Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today (Betty Crocker Books) [Plastic Comb]

Betty Crocker Editors (Author)

Book Description

Series: Betty Crocker Books | Publication Date: July 24, 2006

From foolproof, dependable recipes to reliable how-to advice, the Betty Crocker Cookbook has everything you need for the way you cook today. Whether you're a new or experienced cook, the Cookbook® is the book for you!

• Comprehensive resource, with more than 1,000 easy-to-follow recipes
• Creative cooking ideas, including more than 400 recipe variations
• Beautiful design, with 300 colorphotos and 55 illustrations
• All-new chapters: "Casseroles & Slow Cooker" and "20 Minutes or Less"
• Fast recipes flagged throughout—130 ready in 20 minutes or less!
• Great-tasting Low-Fat recipesspecially marked—more than 185 in all
• Helpful Betty's Cures to solvecommon baking problems
• Useful Learn with Betty photos to help get perfect results every time
• Detailed nutrition information, plus dietary exchanges and carb choices

The all-new Tenth Edition—a perfect 10!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Betty Crocker's Cookbook is 50! In celebration, an updated and expanded ninth edition of this American classic reminds us once again of the value of good old-fashioned comfort food. The original Big Red Cookbook was immediately popular with a postwar audience seeking basic cooking advice and simple recipes that took advantage of several then-new convenience products. The ninth edition remains true to its roots, presenting exemplary instruction, savory mainstream dishes (that still make use of convenience foods and the products of parent company General Mills), and, most notably, standout chapters on baking and dessert specialties. New to this edition, which offers nearly 1,000 recipes, are grilling and vegetarian chapters; up-to-date nutrition information; additional color photos; and contemporary formulas for the likes of Brie with Caramelized Onions, Asiago Bread, and Tandoori Chicken with Chutney.

Instruction was and is the book's strongest suit, and any cook--novice to professional--will benefit from its many how-to features. These include step-by-step directions with photos, tips for kitchen timesaving, and troubleshooting advice. The book also includes several comprehensive glossaries (those on cooking terms and ingredients are particularly good). Standouts among the vast recipe collection, more than 300 of which are designated fast or low fat, include old favorites such as Macaroni and Cheese, Old-Fashioned Baked Beans, and Lemon Chiffon Cake. A few newer ones, such as Sun-Dried Tomato and Olive Bread, also qualify. Published, as ever, in a loose-leaf binder, the book celebrates American culinary know-how, a broad-based tradition of good home cooking, exemplary baking, and the conviction that food and commerce can meld to help people cook easier and eat better. Happy birthday indeed! --Arthur Boehm --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

New Features in this exciting new landmark edition include:

Icons throughout the book highlighting fast and low-fat recipes

Two new chapters on Grilling and Vegetarian

Expanded information in the Vegetables and Fruits chapter

Crockpot and bread machine recipes in appropriate chapters

Learn with Betty step-by-step photos on subjects such as cooking rice, meat doneness, scrambling eggs, whipping cream, and so much more...

Dietary exchanges with nutrition analysis

Top ten food allergies chart --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 616 pages
• Publisher: Betty Crocker; 10th Edition (Comb-bound Edition) edition (July 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764576739
• ISBN-13: 978-0764576737
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (244 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since 1921, the Betty Crocker name has symbolized the General Mills continuing tradition of service to consumers. Although Betty was never a real person, her name and identity have become synonymous with helpfulness, trustworthiness and quality.

Betty Crocker has survived the decades by providing consumers with food information and food products that are contemporary without being faddish. The first hardcover cookbook, Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook was published in 1950 and quickly became a national best seller. Since then, more than 250 Betty Crocker cookbooks have been published.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

149 of 150 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for every kitchen!, October 17, 2000

By 

Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Betty Crocker's Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today, Ninth Edition (Ring-bound)

I have always had a Betty Crocker cookbook around. It was the first cookbook I took with me when I moved away from home, and it still remains the first book I grab for if I have *any* questions about a recipe I'm making.

