Thanks for the replies. I took another look at my bookshelf. I have
_Entertaining_ and _Hors d'Oeuvres_ and a holiday magazine on cookies.
What a surprising mix of styles and advice. The cookie recipes are ones
I've used. The instructions and photographs are clear. She answers
basic questions that someone new to baking might ask. (If you bake all
the time, "cream butter and sugar" is automatic. If you're new to it,
you might appreciate a detailed explanation on what that means in terms
of temperature and texture. Hell, even if you're an old pro, it is nice
to have the nuances explained.) I like the chocolate ginger snaps.


Then I looked through the other books and was reminded of why I never
use them. I could also see how her abrasive personality gets confused
with her basic cooking advice. I love to entertain, but my style is so
different. There's something precious, cold and exacting even in the
cookbooks. Hard to pinpoint.


--Lia