The Final Word on Spanish Cooking

Looking for perfect paella? Tasty tapas? We have the cookbook for you: 1,080 Recipes by Simone and Inés Ortega. First published in Spain over 30 years ago, this book is the Spanish version of our trusty Joy of Cooking. This recent revision has been worked on by Simone (the original author) and her daughter Inés, and for this English version they have also added extra explanations of the special techniques and ingredients found in some of the recipes. This book covers it all - vegetables, meats, desserts, appetizers, eggs, sauces and stews - and has some additional bonuses. In the back of the book are a variety of menu suggestions from famous chefs familiar with Spanish cooking. You could cook a lobster paella from a Valencian restaurant beloved by Ernest Hemingway, or rhubarb flan from the highest-rated Spanish restaurant in New York City. There is also an interesting list of cooking tips and a glossary of terms in the back of the book. I'll pass on the stew of lamb's organs (which are apparently hard to obtain outside the Mediterranean, anyway), but sign me up for the ricotta cheese with peaches in syrup (queso fresco con melocotones en almibar). Yum!