# Cookbook Suggestions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions/461903>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 3, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions/461903 "2008-09-03T20:42:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions/461903/21 "2008-09-07T20:48:05Z")

</div>

> [@Athena](#):
>
> I’m partial to anything by Cook’s Illustrated, whether it be their magazines or cookbooks or website. I think the best bang for the buck is the website - at $20/year or so, it gives you access to all their recipes. But don’t skip the accompanying articles. They’re great at not just recipes, but telling you why they do the things they do.
> 
> They do have ethnic recipes, and they tend to be tasty but not necessarily authentic. On the other hand, you can usually make them without mail-ordering ingredients from Bangladesh (or wherever). CI does a good job at coming up with recipes that can be made from a standard grocery store. Depending on your taste, you may want to up the seasoning on the ethnic recipes.

Agreed.  
The tv show, and website, for [Americs’a Test Kitchen](http://www.americastestkitchen.com/) are good sources of recipes and information. They’re hooked up with C I.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions/461903/22 "2008-09-08T09:11:22Z")

</div>

I’m going to third the Cook’s Illustrated / America’s Test Kitchen suggestions. Some of my best cooking endeavours have been possible thanks to these two sources.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions/461903/23 "2008-09-08T16:35:11Z")

</div>

I strongly recommend Nigel Slater’s _Appetite_ for relaxed, interesting, and delicious recipes. I’m not sure it’s an utter beginner’s cookbook- maybe second level- but nothing he makes is difficult.

And Laurie Colwin. Her two cookbooks. They’re amazing.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions/461903.md?page=1)