I just received my copy of Joy of Cooking – 75th Anniversary Edition. Flipping through it took me back to all of the times that I poured over the pages of my grandma’s copy, when I was in my early teens. Those were the days!

This was and still is a WONDERFUL cookbook. Everyone should add it to their collection, regardless of their level of cooking expertise. It is truly in a class by itself.

This particular edition of Joy of Cooking has over 1100 pages. It contains 4500 recipes…500 of which are brand new. It is packed with food history and reference, trivia and countless tips and tricks, as well.

The first edition of the Joy of Cooking was published in 1931, by Irma Rombauer. (Believe it or not, it was self-published. She published 3000 copies, using the insurance money her husband left her.) Her daughter, Marion, was the books cover designer, illustrator and recipe tester.

1936 marked the first year that the Joy of Cooking was published by a publishing house. 10,000 copies were printed and sold for $2.50 each.

There have been several other editions published, throughout the years. This includes leather bound copies, published in 1963 and 1975, marketed as the ‘Bridal Edition’.

Do you own an older edition of Joy? Feel free to share your review.