[RedRoseSAI]

Ah, cooking - one of my favorite topics! I have lots of cookbooks, but the ones I can't live without are:

Fannie Farmer (had it since college, it's in pieces, but I LOVE it)
Joy of Cooking (a classic, as another posted mentioned)
I'm Just Here for the Food by Alton Brown (A fun read, and EXCELLENT at explaining basic cooking theory)
The Kitchen Survival Guide by Lora Brody (good, basic recipies to add to your everyday meal options)

Also, Bon Appetite has the best recipies out of all the cooking magazines I've read. Everything I've ever made has turned out wonderfully.

Good luck - learning to cook well is a skill that always comes in handy!