Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today Books Review

I love to cook, but unfortunately my schedule prevents me from cooking as much as I would like. Of all the cookbooks in my arsonal in the defense against hungar, Betty Crocker has been there through it all. However, the 10th Edition makes me cringe and long for the book my mother used.

The Collection

As a cookbook, the recipes are strong. They have recipes for everything and step-by-step instructions. Sometimes I'll just spend a moment (that's really all the time I have) just reading the book and seeing where the brisket comes from the cow or where the bacon comes from the pig. Some of the recipes are a little dated, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just bad for those of us who want to rush through making dinner instead of taking hours!

The Loved

These recipes aren't untested. Some may not fit your taste (liver? Really?), but they all have been made time and time again. Some even include illustrations or pictures to help guide you! This really should be a staple in everyone's kitchen. Whether you're new or experienced, you'll find recipes that suit your skill level.

The Bad

Better Crocker is a kitchen staple. Both my mother and grandmother used a similar Betty Crocker edition - I even remember my grandmother shoving hers full of loose recipes and marking it up more than her Bible! However, this book was confusing to me. While they give you plenty of substitutions (very helpful), they miss out on measuring equivilants.

When I was working with PureVia, I had to include 3/4 cup of sugar. Each packet measured 1 teaspoon (or the like). How many did I need? Our computer was dead at the moment, so I turned to Betty Crocker for help. She's always been there in the past! But sadly, there was nothing. There was no chart or guide to help me.

In my mother's edition, the back cover included two incredible features - a recipe for basic pastry (I've used the recipe for everything from crackers to struessle!) and measuring equivilants. While I agree that the substitutions are great to have around, I miss the old information! 

In addition, the 10th Edition changed the way they catogorized the food. The recipes were all in front and the categories are all in back. To find a recipe, you go to the category page in back that then references your target recipe. It's a lot of steps when the old versions had the category header and category recipes in the same place.

Overall

If you know someone who is looking at getting better at cooking, start with Betty Crocker. Even with my reservations about the book, I'll fully admit that I really liked the older versions I used growing up. This book, even the newest editions, are absolutely fine. You will be able to use these recipes for many meals to come!