Must have US cookbooks?

The one I have has interesting sounding recipes like Salmon Wiggle and Peanut Scrapple, and useful information on how to cope with a dinner party without a maid!

That sounds great! I have one I found at a sale somewhere of recipes by American "socialites" of the '30s. The recipes aren't much use, but the profiles of the ladies are hysterical!

I think what bugs me about Rachael Ray is that she has so many recipes that I could have come up with, and I'm far from being clever in the kitchen (I'm quite good as long as I've got a recipe!) I saw her when I was last over there and she was making some sort of "stacked guacamole" or something ridiculous like that - it was layers of avocado, tomato, onions, all piled on a plate. I couldn't stop laughing. Hell I could write a cookbook afterall!!!

I'm on my second copy of Better Homes and Gardens.    I wore one out.  I also use Fanny Farmer a lot for things like roasting times, traditional recipes and that kind of information.

I have a totally charming book called the American Woman's Cookbook, dating from the 1930s. It has lots of basic recipes that are very useful and, of course, it's brilliant when you want to go retro.

I have a paperback called Cooking the American Way from the '60s that I found at a carboot sale when I first moved here.  It helped so much with homesickness since it had American recipes using British measurements and ingredients and also had excelllent conversion charts and lists of alternative names for things-this was before the internet.

I'm glad I'm not in the States to witness her meteoric rise.

It's insane, actually.  You can't turn around without seeing her face on a box of something.  This is in addition to her own magazine (but who doesn't these days?) and all the TV shows.  She's either desperate for the attention, or knows her 15 minutes will be up shortly and is cashing in as much as possible.

On another note... I always like the Junior League cookbooks.  I know there are several "Best Of" ones floating around, in addition to the regional ones.

Has anyone seen Food and Travel magazine? It's a travel and food magazine all in one!!  I could do without all of the ads but I really enjoyed it and a good 2 for 1! At £42 for 12 issues, the subscription is a bit too steep for me though.

I almost forgot the Silver Palate cookbook!! I don't think I could survive without it!

I almost forgot the Silver Palate cookbook!! I don't think I could survive without it!

Wow, I forgot that one as well!  And a couple more:

Moosewood Restaurant Cooks At Home.  Actually, any of the Moosewood books are fabulous.  Mmm... I'm hungry just thinking about it.

I  Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris.  Useful AND funny.

Moosewood Restaurant Cooks At Home.  Actually, any of the Moosewood books are fabulous.  Mmm... I'm hungry just thinking about it.

Yes!!! I have one of the Moosewood cookbooks, too!! It's great!

My guilty confession: my 2nd most battered cookbook is my White Trash Cooking cookbook. The 1st most battered cookbook is my own homemade one, with all my handpicked/family/friends recipes. It's a 2 ring binder with the pages put into those plastic viewer things.

I love the Moosewood cookbooks. I really miss mine.

I agree with Moosewood, and anything by Marsha Adams (Cooking from Quilt Country is fabulous). You also might want a book called Mexican Family Cooking by Aida Gabilando (not a famous book, but it RULES if you want real mexican food).

Since I've gone veggie, I really like Indian food. There are loads of those around.

I find those church cookbooks are full of vile, fatty concoctions involving cream-of-something soups and Velveeta cheese. Eww.

I find those church cookbooks are full of vile, fatty concoctions involving cream-of-something soups and Velveeta cheese. Eww.

LOL!!  I agree. Any cookbook that uses cream-of-something soups is worthy of the bin!

I gave my Moosewood cookbook to my sister when we started moving around.  I do miss it.

LOL!!  I agree. Any cookbook that uses cream-of-something soups is worthy of the bin!

Actually, these kinds of recipes are a godsend to a single parent w/a full time job outside the home in addition to parenting duties.  These recipes are quick, easy, inexpensive, and filling.  Most can be modified to make them a bit healthier as well.  I try to cook more healthily as much as I can, but sometimes time constraints and money constraints mean that we eat what we can....

I agree with NO Rachael Ray. She bugs me beyond words. And whenever I see her I can't help but be throughly unimpressed with whatever she's making....

She irks me the way that Nate guy, interior decorator does.

Smug as a rat with a mouthful of cheese.

Actually, these kinds of recipes are a godsend to a single parent w/a full time job outside the home in addition to parenting duties.  These recipes are quick, easy, inexpensive, and filling.  Most can be modified to make them a bit healthier as well.  I try to cook more healthily as much as I can, but sometimes time constraints and money constraints mean that we eat what we can....

I'll second that.  It's hard to find things you can either afford to make or have the time and energy to make and somedays every little thing helps.