Cooking Books

It's a very thorough, well researched cookbook. Very good for a new cook because recipes have been tested and retested. Recipes are pretty much in the 'no fail even if you try' category.

I have had this book for a few months and have made several recipes: black beans, bread pudding, meatloaf, a caramel sauce for a flan, chicken stock and oh, I can't even remember what else. Bottom line: this cookbook ROCKS!!! The details on HOW and WHY make for great bedtime reading (and yes, I DO have a life) and I am far more willing to try a recipe that has lots of ingredients and takes a while to make because I have a very high level of confidence that the results will be worth the effort.

The best thing about this cookbook is that the editors explain what they've tried and why it did or did not work, so you get not only great recipes but also insight into how to better your cooking. There are numerous tips on the best ingredients and tools as well.

I'm now a fan of the America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Illustrated Magazine, and it was this book that did it! I'm the type of person that likes to know *why* to do things a certain way, and not just read a set of instructions and this cookbook is just so full of great information on how and why to cook things they way they are instructing, along with various illustrated tidbits all the way through, like how to section a chicken or butterfly it, etc. But of course the real test is the recipes...and so far, my results with the ones in this book have been excellent. I can't say everything turned out perfectly (some burned potatoes in the pan when I did the high roast chicken come to mind) but none have been a total disaster or a recipe I wouldn't try again. Even better, I find that the ingredients used are usually not ones that are hard to find and in many cases, ones I already have on hand. I get frustrated with books that use all these crazy ingredients that I will use once for that meal and then have to throw out the rest eventually. That is not the case with Best Recipe.

This is not the book for everyone. If you are a really busy person and not interested in reading several pages of information that go along with the recipe, but just want something quick and fast, there are probably better books for you. Also keep in mind that Cook's Illustrated and ATK do tend to use the same recipes over and over a lot, so if you have any number of their other books, or the magazines, you may find many recipes in here that you've seen before. But for someone who really loves to understand the how and why of cooking, and was fairly new to the Cook's Illustrated family of products, this was one of my favorite cookbooks purchased.

I love to read this book. I just brought this book, so I've not a chance to try any recipes in this book yet. Eventhough this book doesn't have any beautiful finished food pictures shown inside, I enjoyed to read. I just realise that I love to read people tell story about the food, how the recipe come up, than just put only recipes in the cooking book with beautiful fake pictures, but in reality the recipes didn't work. I will try some recipes soon.

Book was in excellent condition. There was no mildew smell, and this is very important to me.

I searched this out for the biscuit recipe but have to say all the recipes I have used have turned out lovely. Each recipe is well explained, well thoughtout and overall it is a very easy cookbook to use.

This cookbook is one of my most ragged cookbooks. It is the one I look for when I want to fix something special or homey. The stew recipe is absolutely the best!
Elaine Littau
Author of "Nan's Journey"

Yes, this is an excelent book. I cant think of a single recipe that I have made from this book that has resulted in a failure. However there are a few things that get to me when using the book.
1. The Index: The index in this book is perhaps the most absurd index I have ever encountered. I dont know who formatted it but they should never be allowed to create an index for the rest of their career. The way things are tabbed, spaced, and positioned on the page makes it almost impossible to find what you are looking for without sitting down and seriously taking time to search.

2. Christopher "I am depressed" Kimball - At the intro to every single recipe he startes it out with some depressing horror story "Most apple pies turn out soggy, burnt, too crispy, too moist, rotten, dog food..." "most roast recipies turn out like cardboard cooked in a lava flow"

he is depressing.
but cookbook good

I love this cookbook I recently recieved it from good friend and have used it so much since then which is saying alot since I have a vast selction of cookbooks. I learn so much and am content to just sit and read this book, the writing is stunning and I can't even begin on the recipes. The cauliflower recipes are to die for, they take a normally bland vegetable and totally spice it up. I think that if you don't cook alot you would be content with just this cookbook in your kitchen. And if your an avid cook this book is for you as well. I give it five stars and two thumbs-up.

Every cupcake I have made from this book has been a big success. Well done...

