JOY OF COOKING by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker
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Book Reviews of JOY OF COOKING
Book Review: The best cookbook ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
On my 16th birthday, I received a copy of this cookbook from my father. The book is now missing a front cover and is beginning to show some serious wear and tear. It is rife with highlighting and some pages are stained, but I COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT IT! I use it at least once a week, sometimes just to get suggestions for the week's menus. I have learned everything from this book, from making delicious hash browns to creating cuinary masterpeices like Plum Pudding. I have learned a lot about the basics of cooking, like spices and ingredients, and also simple things like the difference between poaching and blanching.
The team of Rombauer and Becker have thoroughly researched their recepies and I like knowing that they have tried every one of them. If you are just starting out in the cooking realm, this is the one book I would reccommend for purchase. In fact, it is the gift I usually give for wedding presents, along with a slection of spices and some good quality wooden spoons. If I were on that Survivor show, this would be one of the items that I would take with me, along with the Boy Scout handbook.
Book Review: Your only Cookbook
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was growing up my mom always cooked from this cook book. Some of my favorite meals, that she made, came from this book. After I left home, and I've been gone a long time now, I started to buy cook books. I have a large selection of them, but the one thing I noticed was that when I made the recipes from them they were never like my moms. I was walking through the cook book section of our local book store one day and I saw the Joy of Cooking cook book and then remembered that she always used that one and bought it. All "her" wonderful recipes are in there and it's been very nostalgic for me to make them and have them again.
She was a school teacher who retired. She moved down to Mexico because we had vacationed there for years and she has always loved it down there. She was limited in the items that she could take and when we were helping her pack, she gave me all her cook books except the Joy of Cooking. She said if you have the Joy of Cooking you don't need anything else. Whatever you want to make, it's in there. She's so right and I cherish my copy of it.
Book Review: The Old Reliable
Summary: 5 Stars
My father is an excellent cook by birth and grace; I have to work at it. The 1936 edition of this cookbook (which he still has, rebound in leather) is still his #1 cookbook. The 1975 edition is still mine. I have over 100 cookbooks, but other than Julia Child's landmark work and specialty ethnic cookbooks, this is the one.
It may offer more detail, explanation, and recipes than you will ever use (even most Southerners don't cook 'possum anymore!) but, beginners, persevere! The key for absolute beginners who've been raised on fast food and microwaves: block out some time to read the introductory and general chapters FIRST. Then you will have the framework to use the book as it was intended to be used. And it will pay big dividends. So you think some recipes are old fashioned . .. so skip those, and concentrate on her excellent recipes for grilling fish and poultry, vegetables, etc. (Personally, I like to have the old fashioned cooking available for "comfort food" when I'm sick and tired of chi-chi nouvelle with no sustenance to it.)
Book Review: My friend and confidant in the kitchen
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the only cookbook I have ever bought for myself. I was just learning how to cook and heard about this book. We have been good friends for almost half my life now ...bought the 1982 printing ... in 1982 :). My friend is a bit stained and yellowed and the cover is starting to become unattached. I will more than likely buy a new copy of JOC.
I am accounted an amazing cook by all my friends and family. I swear it isn't me but my faithful friend Joy of Cooking who should be getting all the praise. I have learned so much from this book. The chapters that teach the why's and how to's of cooking have been instrumental in helping me achieve a deep knowledge of cooking. I think my favorite chapter is the one that discusses herbs and the flavor notes that they add to foods. That chapter also teaches when to add those herbs for the best flavor.
I won't be without Joy of Cooking it is the most exceptional cookbook I have. I have others ... their pages are pristine and white. They are completely unused and lonely.
Book Review: The Real One
Summary: 5 Stars
Thank goodness they didn't drop this classic from the market when they brought out their so-called "New Joy of Cooking".This is the book. This is the one book that ought to be in every kitchen. And, despite readers' comments on the quality of the spiral-bound edition, if you can't afford the hardcover, *buy* the spiral-bound and upgrade to the HC when you can.
You must have this book in your kitchen. ((After this one, get "The Pirate's Pantry", a Lake Charles, Louisiana Junior League cookbook))
Not only does this book tell you how to *cook* things, it has sections that tell you *why* you cook certain things in a certain way and certain things differently.
It covers the most elementary of basics in clear and concise language, and goes on from there to more complex and difficult cooking. And, unlike many, it covers aspects of cooking that you may never need -- but then again, someday you may - things like cooking wild game and other non-everyday occurences.
Best cookbook inna whole flippin' world.
Buy it.