I have one item that I faithfully bring with me from home to home.  I love my great-grandmother's "Purity Flour" cookbook from the 1930's. It's friendly presence in any place that I live makes me feel at home.  You don't have to be a culinary genius to please your family.  Nor do you have to live in the kitchen.  If you can churn out 12 awesome suppers and whip up a few outstanding desserts then your family will think you are a kitchen rock star!