Need Recommendations! Cookbooks, Food Processer, etc.

Steps: 21480
Miles: 9.1
Calorie Burn: 2420
Felt better today, was able to get around much better, but still not 100%.

Okay, so tonight I've been thinking about kitchen/food/appliances/my love-hate of cooking and the fact that we are now going our separate ways with meals.

In the past, I have not purchased many cookbooks at all. I find recipes online. However, I would like to buy some. Desperately seeking recommendations for low-calorie, healthful cookbooks. What do you have, what do you love?

Also, I would like to buy myself a good food processor. The one I have was from the '80s and it was junk then and junk now. I cannot even shred carrots in it because they are a soggy, disgusting mess. I want to make soups, I want to blend up veggies and mix them into foods. I'm thinking Kitchen Aide...what do you have, what do you love?

Another goody I want is a immersion blender. I know I wouldn't need both, but I do use my old blender a bit but it is so old it doesn't separate and I want something that comes apart and the blade part can go in the dishwasher.

I want quality here, I want this stuff to last. I have learned it does not pay to buy cheap.

Finally, can anyone share their opinions on Joanna Lund (is that her name?) cookbooks? I noticed she had a food processor cookbook. Are her recipes really healthy? Are they GOOD?

Sure didn't plan on doing anything new and special this year, but I think I would like to learn to cook better. I call myself kitchen challenged. I have proof, at this very moment I'm looking at a burn that is healing from Christmas Eve's dinner when I hit my wrist on the oven rack. d'oh

I'm not looking for "clean" eating cookbooks, but close to clean eating--if that makes any sense. I do not mind an occasional can of Healthy Request cream soup. The more natural ingredients, the better...but I'm not that picky.

Thanks for the help from the kitchen-challenged blogger.

p.s. If you can think of any other kitchen necessity, please share. I do have a Kitchen Aide mixer.