Cook's Kitchen Bible

Cook's Companion's my favorite general cookbook. It shows all the basic techniques with step-by-step instructions and great photos. Easy to use and the recipes are delicious. Also, it includes variations for the basic recipes. Very comprehensive--previously published as The Ultimate Kitchen Course and Kitchen Encyclopedia. A very good deal. The only disadvantage's the binding: it got loose throughout the years. I'd also recommend the other cookbooks in this series published by Hermes House--small format, 500 pages, delicious recipes, and great price. I got 4 of them this Xmas: Thai & South-East Asian Cooking & Far Eastern Classics; The Spanish, Middle Eastern & African Cookbook; The Every Day Chinese Cookbook; and 400 Sauces. Happy cooking to you all! :)