yes bigreader so do I ..newer edition still got the old one floating around somewhere..for basic pastry..custard..cream etc

and also my own recipe book for the kids to follow that I refer to from time to time as tends to forget if I don't cook them too often..

my one is mostly Vietnamese dishes..and some trial and error ones that I've altered the recipe to..also some made up ones..

I had that one Neryl. I think it's misplaced, or my sister has it.

bigreader are you thinking of Cooks Companion? That big orange book?

Anything from the Women's Weekly kitchen is always well tested, but I have more recent experts like Stephanie Alexander,,etc. Hubby has his professional cookbook bible from TAFE. It's very French.

Any of the Womans Weekly books (I ended up with about 20 of them when I first started cooking - many years ago) but my go to book is Maggie Beers' Maggie's Harvest. It's a recipe book that I curl up with on the lounge when looking for inspiration for dinner parties - the thing that I love about her recipes is that they always turn out.

Yep, I have her.

Yep, got them.

I thought the SS would have eaten bratwurst and cabbage?

What does SS stand for , please?

Can beat most of the above comments as I have a WW2 cookbook, and a 60 year old Aussie countrywomen's cookbook with helpful hints for everything from cleaning felt hats to caring for gloves etc. taking up half the book. It's fun to read occasionally [reminds me that we have such an easier life than they did back then], and the recipes are o.k. too. Every time I'm stuck for a recipe I use my 2 shilling and six pence English no pictures cookbook which has as many good recipes as all our new fancy picture ones in our bookcase, which OH likes to peruse, but never cooks, just reads the recipes and enjoys the picture presentations.

Stainless steel ;)

Thanks both of you. I love this thread by the way. I'm just getting back to cooking. Good stuff.

Back in the early 80's I trained as an Home Economics Teacher and was awarded a scholarship over 4 years which was funded from the sales of the Common Sense Cookery Book. It is still my 'go to' reference when I need a reliable/basic recipe. I have nothing but fond memories of the book and the financial help it provided during my teacher training.

caroleferguson..by which author?

answered my own question one was the publishing house ..is it this one?

Got it.

I have the same book! It was my go to until I discovered 'Campion and Curtis in the Kitchen' (Hardie Grant Books). Great variety of recipes and definitely not pretentious!

I have a Curtis book but it's not that one.

I have some hilariously bad microwave books from the 1980s that are still floating around. Like making cakes and 3-course meals all in the microwave!

Well she would hate me for saying it but my 'old' standby cookery book is Donna Hay's off the shelf Cooking from the pantry. So many stand-bys and go-tos in there. They're tasty and easy and never fail to please.

I can cook most things in the microwave.

I won't say how old my Commonsense Cook Book is - it doesn't even have a pretty cover like the one shown. It is NEVER getting thrown out. I also own some Country Women's Association cookbooks that are timeless too and like Jeannie said, contain incredible tips for things we mostly never use now. Our ancestors were certainly resourceful women.

These days I find I can't go past Curtis Stone and the simplicity of his meals, I pick up Coles monthly magazine (free) and use the Taste website.

That said, I rarely follow a recipe exactly anyway, I usually adjust to create variety to an existing meal or add a more exotic ingredient or two.

Countrydreaming - you achieved what I always planned to do but never had time to achieve. Well done!! I find tastes change over the years too and recipes that we used to love 40 years ago have me scratching my head now. I've even thrown half my cookbooks for this reason.

Anything by Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Rachael Ray; I love all the homely dishes and comfort food! Food that makes you feel warm and cozy after a stressful day haha!

I recently discovered Dorie Greenspann's books and just love David Lebovitz's My Paris Kitchen. (his dulce leche brownies are amazing!) I used to love Nigella Lawson but don't find her recent books as good.