The Holy Bible

I was given "Talking Dirty with The Queen of Clean" and "Talking Dirty Laundry with The Queen of Clean" for my birthday about 7 years ago. They have been one of the most useful and worthwhile reference books in my house! Even my friends call me with cleaning and laundry questions like "How do I get wax out of my favorite jeans?" and "I just moved into a great appartment with a disgustingly dirty kitchen---HELP!?!"

What to Eat by Marion Nestle steers the way through the chaotic and conflicting information about eating healthy. There are loads of tips for grocery shopping, reading labels, and weighing organic vs. conventional produce. I check the book often and feel like it's made me a confident consumer.

Definitely, the Better Homes and Gardens Red Plaid Cook Book. Not only does it have a recipe for almost anything you want to cook, but it has facts about food. Anytime you need to find out about a certain cut of meat or the fastest way to cook a vegetable, it's all in there.

My thesaurus is always at my fingertips. It can bring relief to a mental block and free the mind for more great writing ideas.

Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook. It is absolutley the best textbook I have ever owned. She is brilliant!!

My Peterson's Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies is a constant companion. I live in coastal SC, and the birdwatching opportunities are phenomenal, from Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens to the retention pond behind Tanger Mall...we're part of the migratory path of so many bird species. Having this book with me (usually) helps me identify them and learn about them.

My favorite reference book is:
The Oxford dictionary/thesaurus combo

www.visualthesaurus.com

Ok, this isn't a book, but it's my favorite reference tool. This website shows a spider-web of possible synonyms for any word. It's great for work, crossword puzzles, and thank you notes.

The Joy of Cooking cannot be beat as a cooking reference. I received my first copy when I was 15 as a Christmas gift from my grandmother and I've just updated every few years since. Whether it's an everyday standard and I can't remember the details or a completely new ingredient that I'm working with, the Joy of Cooking always has the answer.

Wellness Foods A to Z. This book is my favorite guide to nutritious cooking. I look up food, see what vitamins, minerals, fiber, calories etc. it has to help plan meals. Can I substitue another food that is better for me? This book lets me know.

The Bible! There's an answer to just about any moral quandry you might have.

For kitchen-cooking reference, nothing beats the 12 vol. Women's Day Encyclopedia of Cooking. Yes-the 1970s one! Have to adjust for today's more heart-smart and health sensitive cooking, but otherwise this is packed with info on ingredients, cooking techniques, recipies from all over the world and ones that taste like 'Mom" made them.