Learn from the queen of French cuisine.

Never mind trendy cookbooks by modern celebrity chefs—sometimes, it feels good to go back to the classics. While some swear by the multitude of recipes in "The Joy of Cooking," if you're in the mood ...

I can still see her, cigarette in mouth, a mug of coffee or cheap red wine within arm’s reach, standing at our kitchen island. My mom is chopping, mashing, dicing. Frying, braising, sautéing. Broiling ...