I've had this book for awhile, but I feel it's time to finally review it. This cookbook is truly the perfect way to show family and friends that being vegan isn't a big deal--no really. I'm the only vegan in my family, but I can't wait to knock everyone's socks off at Christmas with these delicious recipes (I'm thinking blueberry lemon creme cake for the adults, and 'decorate-it-yourself' banana split cupcakes for the younguns). Please buy this book. I love exotic vegan cooking as much as the next person, but I don't have to funds to acquire the really weird ingredients. This book has those exotic ingredients, but also simple recipes with common ingredients. I'm hoping this book will propel me to official baker of the extended family, making each gathering a little less cruel!

I made the S-more cupcakes for a group of meat eaters young and old, and everyone loved them! The kids took seconds and the adults asked for the receipe!

Unlike others i went straight for a hard recipe. Well, for me at least :) Orange creamsicle cupcakes! After my bf helped me figure out I would have to turn up the heat a little to make the orange pudding, (evil electric stove) it was smooth sailing. They came out fantastic and noone at the party had any idea they were vegan until we told them. The orange buttercream frosting is to die for btw.
I also made the mexican cocoa cupcakes that day. They tasted great but i had a little spill over and the tops kept popping off. I think that was me, not the recipe!

I've had this cookbook for a couple of years now and have easily tried out half the recipes, all with excellent results! The recipes are easy to follow, even the more complicated ones, and produce great treats every time ranging from the simple to the decadent.

I get repeated requests for the gingerbread, chocolate chip pumpkin, and almond cupcakes (which I make without the apricot filling and with almond buttercream frosting). The green tea, chocolate stout, and banana split cupcakes are all delightful as well. In addition to the recipes the authors include hints, tips and tricks to answer baking questions and give additional options.

All this and vegan too!

I am taking an Artisan Bread baking course and this book is a great beginning for any novice bread baker. Peter Reinhart explains clearly about the how-to of bread making. The recipes and instructions are easy to understand and follow. Anyone using this book will never buy bread in a store or bakery again. There is nothing like the smell of freshly mixed yeast dough and the aromas in your kitchen once the bread comes out of the oven. There are also simple and delicious recipes for foccacia and pizza. So, get your kids involved as well.

This is a really good book makes it easy to create a great loaf and explains the methods really well

I'm not going to make you read a tome just to find out what i think. This book has such a wealth of knowledge to help you improve your bread baking skills. The formula instructions are clear and easy to understand. The only drawbacks that this book brings are in it's quality of publishing. The book was published in China, it is hardcover but, the cover stock used is very weak and flexes under the weight of the book.

Just wanted to let you know that the quality of the information surpasses the quality of the book itself.

It would be nice if there were some points on what to do next time if your bread doesn't turn out as planned. All of my breads turned out much heavier than illustrated in diagrams. My Italian & Ciabatta breads were better but nothing like shown in the pictures (Those use 100% bread flour). The Ciabatta bread did not require a window pane test so I was hoping that would come out better, in case I wasn't really passing it, even though I thought I was.

The Lavash Crackers show different shades and textures. Mind came kind of the same except were the thinner parts were somewhat over done. In general it was too thick, bread like. I thought I rolled it out to more than 15" x 12" he called for but adjusted for the fact I held back more than half to try to make a pita, not sure what he mean't by "paper thin".

It is inspirational, if only my breads actually turned out better. I have cooked for awhile, but this is my first attempt at bread.

First off, that scathing one star review..throw it away. The poster sounds like a person who failed baking school and works in a low quality/mass producing corporate bakery.

Now..for a review.

This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who wishes to learn to make great bread. The author explains the process from start to finish with many great tips he learned from years of professional experience. He will show you the way to create bread so good, you will have people ask you what bakery you got it at.

I will say, however, that if you are looking for a book that is "bread making made easy!!", this is not it. The formulas take some time, attention and effort to accomplish; you have to put your time in. You will also have to learn the basics of bread making science-nothing too heavy but there will be a few concepts you have to learn.

If you like baking, get the book, hop in, and go for it!

Delivered within the allotted estimated time period and in excellent condition. Went all the way to save the book from delivery damage (bubble wrap, peanuts; everything!).

From history to the chemical make up.All food items are explained and studied.It will give you a different aspect when you cook next time and an excellent conversation ice breakers around the dinner table.
Good reading

I purchased this book as a gift to a friend with culinary interests. He was immediately smitten, as were other foody friends. It had been recommended to me by a friend in the culinary field as "a cooking bible"

Remains the "go to" source for scientific evidence based food knowledge and a good read

This book is great for students and teachers that want to know the scientific information about cooking and baking. For example it explains the chemical changes in leavening, emulsions, and so much more. It talks about the nature of plants, dairy, all of the cookingmethods. Oh I dont think the author missed a single detail in this hows, whys, and whos of cooking. I highly recommended it to keep in your house.

