My two favorite cookbooks of all time are the better homes and gardens and betty crocker cookbooks from like the 60s. The directions are easy to follow, they have good advice, and everything I've cooked from them has turned out well. There are new versions of both these cookbooks, but I don't know what they're like. If you're a little more adventurous The Vegetarian Planet is another easy but delicious cookbook that is a big favorite at potlucks and dinner parties. The deserts from it are also amazing!
