Customer Reviews

Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I gave the 1980 ed away when I moved into assisted living, after using it 22 yrs. Assisted living didn't work out so I bought a condo, and needed another cookbook. I was happy to find a brand new edition but disappointed after I received it. The older edition has many more recipes, thinner paper and more interesting hint pages.

If you don't have either book, and are "on the fence," get the old one. It will probably be cheaper. Most of the recipes I remember and wanted, from the old ed, are not included. Zbaglione, for instance.

I stress "general" because I don't think books of this nature can or should be compared with ethnic or "specialty" cookbooks. If you want a book on Italian cooking or Chinese cooking or baking cakes, this isn't the book for you. This 1980 GEM by Zoe Coulson covers it all...if it's not between the covers of this book, maybe you should think twice about eating it. The greatest strength is that when you want a certain kind of "comfort food," there's a rock-solid recipe to satisfy. Case in point: "Country Pot Roast" on page 192, "Beef Stew" on page 202...these things taste like old-fashioned roadside diner food (or "just like mom used to make," if your mom was a good cook). It's not a Yuppie kind of South Beach low-carb "I'm OK, You're OK" cookbook. There ARE healthy and sensible choices in every category, however. I know that Good Housekeeping has a relatively new book out with the same title, but the 1980 book from Zoe Coulson is the one to get. And with the used prices offered by Amazon, there's no way you can go wrong.

My girlfriend has this cook book, and after looking through it I knew I had to have one, too. I have it now and just ordered two more copies: one as a working copy for myself and one to give as a Christmas gift. Very easy to follow instructions, pictures and information about food that will make anyone a pro in the kitchen.

This book shows you how-to, how long it will take, what you will need, how many it will serve, and what it will look like in any easy, step by step process.Recipes included range from sandwiches to gourmet entree's and desserts. I made creme' brulee! I have two copies, one to browse and one to use. I highly recommend this book for the novice, the acclaimed chef and everyone in between.

I used this cookbook for the first time when I was 10. I was handed the cookbook and left alone... I made my first homemade cherry pie to go with Thanksgiving dinner that day! It is great for all people, from just starting out to advanced cooks. It gives you step by step images and written instructions. I have a friend that wanted to learn to cook... So I purchased a copy for her. She is really enjoying the ease of cooking! It is a must in any cookbook collection! Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook

Of all the Good Housekeeping cookbooks I've had over the years, this one is the best. Comprehensive, wonderful recipes, techniques and illustrations are very handy for new cooks and seasoned cooks as well. I purchased 2 of these, kept one and gave the other as a gift. Both in remarkably good condition.

There are many wonderful recipes in this book.
I have a 13 year old grandson who loves to cook/bake and wants to attend a culinary school to become a chef. Austin has make several different recipes from this book and each is delicious. This recipe book is his and my favorite of all the cookbooks (approx 50 cookbooks) that I own.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes new and old favorite recipes.
It has picture of the prepared foods, illustrations with each recipe and easy to follow instructions plus lots of informations.

I received this cookbook from my new mother-in-law who was a librarian. Must have been hot off the press since I got married in 1980. I liked to cook and the color photos made it hard to decide where to start.. so many delicious looking dishes. When my little sister got married a couple years later this was a no-brainer shower gift. One Christmas I was making a special dinner and wanted a second entree in case someone didn't want beef tenderloin so I decided to try the Chicken Cordon Bleu. It became an instant favorite. The only problem I have had with the book is that some of the color picture pages in the front have come out over the years and keep falling out.

This book arrived fast and was like new. I bought it because I had one already and needed another for my daughter in law. It is an excellent cookbook.

The 1980 edition is the best.

I purchased a used copy at a 2nd hand bookstore for my parents and suggested they bring it to their summer cottage as a great all-around cookbook and reference book. That summer I went to the cottage and we had a couple of days of rain so I did some reading and then picked up this cookbook. I found it very informative, filled with great recipes, the kind that I would make, not the kind that just look good in a cookbook. Well I spent the second rainy day cooking and everyone loved the food. I made two lemon meringue pies and they were awesome, just like my aunt used to make years ago. I also made the pizza dough for home-made all dressed pizza, the oatmeal cookies, the italian bread and the apple pie. The book is 30 years old and is still fabulous.

When I got back home I wanted to buy myself a copy so I researched the Amazon site and read reviews comparing the 1980 edition to newer updated editions and I was struck by the fact that there are only 5 star reviews and that many people state that the 1980 edition is better than the newer versions. I went to a mega chain bookstore and checked out the newer updated versions and most of the recipes had been changed and my lemon merigue pie was not there - no brainer, I ordered several used copies through Amazon; one for me and a few as gifts.