How to Cook Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Food

Rating:
Summary: Like a less tasty, minimalist version of Joy of Cooking
Review: It's a good book as far as reference and simplicity goes; for beginning or light-hearted cooks this is a fine reference book. But for me, as an amateur foodie and someone who likes to cook a lot, it's just not good enough to stand against Joy of Cooking (updated version), due to factors of both selection and taste:

Whenever I'm surfing recipies (like say I get a gift basket of peaches and I'm trying to come up with creative ways to do peaches), Joy of Cooking usually has better choices. In fact, sometimes I may be looking for some specific recipe and "How..." won't even have it (e.g., Pineapple Upside Down cake)--but I will then find it in Joy of Cooking.

And, I have to agree with the newspaper reviewer above about taste--most of the recipes in How to... just turn out OK flavor-wise. Compare, say, apple pie recipies from this book and Joy of Cooking and the Joy recipies just turn out tastier.

The main thing How to... DOES have going for it is simplicity, which also probably explains the taste issue. Bittman's whole thing is "minimalist cooking" so his recipies are almost across the board pretty simple, and the same holds true in How to... Recipies for the same dishes will be easier to make here than in Joy and other cookbooks. So, maybe you'd call this a minimalist, or "beginner" version of Joy of Cooking as far as being a general cooking reference book.

If you're looking for a simple reference book for the occasional and not too serious (or fussy) home cook, this will be fine. The reference material (cooking techniques, info about different meats or what have you) is extensive. Personally though, I think it's worth it to go with Joy and occasionally challenge yourself once in a while.

Rating:
Summary: It fell apart
Review: I really like this cookbook and use it as much as The Joy of Cooking. However, my "Joy" is holding up very well after about 25 years of use, "How to Cook Everything", which I have in hardback, started falling apart within the first year. And after about 3 years of use, it is basically just a bunch of loose pages stuffed into the book cover. This is not what you want in a cookbook. "Boo" to the publishers, IDG Books, for doing such a shoddy job with a good cookbook.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite, most-used cookbook
Review: This is the best cookbook I own. It has almost every recipe that I need and the recipes are very simple and straight-forward. Also, and most importantly, the recipes consistently "work" and turn out! I own many other cookbooks that offer mixed results and dispointments.

This is a solid cookbook that is wonderful for anyone that needs a comprehensive reference cookbook on Everything!

Rating:
Summary: A must have in every kitchen!
Review: This is my cooking bible, I use it constantly! The recipes are extremely easy to follow and delicious. When I want to try something new, I flip through and always find something interesting. Or if I have a question about a cooking term or technique, I always turn to this trusty guide. It is an excellent resource for both beginner and more experienced cooks.

I read the book and I thought, this doesn't sound too bad but I found myself miserable. I just was frustrated after a week....it was very regimented. I did benefit by eliminating my coffee habit with the help of a wonderful coffee substitute called soyfe e (www.soyc offee.co m) Its made from soybeans which is a godsend for those trouble with hot flashes like myself. Another book I bought was the South Beach Diet book. I read that book and found the plan to be made up of things I would eat and the items were normal grocery store items so no hunting at the health food stores or buying online.

The book is very easy to use and includes a helpful index, glossary, and sample menu pages. If I could only have one cookbook, this would be it hands down!