Some things are just plain wrong. Tight-rolled jeans. Ketchup on eggs. The cat lady. And now: The Joy of Cooking frozen foods. Even if you disagree about the ketchup, you've got to agree that one of the most brand-diluting stunts in eons is word that "The Joy of Cooking" is now being used to sell new frozen foods. "The Joy of Cooking cookbook has brought dinnertime joy to kitchens since 1931. Today its classic recipes serve as the inspiration for the new line of family-style frozen products." Baked taters. Chicken Florentine. Multi-Grain and Cheddar Ciabatta Rolls. Vegetable Lo Mein.
Pardon my French, but this is f**king ridiculous. What a way to taint a good name. Joy of Cooking is one of the big classics -- the book that inspires new cooks and gets people making things from scratch. It should not be a gateway to dinner laziness and selling foods that you don't cook yourself. There's a reason that Joy of Reheating isn't a book. It doesn't have the same ring, the same magic, the same respectability.
Is there anyone out there who can whip up some magic mojo and bring Irma Rombauer back to life so she can kick the crap out of these people? I'm embarrassed for her.

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1-08-2009 @2:05AM Jacqueline Harrington said... I had to conclude many years ago that EVERYONE does't cook. People that microwave and defrost won't buy this cookbook, they will just read the box.
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1-07-2009 @11:21PM RJ said... Hear!! Hear!! I totally agree!!
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1-07-2009 @8:30PM John said... Monika-
I totally agree with your disbelief that the Joy of Cooking would stoop so low as to publish a non-cookbook. I doubt very seriously that Irma and Marion are still alive and would put their names on such a publication. This is pure bookseller profit mongering. I myself learned to cook from scratch from one of the original printings of the Joy of Cooking. I, for one, will not even consider this book. I hope Irma and Marion are not rolling over in their graves over this. I'm sure there are many other books on how to microwave or heat frozen food out there already for the lazy 'I can't boil water' homemaker. I could rant forever. Thank you for your post.
John Rowin, Seattle
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1-08-2009 @6:47AM RJ said... This is not a book...Joy of cooking now has a line of frozen foods.
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1-08-2009 @9:12AM queenofcuisine said... While I agree with you, I have to say, there can be joy in frozen meals. We got a gift certificate for Christmas for 2 dinners from http://www.EsperanzaCuisine.com. Reheating and eating those was definitely joyful! Regular frozen dinners...not so much.
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1-08-2009 @5:25PM Stef said... This is a travesty. I too learned to cook from an edition of the Joy of Cooking (which is totally falling apart due to use) and it is my go-to book when I need to know how to make something common, or even not so common, from scratch! Considering the original was written in the '30s, during the height of food economy, I know this would not be something that Irma Rombauer would condone.
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1-08-2009 @10:11PM Michael said... Do they not even see that this is a contradiction in terms? If cooking is a joy then why buy frozen dinners?!?!
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1-09-2009 @10:04AM Bernie B said... If this was a book about cooking foods that store well and can be reheated later, I think that would have some merit. There are many of us that only have 1-2 people in our household and end up with a ton of leftovers. A book that talks about food storage and dishes that can be readily frozen or converted to other dishes would be welcome.
Unfortunately, as noted it seems that this is just a shill for their frozen product line.
Sad.
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