What’s the cookbook you couldn’t live without?

Stumbling along the internet today, and I came across this page What’s the cookbook you couldn’t live without?.
I am so intrigued by the inspiration of others…the whole idea of a list of favourite cookbooks makes it so much easier to know what to look for amongst the thousands of titles out there–otherwise, how do you choose?

What makes a great cookbook for you?  What kind of book do you gravitate towards these days?

I know that many are drawn towards fancy photography, flashy names and unusual ingredients–not me.  If you have perused the list of my favourite books that I listed a few weeks ago, you will know already that none of those books has even one photograph in it–just recipes.  …and most of those are basic, not flashy, have in the cupboard kind of ingredients.  Down home, everyday cooking.  Mmmm.

What is your “can’t live without cookbook”?  I would love to be able to post a listing of everyone’s favourite books here, as an easy “go to” list…send me the name, author and don’t forget to list your favourite recipe from it!

Here is yet another cake recipe from my fav (…yeah, you know the one..FTRShmecks)

Spice Cake
1/2 cup butter
1cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 cup sour cream
1tsp soda
1 3/4 cup flour
3 tsp baking powder

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Blend butter and sugar well.  Add eggs and beat with hand mixer.  Combine sour cream with soda (the cream should double in volume–but it’s okay if it doesn’t…)  add alternately with flour and baking powder to creamed mixture.  Spread half the batter in a greased 9×9 pan. Sprinkle with half the topping mixture.  Cover with remaining batter and sprinkle the rest of the topping on top. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Enjoy!