Great Cooking Ideas

Rating:
Summary: Throw away your cookbooks ...
Review: ...This is the only one you'll ever need.

Well, sort of. Hattie Carter's "Great Cooking Ideas," this phone book-sized MONSTER is FILLED BEYOND BELIEF with easy-to-make appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, stews, desserts, beverages, breads and tons of other things ... Quite a selection, considering this is probably the ugliest cookbook I've ever seen.

First released in the 1970s, the book itself is deceiving -- It looks like it could have been found thrown in a bin at Woolworth's, right next to the dollar crossword/word search books. It, literally, looks like a GIANT coloring book (that is, the 1978 edition, which I own). Black ink on colored newsprint, funky clip-art-like illustrations, using a simple LARGE Helvetica/Univers as the font (each recipe takes up 1-2 pages, 574 pages total) this collection is more utilitarian than anything else.

But the recipes -- this is the gold.

Just about everything I've tried -- from the German Meat Balls to the Jambalaya to the Sukiyaki came out great. Expertly seasoned, even "secret" ingredients (like chocolate in the Mexican Chili) and complete dinner serving suggestions are included. Ever try a new recipe from a new cookbook and it just doesn't work? These all nail it. Chicken with Olives is my favorite (and I add a bit more olives than the recipe calls for) and the Italian Beef Stew served with polenta leaves an aroma in the kitchen that just makes you want to devour your supper (remember to use a good quality sausage!).

I occasionally see old beat-up copies of this book -- in thrift or antique stores -- and my advice is: if you can snag a copy, grab it. Backorder this one today -- if you love cooking, there's something inside for everyone. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Throw away your cookbooks ...
Review: ...This is the only one you'll ever need.

Well, sort of. Hattie Carter's "Great Cooking Ideas," this phone book-sized MONSTER is FILLED BEYOND BELIEF with easy-to-make appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, stews, desserts, beverages, breads and tons of other things ... Quite a selection, considering this is probably the ugliest cookbook I've ever seen.

First released in the 1970s, the book itself is deceiving -- It looks like it could have been found thrown in a bin at Woolworth's, right next to the dollar crossword/word search books. It, literally, looks like a GIANT coloring book (that is, the 1978 edition, which I own). Black ink on colored newsprint, funky clip-art-like illustrations, using a simple LARGE Helvetica/Univers as the font (each recipe takes up 1-2 pages, 574 pages total) this collection is more utilitarian than anything else.

But the recipes -- this is the gold.

Just about everything I've tried -- from the German Meat Balls to the Jambalaya to the Sukiyaki came out great. Expertly seasoned, even "secret" ingredients (like chocolate in the Mexican Chili) and complete dinner serving suggestions are included. Ever try a new recipe from a new cookbook and it just doesn't work? These all nail it. Chicken with Olives is my favorite (and I add a bit more olives than the recipe calls for) and the Italian Beef Stew served with polenta leaves an aroma in the kitchen that just makes you want to devour your supper (remember to use a good quality sausage!).

I occasionally see old beat-up copies of this book -- in thrift or antique stores -- and my advice is: if you can snag a copy, grab it. Backorder this one today -- if you love cooking, there's something inside for everyone. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Cookbook
Review: I LOVE this cookbook. The recipes are the best. It is my favorite cookbook.