Better Homes and GH Live

Despite all of the high-concept cookbooks that come out every year, it’s a pretty safe bet that more American home cooking is informed by what used to be called “women’s magazines” than by any high-falutin’ chefs. Of the 20 best-selling cookbooks of all time, 10 were published by Better Homes and Gardens.

And though they may no longer be the cultural force they used to be, these books are still around. In fact, the “Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book” (Meredith Books, $25.95) is in the same red-plaid three-binder cover that has been used for decades. First published in the 1930s, the book has been updated to include modern trends (there’s a recipe for focaccia). But the jacket isn’t the only thing familiar: There’s a section on all-time favorites, such as potato rolls, cinnamon crisps and potatoes Floradora.

At the same time, Good Housekeeping is stepping up its cookbook program with a half-dozen new books this year. While its “Illustrated Cookbook” and “Step-by-Step Cookbook” are popular, for the first time the magazine has tackled the homiest of kitchen crafts. But “Good Housekeeping Baking” (Hearst Books, $30) is more sophisticated than you might expect. No mere collection of cookies and old-fashioned cakes (though, of course, these are represented), this is a very good baking primer.

Who knows, maybe it’ll shape yet another generation.