Mrs. Restino's Country Kitchen - Homemade American Comfort Food & Baking Mixes | Perfect for Family Dinners, Holiday Gatherings & Gift Giving

I have had this book for about 26 years--wow. I can't believe in all that time I only finally got around to writing a review.Folks, this book is indispensable for anyone who wants to feel at home in their own kitchen--country or otherwise. It is and has been the go to book for just about every problem I've needed to solve in the kitchen, and still continues to amaze me with its exhaustive coverage. Susan Restino has a practical approach, combined with a sense of freedom to explore, that highlights what is important to know about the foods and tools you're working with, and lets you figure out how you want the thing to taste, or what ingredients you might like to sub out. Her recipes are big, broad strokes that are hard to mess up. Her coffee cake recipe alone could get just about anybody out of a scrape. Most importantly, she tells you why you ought to do what she suggests, and what will happen if you fudge it a little, or improvise. She dispels snooty kitchen "magic" myths, and cues you in on many of the shortcuts she's figured out along the way. She helps you think about a meal and what is important about it for which reasons. Are you cooking for someone who's sick? Are you trying to use up a huge pile of zucchini? Mrs. Restino is there for you. She's like the kitchen's own country doctor.