Exactly what I was looking for--techniques, recipes, examples,all with great color photos. I will enjoy this grilling book greatly!

My friends and I wouldn't be without this Grilling book for our husbands!
They love it and barbecue more than ever!
You only need this one, forget the others. My friend has
been using it for 3 years and recommended it to me. A very good
gift to give someone for Christmas, Birthday, etc.

A very good book covering all types of meats & preparations to BBQ.
Lots of usefull info.

I used to eat every meal out. I bought a grill because it is getting so expensive to eat out. I bought this book to teach me how to use it. This book is great. It removes the guess work, for every question I've had the answer is there. One tip, buy the book before you buy the grill because it even covers what to look for in a grill.

Bought this book shortly after buying our Weber grill. After having a copy checked out of the library for 2 months, decided it was time to buy my own copy. My husband would take it to bed for evening reading, even had me read him a "bedtime story" from it (recipe for baby back ribs). This book is fantastic for those of us (like me) who need help with the grilling basics, but equally wonderful for those who are just looking for recipes. The pictures are wonderful, step-by-step directions on preparing the meat. Lots of great rubs and sauces in the back. Has both a general index and a recipe index.

Marcella Hazan's cookbooks are all great. This is the BEST. The characteristic that sets her book apart from all others is not the ingredients and not lucious looking pictures (there are no photos), but rather the important processes she describes in clear detail. I bought this as a gift for someone but have owned this version for five years and its earlier edition for 25 years and have never been disappointed. She is the best. Period. You'll never need another Italian cookbook.

I only received this book a couple weeks ago.
The 3 recipes I cooked were okay.
I had reservations about the two chicken breast filet recipes:
cooking times requested are very short and your filets can come out raw.
-She should've been more specific on to tell when its done by detailing the weight of the breast filets to use.

However, other recipes, especially the pasta ones, look really good!
Looking foward to using this book more.

This is a hefty book - lots of detail, lots of instruction and pretty strict about how things need to be done. As someone who hasn't ventured outside of my comfort zone for cooking, this structure can be very helpful - but it can also complicate things as I have to prepare everything in advance and rarely can pull off a recipe in this book with a low stocked pantry.

Still, I can't fault the book for my need to prepare - overall it's great and when I do have the time to make a special trip for all the right ingredients I know I'll have everything spelled out for me. The thing is huge so it's not easy to move around a kitchen counter with a couple of fingers in the middle of cooking, but like my title indicates, it's like a text book. There's more than just recipes, there's reference information, instruction on preparation and history. A very well rounded book.

...I've referred to this book over the years for technique and authenticity of Italian cooking...it is a wonderful book. I agree that it is on par with Julia Child's French cookbook. I've made many of the recipes and they are fabulous....the poached shrimp, easy and delicious...the grilled shrimp with flavored breadcrumbs is another favorite, the Lemon, garlic & parsley chicken cutlets is marvelous...her focaccia recipe is the best...fried tomatoes......I can go on and on. Ms. Hazan has given us a remarkable gift.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the depth of her knowledge of Italian cookery is amazing, on the other, the lack of specifics and inaccurate cooking times can be quite frustrating. This caveat should suffice: when making use of these recipes, make constant use of your tasting spoon!

I made Pasta e fagioli with fresh cranberry beans according to Ms. Hazan's recipe, and, because of Ms. Hazan's widely-acknowledged eminence, I followed her recipe precisely, something I rarely do, as I am an experienced cook. Her time for cooking the beans (45 minutes), left me with undercooked beans; they should have cooked for at least an hour and fifteen minutes, if not an hour and a half. No big deal, except I added the pasta at the point Ms. Hazan recommended.

I am sure that this book will be an invaluable resource to anyone who wants to learn Italian cooking, just make sure to test and modify these recipes as necessary ahead of time; following them as is can result in flubbed meals.

I have the WORST time ordering on Amazon.com. I ended up with two of these cookbooks (one new and one used). That was after I was told they were out of stock/unavailable. I DON'T want to pay to ship it back!! I have ordered from Amazon.com before and had problems. I will avoid this website in the future!

