Last week I told you about one of my favorite food magazines, Cook’s Illustrated. Wandering the aisles of the library, I discovered a cookbook that was developed from the magazine.
It’s called The Cook’s Bible: The Best of American Home Cooking. It’s by Christopher Kimball, the founder and editor of Cook’s Illustrated. (Published in 1996)
The book is written the same way the magazine is – very systematically. Mr. Kimball takes ordinary, basic dishes and tests every aspect to give the reader the perfect recipe. There is everything, really everything, here from ways to roast the perfect chicken to the perfect brownie.
There are fifty chapters and an extensive index. Each chapter is loaded with illustrations and charts. Here are a couple of examples:
- The chapter on How to Use Knives covers all the basic knives with pictures of how to hold the knife.
- I liked the Illustrated Guide to Shellfish. Did you know there are over 2,000 varieties of shrimp?
- I also liked The Secret of Yeast Breads: Do you have to proof the yeast and can you knead too much?
- In the Perfect Pie Crust the master recipe calls for cold butter and Crisco.
A novice cook would love this book. An old-time, experienced cook will love it too. This is definitely a food lover’s, well, bible. An excellent guide for good home cooking. I leave you with a quote from the front of the book.
Good home cooking demands the hospitality of a farmer,
the curiosity of a scientist,
the affection of a mother,
the hands of an artist,
and the enthusiasm of a child.
The Cook’s Bible
Talking about food is a regular feature on my blog and others as well. Visit Beth Fish Reads for other bloggers who are participating in Weekend Cooking.
That sounds like a fantastic cookbook! I bet it would make a great bridal shower gift.
I just can’t bring myself to use Crisco, or even look at it, actually!
The pie crust recipe sounds like my mother-in-law’s. I never could make it well until she showed me her secrets. Dave says nobody can beat my pie crust now.
Oh, have I mentioned my fondness for all things Cook’s Illustrated? I have to get ahold of a copy and take a look at this.
This sounds like a cookbook that should be in every kitchen! I’ll need to take a closer look at this one…
Sounds like a great cookbook. I’m often surprised by the kind of things you Americans eat. I’m sure this would tell me exactly what’s what and how to make it
(I’m Dutch by the way)
Wow! I love books like this, the essential guide to cooking. I too love to read about food, I’ll see if our library has a copy.
I agree with Kathy, great gift idea, and maybe as a house-warming gift too!
I”ve not heard of this book previously. Sounds interesting.
I wish I had grown up loving to cook then maybe I would really enjoy doing it!! This sounds like a book that I could certainly use!
Don’t you just love the Cook Illustrated books and magazine? I don’t have this one, but I think I see a purchase coming on! Thanks for convincing me I should buy it.
Sorry I was so late stopping by — I was out of town last week.