I don't know much about the Allrecipe's Books. I do know that you can't beat "The Joy of Cooking." It has everything from the very simple to much more complicated recipes. A very comprehensive book.

I would go with one of the classics too. "Joy of Cooking", "Better Homes and Gardens", and good old "Betty Crocker" come immediately to mind. Julia Child's "The Way to Cook" is a fabulous book but may be a bit daunting to a new cook.

"Joy of Cooking" would be my first choice, it is very comprehensive and down to earth.

I'd say Betty Crocker or Joy of Cooking..
I really enjoy Nigella Lawson cook books..she has some that have simple ingredients and simple/quick process..and she's a very colorful fun writer with lots of antidotes and gorgeous pictures.

Since I have both of the AllRecipes books, I do think they are quite good and fine for a beginning cook. I also like the Kitchen Survival Guide by Lora Brody for new cooks.

If your daughter or her hubby has an analytical/geeky bent you might consider the America's Test Kitchen 'Best Recipe.'

It differs from most other cookbooks in that they not only tell you what to do, they tell you why you're doing it. I've been cooking for nearly four decades and I'm just now getting into the science of cooking, and the Best Recipe format is a fairly painless way to do that.

Here is a link that might be useful: Best recipes

I'd recommend three:

Joy of Cooking
How to Cook Everything (Mark Bittman)
DK's Cookbook for Beginners series (various cuisines, various authors)

Joe

I'm relatively new to cooking myself and have both the BH&G and America's Test Kitchen "New Best Recipes" cookbook. If I have a question of how to do something or why it works a certain way, I go to the ATK book first. If I'm looking for something simple on a weekday evening, I go to the BH&G cookbook. Both are great, but I really like to look at pictures for inspiration so sometimes the ATK book just doesn't do it for me. I will say I'm a geek, so I really do like having all the extra info ATK provides... :)

I just got Ina Garten's Back to Basics cookbook and it has beautiful pictures for inspiration as well as tips for knowing you've done it right. When I was making the apple tart last week, I was freaking out that it was burning. Then I reread the recipe instructions and she specifically says to not worry if the sugar slips off the tart and burns a bit. I calmed down, finished the baking and had a great dessert. Understanding the why's and hows and being reminded to not panic can be very important to novices like myself.

Bri

Our DD learned on Better Homes and Gardens. It gave her a photo so she had a visual of what it was supposed to look like! Also it has many tables and equivalents which is also helpful for the newbie.

I know nothing about their cookbooks but their site is not the 1st place I go for recipes. Too many general, vauge untested recipes out there. The Williams Sonoma Collection is a beautiful series for cooks, especially new ones. Lots of photos and lots of info with good recipes. Books take one topic at a time like
Roasting, Baling etc. Joy is what I learned on but no pix!

I have many of the cookbooks listed above, but Cooking by James Peterson is my favorite for learning how to do basics (and beyond) like braising, roasting, sauteeing etc.

Good photos, too.

Judi

Here is a link that might be useful: Cooking

For my daughter's first married Christmas, I made a 3-ring binder of family favorites. They were in plastic sleeves so she could pull out one recipe at a time to have on the counter. I spelled it out as simply as I could and included comments or pictures that would be helpful. For the husband, you might pick up some of those kiddie trays where they have dividers. Or...ask his mother for some of her recipes.

Thank you for all the suggestions. She doesn't have any cook books at all yet. I think she is enjoying cooking but getting frustrated also. She is trying to balance college, homework, house cleaning etc and needs the quick and easy recipes.