The gospel according to Chris

The Cook's Bible

The Cook's Bible won't stay up on the kitchen shelf for long. Full of practical advice, recipes, charts, and illustrations for anyone interested in classic American cuisine, it's so informative that it could conceivably replace some cooking courses. The book's 50 chapters have such headings as "How To Cook a Turkey" and "Should a Good Cook Use a Microwave Oven?" Thanks to author Christopher Kimball -- founder, publisher, and editor of Cook's Illustrated magazine -- I can now neatly remove an avocado pit, cook a variety of presoaked and unsoaked beans, prepare and steam al dente and fully cooked vegetables, and even make a rich chocolate soufflé without fear. The Cook's Bible, published by Little Brown (464 pages, $29.95), is widely available in local bookstores.

-- Nancy Kalajian