Some really great recipes. There are not a lot of pictures but the recipes are easy to follow! ( )

OK, I didn't exactly 'read' this - as it's a cookbook, I basically scoured it for ideas, recipes, and solutions. Still, it's such a massive tome (900 pages), that I had to renew it from the library to allow myself time to really spend quality time with it.

They cover the waterfront with this one - every conceivable dish and method. My only complaint, and it is an admittedly petty one - is that I like cookbooks with pictures. When it comes to cooking, I kinda like to see what it might look like when I'm done - or what it should've looked like, rather.

Still, lots of good info here. The book is vegetarian, not vegan, so items like cheese and eggs recur throughout the book. Not a problem for me, because asking me to go without cheese is like asking Amy Winehouse to forgo the bourbon. ( )

This is my new bible. I usually don't buy books but this one is so immense and helpful that I must have it at all times. There's a whole section on grilling fruit! ( )

I liked the descriptions of specific ingredients and how to shop for them. ( )

This is one of my go-to cookbooks. I can always find something delicious. Bittman is great on flavor and offering variations. This book empowers home chefs to experiment by teaching how flavors work together.

One caveat: recipes often rely on other recipes. So, read the recipes and directions carefully. More than once I've thought I had a quick meal in front of me only to realize that it required incorporating a longer recipe from elsewhere in the book.