5. The book lays flat. Is there is anything more annoying than trying to follow a recipe when the book keeps slapping shut? A user-friendly cookbook has a plastic comb, wire coil, or lay-flat binding. How can you tell if the binding is lay-flat? Hold the book open with both hands and look at the spine. If the cover is attached to the end pages, but not attached to the spine, the binding is lay flat. Force the pages open by running your hand down the length of the open book. You will not damage the binding.

6. An extensive index. Cookbook indexes should list recipes both by name and main ingredients. Want to make Florentine rice? You should be able to find it under "F" for Florentine, "R" for rice and "S" for spinach. A good index makes the cookbook one you'll use again and again.

7. Provide inspiration. A cookbook should inspire you to go beyond the written recipe and experiment on your own. Some books do this by suggesting alternative ingredients, others by the shear creativity of the recipes. Cooking is a creative endeavor and the best cookbooks will serve as a jumping off point to your own unique dishes.

Follow these tips and soon you will have a shelf of dust free cookbooks!

About the Author

Renee Pottle is the author of "I Want My Dinner Now! - Simple Meals for Busy Cooks" and "The Happy Lunchbox - 4 weeks of menus and recipes". As a Home Economist and Instructor, she follows her own advice when writing or buying a cookbook! Visit her web site at: www.craftandcook.com. ?2005.