My favorite is also Sundays at the Moosewood. But I have a James Beard book from years back which is my "bible" for all the basics. I also keep a Joy of Cooking around and about 30 ethnic cookbooks.

I tend to read them, too, and never really follow a recipe completely. I use them to get basic ideas, then sort of make it up depending on the ingredients I have on hand.

My first? I don't remember the names (I still have it, but I can't find anything right now) but one was a vegetarian soup cook book and the other a tantric bread book. Made the best bread! Those days are over, tho.
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