What do you like best in a cookbook?

[Esther]

I will move this thread to the Chef's section after folks have a chance to respond.

My church is getting ready to do a fund raiser for our church with a cookbook.

I have found most people that like to cook, love cookbooks. Sometimes when you get tired of the same ole same ole you drag out the cookbooks.

So tell me what do you like best in a cookbook and what is annoying to you about a cookbook.

So tell me what your ideal cookbook would be.

I like one with a lot of sections with a large variety to choose from for a handy to have cookbook. Then I also like speciality cookbooks; desserts, or grilling or for diabetics type cookbooks.

I love pictures of items that sometimes inspires me to want to try that recipe.

I also like a font that is easy to read and not a "crowded" feeling cookbook.

I like to read snipits when browsing through a book.

I love a section for large groups and a must have is tips for substitutions.

So please share what you like the best and what you like the least.

Thanks

[Ron]

Make it simple!

[Timmy]

Spiral bound, so it lays flat.

Reasonable estimates for prep and cooking times.

Ingredients listed in order they'll be used.

Lots of recipes using tequila!

[missourimary]

Three ring binder style so you can add your favorites from other sources, and so the book lays flat when open
Pictures of what each recipe is supposed to look like when finished
Common, reasonably priced, easy to find ingredients
Healthy recipes, at least for the most part
Recipes in normal serving sizes (OK, some people make cookies 20 dozen at a time... I don't. Recipes should be simple to double or halve.)
Titles that sound good and I can take to work and call by name. ("Better than..." -WHAT?!?! I can't take that to my boss without a new name. No thanks. And "Goober Muffins" may sound good to your kids, but... )
And please, oh, please, put recipes together by group rather than ingredient or name. I don't want to have to look in five places for a stew because the cookbook is listed by types of meat, or hunt everywhere for butterscotch brownies because someone cutely put the book in alphabetical order and called butterscotch brownies "tannies" (oh, and by the way, your great aunt may have made a wonderful Waldorf salad, but please don't make me have to remember if it was your Aunt Jewell's salad, or Aunt Maybel's, or Aunt Emma's, or...)

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by missourimary

. . . And "Goober Muffins" may sound good to your kids, but... )

For sure! How about "Tequila Surprise Muffins"?

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by Timmy

For sure! How about "Tequila Surprise Muffins"?

I still couldn't take them to work, but at least I would know where to find them in the recipe book!

[Margies3]

Common, easy to find ingredients. Not something exotic.

I do appreciate a few pictures. One of my favorite cookbooks put together by a church included pictures of the submitter with each recipe and a small paragraph about that person. I don't know a single person in that book, but it was fun to read anyway.

I do like the ingredients listed in the order in which you will use them.

I don't mind a few "crowd size" recipes - but please tell us that it makes a huge amount. And maybe give the same recipe only for a smaller amount.

When it's a church made cookbook, it's always kind of fun to stumble upon a recipe that you know is only in there for fun. In our church cookbook, the pastor submitted a recipe for "Elephant Stew". It's a hoot to read!!

[Sherri]

Desserts, desserts, desserts! Did I mention sweets?

[The Mrs]

Pictures!

And ingredients you can pronounce AND find in a regular grocery store!

[RandyWayne]

Lots and lots of recipes using GA-Lick!

BAM!!!