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Respected Contributor
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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

My recipe box, filled with all the recipes I got from my mom and grandmother. Whenever I see a new recipe online, or get one from a friend, I add it to the box.

I have a few cookbooks, but I don't use them much.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero
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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

ethnic cookbook: FOOD OF LIFE

basic cookbook: BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

specialty: ESSENTIAL SOUP RECIPES and ROTISSERIE CHICKENS TO THE RESCUE

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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein
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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

Mine is a mix of Taste of Home, got a bunch of those and a bunch of Gooseberry Patch. But I got some books that allowed me to narrow down my favorites from these two main versions. I love tried and true one. So my narrowing down cookbooks are favorites.

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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

Not many copies still around and those that are are now very expensive. But I still have my old copy of Mrs. S.R. Dull's cookbook from the 1940's, and it's the best. There weren't any crock pots in those days, and no microwaves, but she lays it all out so that anyone can use it today and do well.

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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

On 4/28/2014 Perkup said:

Not many copies still around and those that are are now very expensive. But I still have my old copy of Mrs. S.R. Dull's cookbook from the 1940's, and it's the best. There weren't any crock pots in those days, and no microwaves, but she lays it all out so that anyone can use it today and do well.

Perk, I haven't heard of this before, but now my interest is perked. What all can you tell us about S.R. Dull and what are some of your favorites from this cookbook. Wonder if Amazon carries it?

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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

On 4/28/2014 Perkup said:

Not many copies still around and those that are are now very expensive. But I still have my old copy of Mrs. S.R. Dull's cookbook from the 1940's, and it's the best. There weren't any crock pots in those days, and no microwaves, but she lays it all out so that anyone can use it today and do well.

Perk, I haven't heard of this before, but now my interest is perked. What all can you tell us about S.R. Dull and what are some of your favorites from this cookbook. Wonder if Amazon carries it? Did just find some (3) of hers on Amazon.

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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

When I got married 45 years ago my grandmother gave me the cook book her mother had given her when she got married in 1920. I still use it as it has great suggestions for menus and a reference section that teaches everything you need to know about cooking meat, poultry and fish. All about how to cook them, season them and how long top cook them - plus the meats - it goes all into explaining all the different cuts and how to prepare them, which ones are tender or not etc. This book is truly a great tutorial for the new bride. It is titled"cooking for American Homemakers". Of course it is outdated in many ways but it still is my go to when I don't know how to cook something or temperature and time to cook anything. It was originally published in 1916 - so my book is almost an antique. It is well worn and used so it looks 100 years old but it hasn't fallen apart yet.

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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

When I'm stumped or looking for a good old fashioned...anything, it's the Joy of Cooking. It was the first cookbook I received in 1977. The binding is cracked, many pages are stained, but I still use it. For many everyday 'what can I do with chicken NOW' type queries, I use the internet. Food Network, allrecipes, Epicurious.

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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

Oh gosh! I don't really have a go to all purpose one. I use King Arthur or Williams-Sonoma baking books the most probably for baking; Martha Stewart Cooking School, Mark Bittman How to Cook Everything, or even Betty Crocker 1972, OR a Southern Living Best Recipes for general items such as veggies and meats; and Gourmet and Bon Appetit for other new ideas. I also like several of Jacques Pepin's and look there.

I am constantly updating how we eat. We used to eat a lot of canned veggies, but now almost all are fresh and a few frozen. We use to boil or nuke them, now we steam or roast or nuke them. We eat a lot of Asian or Indian foods too, so those spices and techniques are new (I cook a lot of spinach and add a little yogurt and spice to it).

Cooking is an adventure modified by new findings on foods, new foods available, and new books out. I would hate to go back to the way we ate 15 year ago! It was plain meat and veggies, and pretty boring! And we used to eat Chinese out a lot--now we make it better at home!

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Re: What Is Your ""Go-To"" Cookbook for General Purposes?

On 4/28/2014 house cat said:
On 4/28/2014 cindyinfl said:

My all time favorite cookbook(s) are from Gooseberry Patch- I have most all of them , and every recipe I've ever needed was in one of those books. I cook a lot in my crock pot, and GP has tons of good crock pot recipes. I have over 100 recipes books, but I always turn to these. Some of my other cookbooks haven't been opened in years!

I can't order all of them (wish I could), so I was trying to decide. I think I've settled on the hardcover version of Big Book of Family Recipes. Do you have this one? Is there another favorite I should start with? Thank you.

Yes, I have Big Book of Family Recipes. It is an excellent cookbook. Did you look at the Gooseberry Patch website itself? Often, they run sales on their cookbooks, plus they also have a lot of recipes posted there. I buy a lot of my GP off EBay. since I crock pot cook a lot, I use the slow cooker cookbooks (GP offers many relating to slow cooking). Good luck, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Glad I could introduce them to you. Once you're hooked, you're hooked!