I love this book! It's very interesting! Come with good recipes and techniques! If your looking for a grilling book I really suggest this one! You'll be amaze of all the recipes it comes with and its has a good assortment of them.

This is not only a great book of recipes, but the high quality paper and the beautiful pictures make this a perfect coffee table book. Leaf through it when you have a few minutes to get inspired for the next grilled meal.

I cook for myself and I like to keep things simple. When I see interesting recipes that list two or three ingredients that I know I would never have at the same time, I cease to consider making that meal. Most recipes in this book list fairly basic ingredients that most kitchens would have on hand.

The author doesn't just use terms for techniques that many more experienced cooks would know, but gives a little detail on how to do the procedure for the novice. Besides the recipes, many topics on basics are covered in the front of the book. Humor is used on occasion, which can lighten the mood for the harried grill-master with hungry guests to feed.

I liked this book so much, I purchased two more for friends who don't eat to live, but live to eat.

This is a great guide to a first time owner of a Weber Grill.The recipes are easy to make and the tips and anecdotle information are great!!!

I have to bow down to this book as the best grilling book EVER. We've tried many of the recipes and never been disappointed. Plus, it's entertaining to read with great pictures. Can't ask for much more than that.

this is a great book for anyone who loves to cook for friends and family. you will lean so much from this book. egg replacers milk and butter replacers. but most of all these are easy and delicious foods to make

This book is a wonderful book for any baker, vegan or not. It begins with an introduction by the author, the always eloquent Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, on how she came to veganism. Following that is the first chapter, which is devoted to the methods of vegan baking - what ingredients to use in place of eggs and dairy products. This section alone is worth the price of the book. Finally, we get to the recipes! Included are recipes for muffins, scones, biscuits, cakes, pies, bread, sauces, and more. Amongst the recipes are tips for getting your creations to turn out beautifully. The last sections are appendices, which include a guide to stocking your pantry plus resources, and three indices. There is truly a lot of information packed into this book.

I have made the banana chocolate chip muffins, bran muffins, pumpkin spice bread, apple cake, and whole wheat bread. All were delicious. I definitely recommend reading each recipe carefully and following the directions exactly. This is important to do when baking anything, but I find that I need to pay extra attention since vegan baking is not the normal method of baking for me. Of course with this cookbook, I fully expect vegan baking to become the normal way for me!

Whether you choose to be vegan, enjoy trying new ways of cooking - OR cooking for friends - this cookbook is GREAT! Filled with practical recipes and tips, everyone can benefit from it. I've made 3-4 recipes and each one is outstanding - with rave reviews from those who sampled them. I bought two other vegan cookbooks at the same time- this one (hands down) is the best!

Such a great cookbook for anyone, vegan or otherwise. The recipes taste the same and even better then their non-vegan counterparts. Personally I love the Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, The Chocolate Cake, the German Apple cake, and the list goes on. Your family and or spouse will really enjoy this book!

This cookbook is the one item that made me feel truly capable to cook and bake vegan. I love these recipes- I've made quite a few and have only had it for two weeks. Colleen has lots of useful tips and interesting tid-bits about the history of different recipes and ingredients. I think this is a must for any vegan!

Bought this as a gift for my sister. Loved it so much didn't want to give it to her. Went and bought another one for myself. Great "Ultimate" cookie cookbook.

Betty Crocker's Cooky Book is one of my favorite books. I purchased my original copy in 1967 and have used it for YEARS. All the receipes bring back memories of Christmas holiday baking with all the "children" who were a part of our lives for 40 years. Thank you for letting me find another copy of this book.

This book is full of precious memories for me. I can not remember a Christmas or occasion that my mother didn't pull this Cooky book out and flip threw it with me looking for the perfect cookies to bake. I'd spend days in the kitchen with my mother baking the most wonderful smelling and tasting cookies in the world to me. I'm now 33 and still flip threw this book finding cookies to bake for all occasions with my mother and friends. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants easy to make great cookies and great memories with family.

I bought Betty Crocker Cooky Book for my daughters recently. My mother first used this book in the 1960s and I got a copy to use with my children. Now they are grown and will use the cook book for making all kinds of cookies with their children. It's a must have for anyone who likes to bake (and eat!) cookies.

Ginny

I have baked cookies from the recipes in this book for over 40 years and have given as gifts to friends and relatives at least 25 copies. The cookie recipes are classic and will tempt every cookie eater.