Both my grandmothers were excellent cooks and bakers. I never saw a recipe book in their homes. They had a few recipes hand written on a Church Bulletin or scrap of paper from church potlucks. Usually cake recipes. Neither one made casseroles or one pan dinners. One was a rural farm cook and one was a city living cook. Both went through the depression and knew how to stretch every cent of the food budget. It was expected that if anyone wanted to cook then cook, not many lessons just ask what do I do now? I remember most of my brother's answer to that question was "start over". LOL