The book is great for cooks of all levels. It has a lot of great introductory information - how do you boil an egg? What are the different cuts of meat? It provides a lot of easy recipes that taste delicious and are nutritious as well.

In addition, the book also eases you into many advanced recipes. Looking to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for the relatives? Trying to make a birthday dinner really special? This cookbook has the recipes for you, all easy to understand and with gorgeous photos.

This version is definitely an improvement on previous versions as well. There is information on grilling and vegetarian meals, something lacking in the last versions. They've also added in a number of ethnic dishes that are quite tasty.

If this book isn't on your kitchen shelf, be sure to buy a copy!

89 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will be pleasantly surprised, September 28, 2000

By 

Stephanie Manley (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Betty Crocker's Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today, Ninth Edition (Ring-bound)

You will be pleasantly surprised by this book. This book has a lot of information that goes along with the recipes. You will be amazed at all of the supplimental information that goes into this book. The way to buy fresh vegetables, how to look for good cuts of meat, ways to stretch meat, and a host of ideas with each recipe. The book is clearly written, and it makes it very easy to read. There are pictures for many recipes as well, this pictures aren't of just the finished product either. I think you will find this book covers the basics, and goes well beyond that. If you know someone that is just starting out, or perhaps learning to cook this would be a great choice for them.

189 of 202 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Betty's Not What She Used to Be, April 7, 2006

By 

Tom Anderson (Piney Flats, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today, New Tenth Edition (Ring-bound)

Time was when the words Betty Crocker actually stood for the best in general-purpose cookbooks, although the recipes, for better or for worse, were always a product of their times. The very first "Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book" was published in 1950 (still available), revolutionized how cookbooks were produced, and was an enormous best-seller. The recipes were the result of much thorough testing in the company's kitchens and in homes across America. This was cooking from scratch with very little reliance on convenience foods in its pages. This gradually changed as Betty and her books became more and more of a shill for General Mills' products and her name got plastered on one mix after another to the detriment of good cooking.

The 1956 edition was an expanded version of the original 1950 book, with many more recipes and clearer photographic reproduction. It contains the most recipes of the entire series and is, in my opinion, the best cookbook Betty ever made. The next two editions came out in 1961 and 1969 and were both loaded with recipes and wonderful tips/helps, although you could see the beginnings of sacrificing quality for convenience--especially in the 1969 edition, which has some horrendous shortcut recipes that border on parody--but this was still relatively minor in proportion to the majority of the recipes. If you have these books, treasure and keep them; you'll never see their likes again.

The current 10th edition looks good but, like the past several editions, the number of recipes has been drastically reduced. Gone are the many variations, which are especially missed in baked goods. It was wonderful having recipes of many cakes that were sized for two people or small families and having different mixing methods to choose from. Now way too many recipes are of the "dump and stir" method instead of choosing methods that would insure the best results. Also gone is the very friendly, assuring, conversational voice of yesteryear. Yes, there are recipes covering a wider range of ingredients and styles, but they are mostly stripped-down versions.

It's obvious that the folks at Betty Crocker now seem to think that no one really cooks these days and can't be bothered with proper preparation of dishes, which begs the question of why General Mills even bothers to publish new editions. The "Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook" is a better bet for those looking for an all-purpose, everyday guide. It has a better layout, the recipes and ingredients are generally of a higher quality, and there are more recipes and variations than Betty Crocker's had in some time. Even better, if you care at all about the quality of the food you eat and serve your family, I highly recommend the cookbooks of Cooks' Illustrated/America's Test Kitchen. Their comparable general-purpose cookbook is called "The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook." The recipes are tested and reworked--dozens of times, if necessary--to be the best their staff can make them and you get precise directions and brand recommendations to ensure quality results. It's a shame that Betty Crocker has tarnished her reputation for excellent advice and recipes, but there's even better stuff out there now. Go for it!!