I probably have (NO exaggeration!) about 1,000 cookbooks and I peruse each of them at different times . To pick a favorite is like me telling someone which of my 6 kids I like the best! I like the one that I'm using right now the best, just like we like the kid who is here right now the best! Among my favs might be:
1. Encyclopedia of Creative Cooking...it's a 20 pound book with every possible recipe imaginable. It's a great book to use if I'm making something that I've never made or using ingredients I'm not really experienced in using.
2. Can't go wrong with Betty Crocker's books.
3. Taste Of Home magazine - never found a bad recipe in the magazine .
4. Specialty books like: Pies, Pies,Pies; 1001 Chocolate treats;
Bread Winners; etc.
5. I also LOVE publications of recipes by church folks; school kids; Quilting Board Forum members; Internet has billions of recipes at our fingertips, too.