Thanks to everyone in this group for advice over the ages regarding
cookbooks. I'll bet that you are all scratching your heads trying to
remember my questions about it, now.


In any event.. I have some kitchen experience (and i can feed myself
successfully), but I have a lot to learn, starting with the
fundamentals. The Internet is a great resource for some things (like
solid state electronics or computer programming) but not so good for
others (such as cooking, sewing, etc). I felt a comprehensive book
was in order, but there are thousands to choose from.

Thanks to rec.food.cooking, i was able to whittle it down to the two
books I really need to have- A 1975 or previous edition of Joy Of
Cooking and the Better Homes And Gardens New Cookbook. I set off to a
local used book store, and found a brand new copy of BHaG right away.
Looks like it's never been opened.

The real treasure though, is a mildly tattered and stained 1964
printing of Joy of Cooking. I needed help to find it, because it is a
pale green and i was looking for white and red. It was also in the
wrong section, but the elderly bookstore lady knew precisely where it
was when I said "I was looking for Joy of Cooking". She seemed
intrigued that I was checking to see what edition it was. She also
pulled out an immaculate 1973 reprint of the same edition, but I chose
the 1964 printing over it. The 1973 looked like it belonged in a
bookstore, this one looked like it belonged in a kitchen. Surely this
will be one of the best $5.98s i've spent in awhile.

Thanks to all!

-J