Since time immemorial, people have loved to cook. Whether it be for themselves after a hectic day or for a dinner party of 20, the experience of dining is something that can be both relaxing and energizing at the same time. Fortunately, the All Recipes website, started in 1997 by a group of Web developers with a passion for cooking, has over 26,000 recipes for the consideration of the discerning...

Produced by CondeNet, this rather prodigious collection of culinary delights contains an archive of over 16,000 recipes. The database may be searched through the use of keywords, or through a number of more elaborate specifications, such as looking for recipes that are kid-friendly, low-fat, or meatless. Visitors can create their own customized online recipe box, view a list of the most popular...

The Michigan State University Library, in partnership with the MSU Museum, have created a fascinating look into American epicurean history with their online trove of influential 19th and early 20th century American cookbooks. Currently, the archive includes page images from 33 cookbooks, and when the project is completed in September 2003, the site will include page images and full-text...

With a website that professes to provide helpful recipes and other such cooking advice, it helps to have an expert at the helm. Well, at the helm of the Leite's Culinaria site is one such expert, David Leite. Leite attended the Institute of Culinary Education and the La Technique program at The French Culinary Institute. He's also written extensively about food in general, and has had pieces...

This site will help users plan and enjoy their Thanksgiving feasts. This Thanksgiving site from the Food Network contains a host of resources, including recipes; turkey, pie, and stuffing guides; wine and leftover tips; and just in case, Kitchen Disaster 911.

If you think you know New England cookery, you might want to take a gander at the Beatrice McIntosh Cookery Collection website. Located at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the collection contains almost 7500 books, pamphlets, and ephemeral items related to this aspect of New England culture. Visitors to the site can search the entire collection, or browse through the "Subjects" area,...

A site that is sure to please your palate is Mimi's Cyber Kitchen, provided by Mimi Hiller. Mimi's Cyber Kitchen, while containing recipes, specializes in links (Internet, not smoky). The site claims thousands of food-related links, in the categories of chocolate, Jewish/Kosher, health foods, seafood, and restaurants, among others. This site will stimulate you to leave your computer and head...

Another great Web site from the Exploratorium in San Francisco (last mentioned in the August 16, 2002 NSDL MET Report), The Accidental Scientist: Cooking is the first in a series of "Web-based projects focusing on the science behind everyday life." Offering a mind-boggling array of food-related information and activities, foodies and science-lovers alike should find this Web site extremely...

Some families pass down cookbooks across generations, often giving them the same importance as a piece of heirloom jewelry or a well-worn piece of furniture. As with many things, the family cookbook can now be passed down electronically, and websites like this one can be of great help in this type of endeavor. When creating a family cookbook using this site, it requires a modest fee, but visitors...

With the advent and proliferation of the Internet and Web access, a multitude of information has become immediately accessible to anyone with a computer and a phone line. Providing home-spun wisdom and advice has been a hallmark of The Old Farmers Almanac since 1792, and their site features quite a bit of free information that will be useful to new visitors and familiar to long-time fans of the...