Seventy-five years ago, a St. Louis widow named Irma Rombauer took her life savings and self-published a book called The Joy of Cooking. Her daughter Marion tested recipes and made the illustrations, and they sold their mother-daughter project from Irma's apartment.

Today, nine revisions later, the Joy of Cooking -- selected by The New York Public Library as one of the 150 most important and influential books of the twentieth century -- has taught tens of millions of people to cook, helped feed and delight millions beyond that, answered countless kitchen and food questions, and averted many a cooking crisis.

A Thanksgiving stuffed with side dishes

Turkey steals the thanksgiving show, but we all know the side dishes really shine potentially overshadowing Tom Turkey. Prepare a few well-chosen side dishes along with some family favorites to grace the table. Select your favorite pumpkin or JOY’s Mock Mincemeat Pie, or both, to end the meal and the job is complete, except for the cooking!

Oyster BISQUE

About 4 cups

Combine in the top of a double boiler set directly on medium-low heat:

2 to 4 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon minced onion or leek, or 1 small garlic clove, minced, or 1⁄2 cup minced celery

Cook, stirring, until the butter is melted and the onion is tender but not browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in:

1 to 11⁄2 pints shucked oysters, coarsely chopped, with their liquor

11⁄2 cups milk

1⁄2 cup heavy cream

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄8 teaspoon white pepper or paprika

Place the top of the double boiler over, not in, boiling water. When the milk is hot, and the oysters float, remove the soup from the heat and pour a small quantity over:

    2 beaten egg yolks.

Mix well, then slowly return this mixture to the hot soup. Heat over low heat for 1 minute; do not allow to boil. Add:

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Serve at once.

Pumpkin Soup

About 5 cups

Heat in a soup pot over medium heat:

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil

Add and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes:

1 cup minced onions

1⁄2 cup minced celery

Stir in:

3 cups canned pumpkin or 2 pounds fresh pumpkin, cooked

3 cups scalded milk, 997, or chicken stock or broth

(3⁄4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half if you are using the chicken stock)

(1⁄2 cup finely julienned ham)

1 tablespoon sugar or 2 tablespoons brown sugar

(1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger)

(1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon)

Salt and black pepper to taste

Heat through, but do not boil. Puree and reheat.

Mashed cauliflower

4 servings

Cut out the tough end of the stem of:

1 cauliflower

Cut into florets. Place in a large pot and add:

2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

1 cup chicken or vegetable stock or broth or water

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Bring to a simmer and simmer until the cauliflower is tender, about 10 minutes. Add:

1⁄2 cup heavy cream, half-and-half, or whole milk

1 tablespoon butter

Mash, or puree in a food processor. Season with:

Black pepper to taste

(Minced chives)

(1 tablespoon chopped parsley or tarragon)

Root vegetable puree

4 to 6 servings

The potatoes lend this puree a light texture and delicate flavor.

Place in a large saucepan:

8 ounces all-purpose or baking potatoes, peeled and thickly sliced

Add water to cover generously, bring to a boil, and cook for 5 minutes. Add:

1 pound carrots or parsnips, peeled and cut into thick slices, or 11⁄2 pounds celery root, salsify, turnips, or rutabaga, peeled and diced

Continue to cook until the potatoes and other vegetables are completely tender, about 25 minutes. Drain and return the vegetables to the pan. Over low heat, mash the vegetables with a potato masher or beat with a hand-held mixer until smooth. Or, for the smoothest texture, puree in a blender or food processor. Mix in:

1⁄2 cup milk or heavy cream

11⁄2 tablespoons butter, softened

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄4 teaspoon white pepper

Taste and adjust the seasonings, and heat through.

Creamed pearl onions

4 servings

This dish can be assembled 1 day ahead, covered, and refrigerated, then baked when ready to serve.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Drop into a large saucepan half-filled with cold water:

1 pound pearl onions

Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, remove the onions and peel, then return to the boiling water. Simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1⁄3 cup of the cooking liquid. Transfer the onions to a shallow greased 2-quart baking dish.

Melt in a small saucepan over medium heat:

11⁄2 tablespoons butter

Stir in:

11⁄2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat until fragrant but not colored, about 3 minutes. Add the reserved cooking liquid, along with:

1⁄2 cup milk

1⁄2 cup half-and-half or additional milk

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄4 teaspoon black or white pepper

(1⁄8 teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg)

Bring to simmer and cook, whisking constantly, 3 minutes. Pour the mixture over the onions and sprinkle with:

(1 cup shredded Swiss; about 4 ounces)

Bake until bubbly, about 15 minutes.

Whole Berry cranberry sauce

6 to 8 servings

Combine, bring to a boil, and stir until the sugar is dissolved:

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

Boil the syrup 5 minutes. Add:

4 cups cranberries (1 pound)

Simmer the berries in the syrup very gently, uncovered, without stirring, until the berries are translucent, about 5 minutes. Skim off any foam. Add, if desired:

(2 teaspoons grated orange zest)

Pour the berries into 1 large or several individual molds that have been rinsed in cold water. Chill until firm. Unmold to serve.

Mock Mincemeat Pie

One 9-inch double-crust pie

This JOY classic originally appeared in the 1931 edition.

Cut into pieces:

11⁄2 cups seeded raisins

Peel, core, and slice:

4 medium-sized tart apples or a combination of apples and green tomatoes (3 cups)

Combine the raisins and apples. Add:

Grated rind of 1 orange

Juice of 1 orange (1⁄2 cup)

1⁄2 cup cider or other fruit juice

Cover these ingredients and simmer until the apples are very soft. Stir in until well blended:

3⁄4 cup sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon each cinnamon and cloves

2 to 3 tablespoons finely crushed soda crackers

If the apples are dry, use the smaller amount. This mixture will keep for several days. Shortly before using it, add:

(1 tablespoon brandy)

Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a pie pan with:

Pie dough

Fill it with mock mincemeat. Cover with a pricked upper crust or with a lattice. Bake at 450°F for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F and bake about 20 minutes longer.