by Irma S. Rombauer
Get ready to cook to your heart’s content: a cookbook that’s got it all
Reviewed by: Beth Williams
About Beth Williams
Okay, get out that apron, roll up your sleeves and get ready to jump into one of the best, most comprehensive cookbooks out there. Now, I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the greatest in the kitchen; some might even say that I loathe cooking, but “The Joy of Cooking” is a simple, straightforward guide to making every dish imaginable from soups to main courses to delicious desserts. It’s definitely shown me that cooking and baking can be fun once you get the hang of it.
“The Joy of Cooking” is a massive book of over a thousand pages featuring a ton of recipes. But, the outstanding feature of this cookbook is it offers so much more than recipes. Each chapter is devoted to a different area of cooking with reference material presented before a series of recipes. In the vegetable section, for example, author Irma Rombauer discusses how to buy and keep vegetables fresh in addition to how to prepare and cook them. There are also various instructional sketches including how to chop an onion.
Sections range from meat, poultry and fish (all with chapters of their own) to main courses, pastas and breads. All include sketches and in-depth discussions about the particular food. This is an added bonus for someone who is a cooking novice because all the questions you’ll probably have are right at your fingertips.
The best section of all, at least in my opinion, has to be the dessert section which is filled with chapters of recipes for cookies, pastries, pies and tarts and cakes, cupcakes and tortes. My favorite recipe is for peanut butter cookies. Something simple and great with a tall glass of milk. And, one day when I have some confidence, I’m determined to try the lady fingers. So, whether you’re a novice or an old pro in the kitchen, you’ve got an array of recipes to try.
Another added feature of “The Joy of Cooking” is the section called “Know Your Ingredients.” This includes British-American conversions and vice-versa as well as charts detailing the “Nutrient Composition of Foods and Ingredients.” It’s pretty interesting to just peruse the chart and learn the nutritional value and calories of different dishes.
I find myself struggling, unable to really do justice to the enormity and all the benefits of “The Joy of Cooking.” This is really an amazing cookbook that offers a full-range of dishes. This is a great starter cookbook, for someone who is hesitant in the kitchen (much like me). And it’s a great cookbook for those who love to try different things.
Happy Reading!
Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: The All New All Purpose Joy of Cooking
Copyright © by Beth Williams, 2003
Reviewed by Beth Williams:
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