The Joy of Cooking (1975 Edition) by Irma S. Rombauer

The Cookbook I Wish I Owned

NATIONAL COOKING DAY

That's what I think today is, anyway - today is all about the cooking. Or to be accurate, the "getting ready for cooking." Because tomorrow is Thanksgiving. (Already!)
And what every kitchen needs is a Joy of Cooking cookbook. I have one, but sadly I have a "modern" edition. I don't have the good edition. The definitive Joy of Cooking - the one that was published in 1975.

Joy of Cooking
by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker 
Hardcover: 915 pages
Publisher: Bobbs-Merrill; 13th ed edition (1975)
ISBN: 0672518317
Available Used through Amazon

It's possible to find used versions of this, including printings up to the mid 80's of this, the 1975 edition. If not, a good second choice would be the 75th Anniversary Edition Joy of Cooking (2006). The Anniversary Edition tries to return to the tone of the wonderful 1975 edition.

If you have to get it brand-new

Joy of Cooking
by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker

Hardcover: 1152 pages 

Publisher: Scribner; anniversary edition (October 31, 2006) 

ISBN: 978-0743246262

Available on Amazon

Honestly, I don't want to be too hard on my own 1997 All New Joy Of Cooking - it is the most used book in my house. Sure it's got the trendy but misguided "light" versions of traditional recipes, but it still is chock-full of cooking basics and illustrations. It's just not as awesome as either of these other two Joy of Cooking books.  Nevertheless, I am sure it will be open on the kitchen counter today. It wouldn't be National Cooking Day without it.