I agree with other posters about authors such as Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Chloe Coscarelli, Deborah Madison, and Bryant Terry. Terry Hope Romero is also awesome. My favorite cookbook of hers is Salad Samurai. She also co-wrote some books with Isa. A great soup cookbook by Anna Thomas is Love Soup. East by Meera Sodha and East Meets Vegan by Sasha Gill are amazing for Asian dishes. I cook a lot and these authors have the most reliable recipes.