The new Joy of Cooking

This is the first cookbook that I grab when I'm ready to cook a meal. Maybe it's because I live in California, but I disagree with the other reviewers that the ingredients are hard to find. I am able to get the ingredients in my local grocery store and her cookbook contains meals that I would normally eat. Nothing too out of the ordinary. With certain recipes, I will substitute items but for the most part, the meals are delicious. Her pesto recipe is the best I've ever made (just the right combination of basil, cheese, and oil) and I make her creamy avocado dressing often. One recipe that disappointed me was her Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. It called for almost 4 cups of sugar, four sticks of butter, and only one cup of flour. Needless to say, the dough didn't hold up well and spread all over the cookie sheet. Other than that, this book is a staple in my kitchen.