I like Annabel Karmel's cookbooks. She has a lot geared toward babies and kids, which can be adapted to regular family meals too. She also has one called "Favorite Family Meals."
We are not vegetarian, but we have "the essential vegetarian cookbook" which has some wonderful recipes. If you really want to eat meat, you could always just add some into these recipes.
I'm not sure if it is still in print, but I have used "The Best of McCall's: A treasury of Favorite Recipes" for many years.
I totally understand your frustration. I ask some of my friends for recipes and often get a bunch of stuff that just seems to try to sell certain products. Ugg, what happened to the good old fashion recipes that list plain simple ingredients?
I recently answered a question on what's for dinner at your house. If you are interested in any of those recipes I would be happy to send you a private message with the recipe. My grandmother never told anyone her recipes, and as a result all those wonderful meals she made us died when she did. I decided that if I find something delicious, I am willing to share. Delicious food is meant to be shared with as many people as possible. If someone eats at my home, likes the meal, asks for the recipe, I gladly write it down for them. And tell them to pass it on...