My favorite cookbook

Readers share their picks.

from the October 1, 2008 edition

I was raised on the Betty Crocker cookbooks and still use them a lot. However, my new and irreplaceable favorite is CookWise by Shirley O. Corriher. She provides info about the chemistry of preparing all kinds of foods, tells what goes wrong, and suggests remedies, and the recipes are unique, beautiful, and delicious. When I'm problem-solving for any recipe, I find myself reaching for this book again and again.– Kathy Hollenberg, Elkhart, Ind.

I enjoy Edward Espe Brown's cookbooks. My copy of The Tassajara Bread Book is tattered and stained from teaching me about breadmaking. His Tassajara Cooking brings quiet joy to the vegetable experience. These two books, along with his Tomato Blessings and Radish Teachings further my respect for wheat, beans, and rice and calmly explain how to sharpen knives and the simplest way to wash dishes. They also encourage fearlessness of butterfat and a celebratory attitude toward tomatoes.– Anita Alvarez Williams, Boulevard, Calif.

I enjoy the 1975 edition of Joy of Cooking, by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker. This is probably the best American cookbook ever written. The line drawings are helpful in following the simple yet explicit – and often amusing – instructions. It is an encyclopedia of food preparation, preservation, nutrition, and customs.– Yvette Sabin, Port Angeles, Wash.

My favorite cookbook is How to Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman, a New York Times food writer. It is not only comprehensive, as the title suggests, but also clear and informative with excellent tips. I use it frequently and have given several copies as gifts. It is a great book for younger as well as experienced cooks looking for a basic but contemporary guide to delicious and "unfussy" cooking. – Lynn Meng, Piscataway, N.J.

I love the cookbook The Garden of Vegan: How It All Vegan Again. I try to cook a lot of meals without using any animal products and I've found that the recipes in this book, and others written by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer, use familiar ingredients, are easy to make, and taste delicious.– Tempie Stahlin, Dexter, Mich.

My favorite "cookbook" is Cuisine at Home, a subscription magazine. It has excellent recipes, not too many of them, and they're always successful.– Linda Heaney, Washington, D.C.

Tell us about your favorite cookbook. E-mail food@csmonitor.com.