Welcome to DC! You've gotten great suggestions. I have over 1000 cookbooks, so I'm a poor source--I like The Joy of Cooking (so much so, I have two copies, different editions), BH&G (from 1953--the same edition my mom has), I have a newer one as well, but BH&G was the one I used when I was learning to cook, and I still use some of the recipes (waffles, buttermilk biscuits). My DH only uses The Joy of Cooking, and he makes just about everything--jam, jellies, roasts, turkey, pies, casseroles, stews, soups, etc. Although, he seems to add a lot of hot pepper and garlic to almost everything <g>.