Since bringing home
Cook It in Cast Iron I have become a fan of America's Test Kitchen. This volume contains very detailed explanations for mostly simple mainstays, although there is a decent sampling of international dishes as well. I had great success with Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder with Peach Sauce. Yes, it would be hard to make slow-roasted pig and peaches taste bad in any case, but the sauce contained some surprising seasonings that added great contrast. And mashed sweet potatoes were presented in a way I'd never seen which worked perfectly. An Indian-spiced rice pilaf with dates was also good, and very easy. This would make a nice housewarming / college grad / wedding shower gift.
