Hooray for computers!

Christine and Beth mentioned church cookbooks; I love to read those. You can find wonderful recipes that you'll never see in a commercially produced book.

I have tons of cookbooks, but the ones I use most are really old. One is Better Homes & Gardens "Everything You Need to Know to Cook" and the other one is even older - I inherited from my Grandma - it's a Betty Crocker three-ring bound. It's got old-fashioned tips, like "Make sure you put on lipstick before your husband gets home." Cracks me up- but the recipes are great.

For baking, I use the internet mostly.

Test Kitchen of America is a great show and has great cookbooks. if you go on their site, they do show some of their recipes..

The Italian Bible...

The Silver Spoon (FINALLY in the English Translation version for under $100))

http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Spoon-Phaidon-Press/dp/07148...

The Cake Bible (okay, this one actually has bible in the title) is a great dessert book http://www.amazon.com/Cake-Bible-Rose-Levy-Beranbaum/dp/0...

Tyler Florence, Mario Batali, Jamie Oliver, The Neelys, & The Frugal Gourmet are my favorite well known chefs for recipes. They all have books out on their own, most have their own websites, and many of their recipes (except FG) on www.foodnetwork.com

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Sharing Mountain Recipes, The Muffin Lady's Everyay Favorites

is a fabulous cookbook! YOu will find almost any recipes you desire between the pages. It was written to share the palatable goodness of everyday foods, over that the more advertised Gourmet recipes. The Biscuits, Quiches soups and tomatoes sauces have become my familys fav, and the author really does provide recipes that can be prepared in minutes, tossed in the oven and served with an hour or less.
5 star recommendation.

If you're looking for a cookbook to use when you need to cook dinner in a hurry, I like Desperation Dinners. There are some really great recipes in there and there are shortcuts for some of them so that you can make dinner quick and easy. I use it quite a bit.

I also use the Crock Pot a lot, so I get recipes online or from a few apps on my iPhone. Not sure if you have a smartphone, but there are lots of apps for cooking, so you can try that too and most of the apps are free! Happy cooking!

I really like the better homes & gardens new cookbook... the recipes are mostly simple, "average" recipes.

For 'kid-friendly recipes' I really like
"chicken soup for the soul : kid's in the kitchen"
"The Green Princess Cook Book"
and anything by Annabel Karmel

I also love to buy copies of the magazines "cooking light" and "eating well" - and I want to by their cook books eventually... another one I want is "Cook yourself thin"- I used to watch that show all the time and use the recipes on their website.

-M.

The Joy of Cooking - it's a classic!
Ratio - this is a book about baked goods and pancakes, etc. It gives ingredients and their ratios rather than a recipe for some number of servings

the 5 ingredient cookbook. awesome :)

I recently have liked the Test Kitchen Cookbook (as in the same pbs tv show).

I like The Betty Crocker Cookbook b/c it has every type of food listed in it from appetizers to desserts and beyond. Also, I like the I Hate to Cook Book by Peg Bracken b/c it has simple recipes also on a large range of foods. GL!

I have too many cookbooks! As far as desserts, well cookies at least, my faves are Martha Stewart Cookies, Better Homes and Gardens Cookies and Southern Living Cookies...they are all amazing!! I also have some Ghiradelli cook books that have tasty pies and cakes!

John Folse's Encyclopedia of Cajun and Creole Cuisine. NOT cheap, but greatness.
I love the food of course, but what sets it apart is the lovely photography, history, stories. At the beginning of the book, it's like history lessons, showing how the different ethnic groups came, what each group's food was, how they came together, and what makes real cajun and creole food unique and special. (Also the differences, since people outside of Louisiana don't seem to know the difference). I just love the book. I think it's pretty. We know a lot of the people that were photographed too, all local stuff.