Cookbooks: The best of the best with Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook
Posted on May 25, 2009 by Miss Britt in Uncategorized
On principle, I rarely suggest cookbooks as gifts for women. I also don’t want a vaccuum cleaner for Valentine’s Day or a new ironing board for my birthday, thanks. Apparently, I have a little feminist rebellion in me after all.
And yet, one of the best wedding presents I received was a cookbook I got from my Nanna. A cookbook as a wedding present? Sure, it’s a little cliche. But I think every kitchen has to have this cookbook in it.
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (Better Homes & Gardens Plaid)
The Better Homes and Gardens Plaid Cookbook is a classic. The ring-binder suggests you’ll be adding to it over the years and is designed to be a kitchen staple.
What I love about this book – besides the fantastic organization – is that it doesn’t just give you recipes. Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks teach you how to cook. It explains the differences between the various cuts of meat and details why one is better than another. It explains words like “poach” and “baste” and makes even the most amateur of chefs feel like they might just be capable of preparing a meal that looks like the pictures. The most recent edition even has a section devoted to grilling, which is a cooking technique that scares the crap out of a lot of people.
I love my low carb cookbook and I will continue to scour the Internet for new recipes and meal ideas. But all of that is built on the foundation I was given with the original cookbook that taught me the basics.
If you don’t already have this cookbook (which I can’t imagine) – get it. And if you do have it and love it as much as I do, keep it in mind as a wedding present or bridal shower gift this summer!
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Posted on May 25, 2009 by Miss Britt in Uncategorized
I have the pink breast cancer version, which is great on two levels because some of the proceeds go to breast cancer charities, and it has a special healthy cooking section at the end
I *love* that cook book.
This one and The Joy of Cooking are two staples in my kitchen as well, and before the dawn of a computer in the kitchen, were invaluable references for terms and substitutions (“what do you mean we don’t have any coriander?!?”)
I haven’t perused the Better Homes Cookbook but I agree that with basic cookbooks it is key to have ‘how to’ and ‘about’ sections.
My go to recommendation for a basic ‘starter’ cookbook is Joy of Cooking. It’s been revamped several times (there are a couple of weird versions somewhere in the middle) but it is helpful to new and old cooks alike.
I have both a really old version (no coil binding) and the breast cancer version. It’s hilariously old-fashioned in some parts – but oh-so-practical in others. Like teaching you how to boil an egg etc…
Love it.
I love a cookbook like this! As a good cook who is cotmlepely self taught, I love how easy this is to use and how enjoyable it is to read. The recipes I tried are well written and delicious.This book is laid out really well. The Contents lists each food section in red and all the recipes that follow with page number in black. This makes it easy to find what you want to cook. Few cookbooks offer this helpful layout.The recipes are explained well and easy to follow. Again, the 2 color format really helps make this cookbook user friendly.I like how each chapter starts with an informative overview of the food and cooking techniques. It includes a paragragh called The Big Problem . Here you’ll get tips on what problems you could encounter and how to avoid them. Boy, is that a big help. Then the last paragraph is How to Cook Without A Recipe . This is a great help so you can improvise and not be a slave to the recipes. Then all the recipes follow.After each recipe are helpful tips and information that can only come from lots of experience. This is where a cooking instructor like the author really shares all her knowledge. The recipes I tried were simply delicious and simple to follow.Some recipes require more work but they are still easy to do. The instuctions are so well written it makes it fun to cook. This is a MUST HAVE book!
I bought that cookbook in like, 1992, and LOVED it.
Stupid ex boyfriend kept it.
I want a new one!
I love this one and The Betty Crocker Cookbook.
I must have 100 cookbooks, but if forced to give all but 4 away, I would keep Better Homes and Gardens, Betty Crocker, Joy of Cooking and a Texas cookbook I love.
I have my grandmothers copy of that cookbook. Dog-eared and spattered, it is my fave.
P.S. That is an ADORABLE picture of you!
I have it bad for cookbooks. I must have three shelves full of them! But this one is a staple, right along with Betty Crocker, Joy of Cooking, and Alton Brown. They all follow the “teach a guy to fish” method rather by building basic cooking skills, rather than just giving you the fish with one or two good recipes but no background.
i have the original one from my grandmother back in the 70s, a estate sale 1950s version, and a current one. love it love it. have you seen the kids one? so cool!
I LOVE cook books! I may have to get this. And may I say, again, how freaking cute you are???? Lord woman!