When the last edition of the Joy of Cooking appeared in 1997, it was a chef-centric, rarified global ingredient kind of moment. And now, 1997 seems very far away. This country is in an economically wobbly, terror-filled time where Americans have kept close to home both literally and figuratively. The 75th Anniversary Edition of the Joy of Cooking -- as it has always done -- speaks to the time it is published into. This Joy has come full circle from 1997 with a huge emphasis on American home cooking. We are not chasing the authentic Oaxacan enchilada here -- we have cheese, chicken, and beef. We have returned the casserole; included slow cooker recipes; restored chapters on jams, jellies, pickles, ice cream, and drinks. There is an eye to economy with expanded discussions on how to get the best out of tougher cuts of meat; the art of leftovers; and keeping household stock. With 500 completely new recipes and hundreds of recipes long edited out of previous editions, this is a brand-new, best-loved Joy of Cooking that rejoices in the cooking of the country that made it the bestselling cookbook of all time -- America.

BACK TO BASICS The perfect boiled egg*fluffy rice*pancakes light as air*choosing the perfect cut of meat* no fail cakes* knife skills* vegetables for every meal*cooking with fresh herbs*how to cook fish*roast chicken with crispy skin*fresh salads and homemade dressings*crisp fritters, fries, and onion rings* casserole cooking*finding the right sauce for the pasta*easy homemade pie dough*simple stock making*chewy and cakey cookies and brownies*quick pan sauces for meats

BRAND NEW A return to the American classics from enchiladas and chop suey to velvet cake and mud pie* all new illustrations*rich new soups*more grilling recipes*homemade ice cream and sorbet*slow cooker recipes*complete new grains*food for a crowd*how to freeze ingredients, dishes and entire meals*beverages and party drinks for entertaining and family meals* making jellies, jams and preserves* how to can fruits and vegetables*quick suppers*brining meats and shellfish

RETURN TO REFERENCE Cutting-edge nutritional information*Expanded Know Your Ingredients*More information about storing and keeping foods*more menu planning*new illustrations of techniques*new sections on high altitude baking and cooking*cooking with wine and spirits*stocking your pantry*buying the right equipment*expanded index*botanical information*ingredient substitutions*expanded information on fish and game*entertaining how-to from supper clubs to children's parties...

Joy is the all-purpose cookbook. There are other basic cookbooks on the market, and there are fine specialty cookbooks, but no other cookbook includes such a complete range of recipes in every category: everyday, classic, foreign and de luxe. Joy is the one indispensable cookbook, a boon to the beginner, treasure for the experienced cook, the foundation of many a happy kitchen and many a happy home.

Privately printed in 1931, Joy has always been family affair, and like a family it has grown. Written by Irma Starkloff Rombauer, a St. Louisan, it was first tested and illustrated by her daughter, Marion Rombauer Becker, and subsequently it was revised and enlarged through Marion's efforts and those of her architect husband, John W. Becker. Their sons -- Ethan, with his Cordon Bleu and camping experiences, and Mark, with his interest in natural foods-have reinforced Joy in many ways.

Now over forty, Joy continues to be a family affair, demonstrating more than ever the awareness we all share in the growing preciousness of food. Special features in this edition are the chapter on Heat, which gives you many hints on maintaining the nutrients in the food you are cooking, and Know Your Ingredients, which reveals vital characteristics of the materials you commonly combine, telling how and why they react as they do; how to measure them; when feasible, how to substitute one for another; as well as amounts to buy. Wherever possible, information also appears at the point of use.

Divided into three parts, Foods We Eat, Foods We Heat and Foods We Keep, Joy now contains more than 4500 recipes, many hundreds of them new to this edition -- the first full revision in twelve years. All the enduring favorites will still be found. In the chapter on Brunch, Lunch and Supper Dishes there are also interesting suggestions for using convenience and leftover foods. Through its more than 1000 practical, delightful drawings by Ginnie Hofmann and Ikki Matsumoto, Joy shows how to present food correctly and charmingly, from the simplest to the most formal service; how to prepare ingredients with classic tools and techniques; and how to preserve safely the results of your canning and freezing.

Joy grows with the times; it has a full roster of American and foreign dishes: Strudel, Zabaglione, Rijsttafel, Couscous, among many others. All the classic terms you find on menus, such as Provencale, bonne femme, meunière and Florentine, are not merely defined but fully explained so you yourself can confect the dish they characterize. Throughout the book the whys and wherefores of the directions are given, with special emphasis on that vital cooking factor -- heat. Did you know that even the temperature of an ingredient can make or mar your best-laid plans? Learn exactly what the results of simmering, blanching, roasting and braising have on your efforts. Read the enlarged discussion on herbs, spices and seasonings, and note that their use is included in suitable amounts in the recipes. No detail necessary to your success in cooking has been omitted.

Joy, we hope, will always remain essentially a family affair, as well as an enterprise in which its authors owe no obligation to anyone but to themselves and to you. Choose from our offerings what suits your person, your way of life, your pleasure -- and join us in the Joy of cooking.

Because of the infinite patience that has gone into the preparation of Joy of Cooking, the publishers offer it on a money-back guarantee. Without question there is no finer all-purpose cookbook....

Sixty years since Irma Rombauer advised new cooks to "Stand facing the stove," America's love affair with Joy of Cooking continues unabated. And why not? Joy in hand, tens of millions of people -- from novices to professionals -- have learned to do everything from make a meat loaf to clean a squid to frost a wedding cake. For decades, Joy of Cooking has taught America how to cook, serving as the standard against which all other cookbooks are judged.

All About Breakfast & Brunch upholds that standard. In the conversational and instructional manner of the flagship book, All About Breakfast & Brunch elevates "the most important meal of the day" (and the ever-popular weekend brunch) and offers up such mouth-watering egg dishes as Savory Cheese and Herb-Filled Souffléed Omelet, Eggs Benedict, and Matzo Brei; savory brunch sides like Corned Beef Hash, Crabcakes, and Fried Green Tomatoes; delicious fruit and grain recipes, including Apple Fritters, Apricot Compote, and Muesli; and dozens of baked goods, pancakes, and waffles. You'll also find recipes for traditional brunch beverages as well as menus and entertaining tips. Add to that more than 150 original photographs, specially commissioned for this volume, presented in the most easy-to-use design imaginable.

Whether you belong to one of the millions of American households that already own a copy (or two) of Joy, or you have never cracked the spine of a cookbook before, Joy of Cooking: All About Breakfast & Brunch is for you. It is a spectacular achievement, worthy of its name. Joy has never been more beautiful....

A fresh and original way to put the classic advice of Joy of Cooking to work -- illustrated and designed in a beautiful and easy-to-use new book.

* A celebration of all the classic JOY cookies: Blondies, Dream Bars, Lemon Curd Bars, Ginger Snaps, and Classic Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip

* Includes innovative cookies such as reduced fat Almond Thumbprints and the Fourteen-in-One Cookie, a master recipe whose variations make 14 different cookies

* Clear, comprehensive instructions for all aspects of cookie baking from handling the dough and decorating the cookies to packaging them for gift giving...