 | How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques by Steven Raichlen
Buy new: $13.62 / Used from: $4.90 Barbecue cookery: While not selected as one of the James Beard Foundation's top 20 essential cookbooks, I recommend this book over their pick, 'The Thrill of the Grill' by Christopher Schlesinger and John Willoughby (2002), since this book addresses both charcoal *and* gas grills. Also, I believe that the recipes are more realistic.
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 | Microwave Gourmet by Barbara Kafka
Buy used from: $2.99 Microwave cookery: I used to cook with my microwave all of the time, but less so now that I've become more serious about cooking. Kakfa, however, demonstrates that you can cook sophisticated dishes using this common appliance.
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 | Fix-it And Forget-it Cookbook by Dawn J Ranck
Buy new: $15.25 / Used from: $2.97 Slow electric cookery: A runaway bestseller at Wal-Mart. I trust the collective cooking wisdom of moms living in the Midwest, so this is my core slow cooker cookbook for now.
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 | Everyday Food: Great Food Fast by Martha Stewart Living Magazine
Buy new: $16.47 / Used from: $7.95 Seasonal cookery 1: Martha and her team write another winner. This book features 'quick and easy' recipes organized by season, which is a helpful format for those wanting to take advantage of the local farmer's market. Trust me: these are simple, mouth-watering recipes!"
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 | Simply In Season/Out of Print (World Community Cookbook) by Mary Beth Lind
Buy used from: $9.91 Seasonal cookery 2: This cookbook has developed a cult following. It is organized by season and features simple recipes appropriate for weeknight family suppers. The information about proper storage of fruits and vegetables is alone worth the price of the book!
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 | Always Superb: Recipes for Every Occasion by The Junior Leagues of Minneapolis and St
Buy new: $29.95 / Used from: $2.00 Local: Order a cookbook from your local Junior League. Junior Leagues are charities and often publish cookbooks for fund-raising. Think of these as a type of community-wide 'church' cookbook that can quickly zero you on to regional favorites.
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 | The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender's Craft by Gary Regan
Buy new: $19.80 / Used from: $17.80 Cocktails. (Comments coming soon.)
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 | On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee
Buy new: $26.40 / Used from: $20.92 Cooking science 1 ('Why'): Understandable cooking science reference. Learn the hows and whys of food and cooking. Alton Brown of the Food Network is an acolyte of both McGee and Corriher (below).
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 | Cookwise: The Secrets of Cooking Revealed by Shirley O. Corriher
Buy new: $25.19 / Used from: $20.76 Cooking science 2 ('Why'): Another beloved cooking science book. Both Corriher and McGee are considered to be at the top of their field.
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 | The New Food Lover's Companion by Sharon Tyler Herbst
Buy new: $11.55 / Used from: $5.61 General reference. A good, pocket-sized food dictionary for looking up all of those obscure food and cooking terms. Read my critical review, though. JB
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