Customer Reviews

America Cooks: The General Federation of Women's Clubs Cook Book

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I was not familiar with this cookbook until I bought a used copy. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the best cookbooks ever issued in the U.S. It's outstanding in every way, and I think I can offer that judgement because I own about 2,000 cookbooks, and this is one of the best I have. It's right up there with James Beard, Joy of Cooking, and all the other great ones. You'll never be disappointed if you buy this cookbook. Ron Koehler, Independence, MO

My Mother first ordered this book when it came out in 1967. Being the family cook, she then gave it to me. I have been through three of these books, and even though I have many cookbooks in my kitchen, this is the one I rely on the most. You can find a recipe for almost everything in there! I absolutely LOVE it.

I appologize for the Nesreddin Hoca pun, but it is fitting. If I had but one cook book, I would save this one. My parents bought theirs in the 70s at a street sale in New York for 3.50. Now they sell for [much more]. If you have one, keep it. If you find one, buy it.

The book covers the standard american fare, but without the cheesy gimmicks of many modern cookbooks. At the beginning of each section, there is an explaination of what to signs the food should give you as they are cooking. This, I feel, as one who is wraped in a world of doubts is extremely valuable. And the recipes are well portioned, easy to follow, and frankly good eating. My figurative lanuage fails me.

I cook a lot. As a result, I use cookbooks as reference material: I like to find three or four different variations of a recipe and pick and choose among ingredients and techniques. America Cooks has at least one version of every basic (and sometimes not so basic) recipe, so I find myself pulling it down off the shelf as a reference book almost every time I want to cook or bake something. For instance, what's the proportion of ginger to cinnamon to cloves in a pumpkin pie or in gingerbread or hermits? This is one of those books that lets you looks up things like that as you decide what you'd like your pumpkin pie or gingerbread or hermits to taste like. In addition, each of the recipes is attributed to a particular woman and a hometown. You can find out a lot about regional cooking by reading the names and towns of the women who submitted the recipes. (If you're a working woman, you might also find yourself just a little envious of the time when 'Women's Clubs' were a major social activity). I found my hardbound copy at a used book store. It's in excellent condition: the paper is wonderful quality and it has cloth bookmarks sewn into the binding. It reminds me of a family bible, and I intend to pass mine down the same way. If you love to cook, get a copy of this book.

Time and time again, since I was a teenager, I have always come back to this cookbook. It's the only one you'll ever need. My grandmother purchased this cookbook in the sixties... along with one for my mother. My mother just rebound my grandmother's cookbook and gave it to me. I was thrilled beyond words to receive this cookbook! I would recommend this cookbook from the most novice cooks to the most experienced.

this was a cookbook i purchased a looooooong time ago. My children keep fighting over my copy so I bought one of them one. I love it.

My mother gave this book to me more than twenty years ago, and it is still my favorite reference for recipes. Some of the best meals that I am "known" for have come from this book, and I couldn't live without it in the kitchen. It's battered, and covered with food splatters, but I treasure it.

I bought America Cooks over 20 years ago through a book club.
I treasure it for the multitude of good recipes it contains. I am now on my second copy. The first has been "loved into tatters". In fact, it's held together with duct tape. Now I've retired that one for the new one. Fabulous Book.

After combing through all my latest and greatest cookbooks I almost always pull out my now coverless and falling apart America Cooks for the recipe! I can compare three or four versions to select the one I think is best or make up my own version taking ideas from each. I also feel it is very well organized with all the ingredients you will need listed at the top and the easy instructions listed in 1,2,3 order. There is no getting lost in the process and forgetting a key ingredient. Like the Velevetine Rabbit my copy has been well loved!

This book has been the one source we always turn to for reliable recipes. I have never cooked a recipe from this book that was not well received and it's range of recipes is extensive. It's reference section is excellent with many hard to find bits of information. My daughters must carry this book with them as they establish their own families.