The Best Cookbook for Every Situation

The holidays are around the corner, and with them come lots and lots of food. If you need some inspiration for your family potluck or want to try your hand at something new, We have hundreds of cookbooks at the library for you to browse.

Below we’ve listed eight cookbooks that are useful for different situations. Borrow them from our shelves and jot down or take a photo of your favorite recipes. Put your own creative spin on some of these 

Best All-Around Cookbook: Better Homes & Garden’s New Cook Book

The 17th version of the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book is the best one yet. The book offers more than 1,000 recipes, covering traditional dishes and new favorites.

“Everybody needs the classic cookbook that’s going to tell them to make the recipes we’ve made all our lives,” says Iowa cookbook author Wini Moranville, a recent guest of the DMPL Podcast. “If I want to know how to cook a roast, I know that when I open this cookbook to the meats chapter, it’s going to tell me how to do that. It’s going to be reliable.” Though she didn’t work on this new edition of the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, she says she’s assisted on prior versions. The new edition, she says, has a completely new layout with more short nuggets and visuals.

“Plus, you know the recipes will work,” says Moranville. “I’ve spent time at the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen. They don’t put that seal of approval on it until the recipe works.”

Best Cookbook to use While Shopping: Fix-It and Forget-It: Healthy 5-Ingredient Cookbook, by Hope Comerford
Lots of shopping is done online these days, but it’s still fun to hit the brick and mortar stores for a full day of browsing and buys. If you need a meal you can just set and forget while you’re gone for the day, this is the cookbook for you. Grab it from the library and jot down the meals you want to simmer while you’re gone for 8-12 hours.

Best Cookbook for Decor Tips: The Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook
This is more than just a cookbook. In addition to appetizers, pot luck recipes, and dazzling desserts, the Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook also offers decoration ideas and tips as well as gift ideas for the food lovers in your life.

Best Cookbook for Beginners: The How to Cook Everything Series, by Mark Bittman
Mark Bittman spent more than two decades writing for The New York Times as a food columnist. He’s since taken his expertise and created the popular “How to Cook Everything” series. Whether you need some basic tips, simple recipes, or some vegetarian ideas, there’s a book Bittman’s written that will help you out. There’s even a grill book, if you’re brave enough to take on the winter cold!

Best Cookbooks for Special Diets:
The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Gluten-Free and Vegan Holidays, by Jennifer Katzinger
If you’re hosting people with special dietary needs, these books are for you. They’re also great if you’re a new vegan or newly diagnosed celiac that needs to reinvent the old classics. These books not only cover Thanksgiving and Christmas, but also Super Bowl Sunday, the 4th of July, Oscars’ parties, and other cultural and religious celebrations.

Best Cookbook for Breakfast: Breakfast: The Most Important Book About the Best Meal of the Day, by the editors of Extra Crispy
Have your breakfast plan ready before your guests wake up hungry with this humorous book filled with mouthwatering recipes. With old standbys and new twists both featured in the book, you and your crew will be able to skip the brunch line, staying toasty warm at home in your pajamas.

Best Cookbook for the Family: The Star Wars Cookbooks
Feel the force in the kitchen during the holidays! Spend time with the family in the kitchen with these children’s cookbooks. Han Sandwiches and Other Galactic Snacks focuses on sandwiches, sides, and desserts, while the BB-Ate book provides some easy-to-make breakfast and brunch items.