Customer Reviews

Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (Better Homes & Gardens Plaid)

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This cookbook is full of recipes that reads like your mom's sticky, well-loved recipe box. I haven't found anything ground breaking, but that's not really why I purchased it. Although I am already an experienced cook, I've had so much success with BHG recipes in the past that when I saw this new updated edition I decided to add it to my cookbook collection. It's got lots of illustrations of both recipes and techniques. When I first received it I settled back in my favorite chair, snuggled up in an afghan, and browsed through the whole thing. So often I saw a recipe that I recalled eating at a party, picnic, shower, etc. I think BHG is very All-American and this cookbook reflects the foods we've come to know and love. That's not to say it is just a collection of old-fashioned foods. There were plenty of new recipe ideas I've come across, too, but there' nothing too exotic, too expensive, or too difficult for the typical busy but food loving American. A lot of the recipes are good for rushed week day dinners, but they're better than throwing a can of soup on chicken and instant rice and calling it dinner. I've only had it a few weeks but I have already made several recipes from it and they have all been straightforward and a hit with family and friends. This is probably the cookbook I will recommend for my sons, who are 20 and 22, when they move out on their own. FYI: I would recommend this ring bound edition. I first purchased the plastic comb edition but returned it in exchange for the ring bound edition. The paper in the plastic comb edition was very thin and the plastic comb was so tight that page turning was going to forever be a very delicate affair. The ring bound is only a few dollars more, but unless you are very careless there doesn't seem to be much chance of tearing.

I was so pleased to receive my Better Homes cookbook as I grew up watching my mom cook with it and I used it myself. However, the book is already falling apart without being used at all. The Binding is no good and the grad of paper used is so thin that if you turn a leaf without the utmost care, it rips. I am very disappointed in this purchase.

Within a few months the plastic ring binding that holds the pages together started comming apart and in six months the book was in pieces and completley apart. The material is good with some recipe updates but I would stay far away from this type of binding and stick with the three ring type which is what I had before and still use after almost ten years. I'm just glad I didn't throw out my old version of this cookbook. Another comment would be how recipies are catagorized in the back index. For example if you wanted to make brownies you have to look under "F" for Fudge Brownies not "B" for brownies. There are a number of recipes indexed this way so quickly finding a recipe can become frustrating.

The recipes are solid and practical. I use this cookbook as my starter when I'm planning meals for the week. If it doesn't have a recipe for a particular base, then I move on. It works well in that role. I have noticed a number of recipes that would've had sun dried tomatoes as a unique flavor in previous recipes now have roasted red peppers.

The ability of the cookbook to stay open on it's own is a real bonus.

My grandmother gave me this cookbook before I got married and it has been a lifesaver! It is filled with all the basic recipes that you may need for any occassion. It also has tables and tips that are so helpful! I am glad she bought me this book. I buy it for all my friends who are getting married too.

I buy this book as a gift for my children, nieces and nephews when they get their first apartment. It is a good, comprehensive collection of recipes that even a beginner can master.

This cookbook has proven to be a staple for my cookbook library. It's especially good for explaining how to cook specific cuts of meat and to what temperatures. It's a workhorse type cookbook that I refer to at least once a week to prepare basic recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner (some entertaining). I bought this book as a supplement to my original BH&G 1st Edition from 1953, I use both cookbooks depending on my needs. This cookbook would make an excellent shower or wedding gift. Cynthia Briggs, Cookbook Author Pork Chops and Applesauce: A Collection of Recipes and Reflections and Sweet Apple Temptations

I bought this to replace our old, non-spiral-bound version that we got back in '90. The pages of the old one were falling off. I much prefer this new binder version as it lays flat nicely, and I can add recipes from the BH&G magazine easily. I have several other cookbooks, e.g. How to Cook Everything and the Good Housekeeping Cookbook, and each one fills a particular niche. This BH&G cookbook has some recipes that aren't found in my other cookbooks, and it does offer the most colorful format.

A cute bonus in this book that I enjoy is how to set a table. I could use a refresher course and my kids need to learn this etiquette.

This is a great cook book but after using it only 3 times, the pages are coming apart from the binder (soft cover). If you can, get the hard-cover / binder version of this book.

My wife has an old paperback copy of this book. pages are missing, the binders broke in 2 and just in general bad shape. (from extensive use)
anyway my wife told me that all i had to do was find a replacement for her and shed be happy with that. that was for her birthday last april 2008. well i forgot all about it!! Now its jan. 2009 wife is down in the dumps,, we seem to always struggle for whats for dinner, and the book popped back in my head! I went to bantom books as that was the original publisher and couldnt find the right one. then went to amazon and found what i thought was the exact same copy as she had right away. i ordered it and it arrived in 4 days!!! as it turned out it was a much bigger and flashier copy than she had. i hid the book in the fridge and waited for her to get home. well she finally went to the fridge and found the book i;ll tell you the smile on her face went from ear to ear, she has picked up that book at least once everyday and just loves it. amazing how something so simple can bring such joy and excitement!! its now feb 15th 2009.