Good Housekeeping Cookbook, The
Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.
1963
Library of Congress Catalog Card# 63-15315
805
Too old to know
It seems that almost everyone needs a good general cookbook at some point in their life and this one is my favourite. When you get your first house/apartment you may want to start entertaining. And when you do, you might need to know how to make that special dish, or need some good strategies for shopping, or need to know how to carve a roast or turkey, or even how to put together a dinner for a whole family, etc. When you face your first big kitchen test on your own, it will hit you just how little you really know about all of the aspects of cooking, and your first general knowledge cookbook will quickly become your trusted companion.
Whatever general knowledge cookbook you end up getting for yourself or getting from your parents as you head out into the world, do yourself a favour and really read it! You do not have to go over the details of every recipe, but at leat take the time to read through all of the sections on technique, ingredients, and kitchen equipment.
Foreward
How To Use Our Index
How To Use Our Recipes
Cook's Vocabulary
How We Measure
Family Meals
When Company Comes
Family Weight-Watching
When You Go Marketing
The Best of Susan
Good Beginnings
Dips, Dunks & Nibblers
Soups and Chowders
The Story of Meats
Poultry
When He Carves
Fish
Shellfish
Game
Stuffings
Cheese
Eggs - Plain and Fancy
Rice
The Macaroni Family
Vegetables That Say "More"
Relishes and Garnishes
Salads
Salad Dressings
Favourite Quick Breads
Breads and Rolls You Buy
Delectable Yeast Breads
Let's Have Sandwiches
To Sauce the Dish
Wonderful Ways with Fruits
Dreamy Desserts
Pies That Please
Ice Creames and Sherbets
Our Best Cakes
Fillings and Frostings
For the Cookie Jar
Sweets To Make
Drinks - Hot and Cold
When There Is Wine
Freezing, Canning, and Jelly Making
Cooking for a Crowd
The Bountiful Barbecue
Index
By now you have probably figured out that I like this book and you may be wondering why it only got a 7 out of 10. That is because I have not found a general knowledge book that can do it all. This one is the best I have found but it still does not do it all.
Before Good Housekeeping my favourite general knowledge book was Joy of Cooking. I still have my copy and even go through it now and then, but it has not made it back onto my general use shelf.
I feel that the writing of the recipes is better and easier to follow in Good Housekeeping and that the amount and detail of general kitchen and preparation knowledge is invaluable to the serious home cook.
Now remember that the book that I am reviewing was published in 1963. I have not looked at the newer editions and I know that there is even an illustrated version of the book for food porn lovers, but I have always leaned a bit more to the technical side and in most cases a good description of a process or a finished plating is enough. Everyone is different.
But if you find yourself looking for that perfect gift for a kid heading off to college or a couple getting married, get them a good general knowledge cookbook and a couple of really nice knives. Several years down the road, your gifts will be the ones that are still being used and treasured.
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I do not know if you can easily find an old copy of this book, but a quick google search turns up several 2007 revisions for under $20.
My husband gave me this cook book soon after we were married in 1964. Long story, but my copy is GONE! I have been in a nursing home for 5 1/2 years and will be moving into an apartment soon. I will be cooking again, and would LOVE to find a reasonably priced copy of this book. One site offered it in near mint condition for $40, but that price is a little steep for me. Does anyone know where I can find it? Thanks for having it up here. I have all the details on it now along with the Catalog Card #. That could help me in my search. But if anyone there can help me, it would be appreciated!
Maddy