[lrjohnson]

I concur that "Joy of Cooking" is a very good basic cookbook, packed full of solid recipes. I am an infrequent cook, and it's a Go To for me.

"How to Cook Everything" by Bittman is another comprehensive book. Bot a frufal focus, however lots and lots of good baqsic recipeis in all categories.

I am a huge "Tightwad Gazette" Amy Dacyczyn fan. I have read volumes I, II, and III many times. There is a "Complete Tightwad Gazette" that is one volume-I am not sure if it contains all of the three, or is more of a best of. I mention this both because you mention recipes and other frugal books. TG actually doesn't have a ton of recipes, and Amy D says part of why is really that there are already so many books out there. She does give advice on how to make any recipe cheaper. Amy D will suggest that you can alter many recipes to fit you-dry powdered milk instead of whole, homemade white sauce instead of "cream of" soups in recipes, more of the starch/veggies less of the meats, less (expensive) walnuts and more (very cheap) sunflower seeds, etc. I am in love with her Universal Muffin Recipe- I never baked but now I can make muffins, sweet or savory, anytime, varying the ingredients widely. I also love her blender Gelatin.

Amy D also praises the "More with Less" Mennonite cookbooks.

"Relax! It's Only Dinner" By Cheryl Mercer is a readable one for me, a non-cook. It's not particularly frugal but it's not too extravagant; and a lot of tips and ideas are very useable. Part One is titled "Minimum effort, Maximum Praise." It seems like it would be especially good for someone who was aiming to please a spouse/significant other with "date" meals or someone who likes entertaining, but I'm neither of those and I still liked it. However, the recipes aren't directed at parents with younger kids for family meals. Anyway, this book taught me a lot, even though I don't use the exact recipes a lot.

Peg Bracken's 1960s "I Hate To Cook" books are funny and mildly dated but the recipies are decidedly simple and most are economical if not cheap.

"Living Well on a Shoestring" and "Your Money or Your Life" are two frugal books I really enjoy re-reading.

Enjoy your spending! May whatever you get please you mightily.