Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book Ring-bound – January 1, 1953

This is the cookbook I learned to cook from - with great success I might add. I was raised as an orphan, was on my own by 15 so had no one to watch and needed TOTAL guidance that this book gave me. At 19 yrs old I loved the Meal Planning section that had a quick glance chart of choices you could prepare with any given entree. If you knew you wanted to cook chicken but didn't want to serve the same mashed potatoes and green beans, you could find BBQ'd chicken, fried or roasted and see two choices each for a starchy food, vegetable, salad, desert and nice to serve or extra. It also offered ideas in the same way for packed lunches and breakfasts. Pictures galore thru-out the book but some of my favorites were in setting and decorating the table and entertaining since I was drawn to the idea but had NO idea how to carry it out. I have since bought probably 10 used copies of this book - one to replace pg. 72 - my favorite bread recipe page and the page missing with the biscuit and pancake recipe. This is the only cookbook I owned till about 10 years ago when I became interested in cooking authentic Mexican food. While at the bookstore a lady told me that if I ONLY bought one other cookbook in my life - it should be one of Mr. Foods. I now own nearly every cookbook he has put out and have passed on his books to all the children, grandchildren and friends as well as my STAND BY FAVORITE - this Better Homes and Garden new Cookbook. I have collected 30-40 cookbooks but ALWAYS return to this one, Julia Childs, and Mr. Food (especially the red one) & Rick Bayless for Mexican. Because I started using this book when I was young and totally new at any type of cooking - I ended up making things that I later learned were SUPPOSE to be quite difficult and gourmet in taste and presentation. The fluffy omlete with cheese sauce and chocolate covered, French custard filled eclairs I am asked to make for gatherings frequently. There isn't room to list all my favorite recipes in this book. I dislike ANY of the newer versions of this cookbook because they tend to use more canned and packaged foods in their recipes. This edition - you are cooking from scratch and without all the preservatives, additives that you find in packaged foods. You will find it MUCH cheaper to feed a family if you cook from scratch.

I purchased this book as a gift for my Mom for Mothers Day. A long time ago she had the original but after years of usage and time it had fallen apart so she had disposed of it. After rethinking it she remembered all the great recipes and how much she loved them so she mentioned she would love to have new copy. I did some research and saw that there were newer books republished but I was hoping to find a good copy of the original three ring binder for nostalgia. I found this book and thought the sellers description sounded good for the price. It was mailed directly to my Mom who lives in another state so I was a little concerned about it's condition. My Mom is also very picky. I got a call when she received and she was exstatic.. She loves it! It was in impecible condition and had all the old recipes she remembered and loved.Shortly after that I was visiting an old friend who also had the same orginal book that once was her Mom's a little torn and falling apart, but worth the time. So we spent an evening over wine going through the old recipes...Wow I was amazed. These older recipes look great and I am thinking about purchasing another "newer" copy for myself and so I can try these old and yummy standards. I am not a good baker but this book has detailed basic instruction along with creative and tasty looking treats I will use the book to fine tune my baking downfalls and master my cooking and ideas.Everyone should get this book... Better Homes and Gardens "Originals". Very happy

Vary happy

This is an exact reproduction of my first cookbook I got when I got married in 1959. So well done and nice to have many of first recipes I made when I married. Original cookbook disintegrated from age and use many years ago. Brings back a lot of good memories! Thank you.

Great shape for a vintage cook book. Fun to read. Book was as stated. One star off for better packaging. Corners dented and package worn from shipment.

I was gifted a copy of this book as a wedding present 56 years ago, and it got lost during our most recent move. I was very happy to find this copy. The descriptor "used" is accurate. The cover was a little dirty (from use and probably from storage, at some point), but the cover was made to be wiped off, and it cleaned up perfectly. The inside is at least in no worse shape than my original copy, and I can tell this book was well-loved by its former owner. I will do the same, I'm sure. Purchase and shipping were seamless!

This book was advertised as a 1953 version, it is not! I know for a fact that I'm right cuz it mentions things from 1958 & 1959. I'm going to keep it even though it doesn't contain the recipe that was the main reason I wanted it, because the Better Homes and Garden cookbook is awesome and has a place in my heart cuz my mom had one. But, I'm very unhappy that it was advertised falsely. .

Used this book since it first came out 1959, I just need a copy that was not worn out from 63 years of use!