Betty Crocker's Cookbook

In 1976, I put this book on layaway at Alco in Roswell, NM, along with cloth diapers, yellow and green baby clothes and booties -- back in the days before credit cards, sonograms and gender reveals. I made my micro payments regularly. They added no additional charges and there was no cut-off date either; their remarkable policy was "as long as you make regular payments on your layaway." It was a thrill when months later I made the last $10 payment and had all the precious things I had so carefully planned and selected.

By then I had also saved enough S&H Green Stamps to buy a Oster blender for my plan to make homemade baby food after I had stopped nursing. In the late 70s my choices weren't the norm, but I didn't care. It was precious show more times with my first baby.

It was the only cookbook I had for many years. If a recipe wasn't in it, I called my mom. I called my mom a lot for her help and advice. She had gotten extremely smart by then. ;)

I'm vegan now, and in countless ways things have changed. Me and my book both have seen better days. As an ode to those years, to my mom's help, and to my baby who has grown up to love eating her vegetables, my ragged copy sits still on my shelf.

My favorite recipe? Steak Diane! For special occasions. show less

My first cook book, purchased for a quarter at a garage sale while moving into my first apartment. I still have my copy, and use it. The standard basic cooking instruction manual necessary in any kitchen, much like a good frying pan or paring knife.

I would have to say that this has been one of the best investments of my adult life, considering the original price, amount of useful and practical information and instruction, and years of service. Well, that and the fifty cent Revere Ware tea kettle I purchased around the same time frame and still using today.

Recommended for all first time householders and anyone who wants to learn how to cook.

For new and experienced cooks, I highly recommend Betty Crocker's basic cookbooks for one giant reason: the authors test the recipes in their kitchens, re-test, and then send them to home cooks. The result is easy to follow, foolproof recipes for a few people or double or triple them for a crowd. They make terrific gifts, too, and are available on the used book market, often in pristine condition, not like my original from 1980 that is falling apart and stained.

Although I have many, many cookbooks.. way beyond what I have added. This is the go to cookbook for the everyday favorites. Nothing compares to this for your "Comfort Food" catagory. My all-time favorites include: Meatloaf, New England Pot Roast, Pot Roast in Foil, Pork Chops (perfect) and my Turkey Stuffing comes from here too! Who would know!! Its been updated, revised and I love my tattered old copy!

Pretty good and informative. Some recipes don't hold out though. Maybe it's dem new ovens but for most of the pies the temperature and timing was way off so I had to follow Joy of Baking's instructions instead.

Of the over a couple of dozen cookbooks in our shelves, this general cookbook is one of the ones we've used the most over the years, certainly in the top four. The section tabs make it very easy to find recipes and the Special Helps section and inside covers make sure useful information is at your fingertips.

I really like to cook, and this revised edition has a ton of delicious recipes. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to cook as much as I do.