Any recommendations on a good cook book for beginners?

Answer 1

Everyone gives Joy of Cooking, but it's a bit overwhelming. Most of the Betty Crocker cookbooks are user-friendly and have helpful conversion charts in them (like Quick and Easy). The Betty Crocker website (link below) has a search feature for online recipes. Even the Pillsbury and Betty Crocker magazine cookbooks at the checkouts in grocery stores are good. I highly recommend the Cooking Light magazines - they have great recipes in them. Another great resource are the online recipes - allrecipes.com is a good start.

Answer 2

Definitely Nigel Slater's Real Fast Food. After that some of his other books. His recipes are written so that you can cook them, not so that he can boost his ego. When you have had a bit more practice, Raymond Blancs Simple French FOod or Simon Hopkinson's Roast CHicken & Other Stories. Stay away from Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson - they try to make it sound simple but the recipes don't always work. Avoid Gordon Ramsay's books like the plague. They have some lovely things in them but the recipes are designed, like the tv programmes, to annoy. Finally - the little recipe cards that some supermarkets give away free by the checkout are often (though not everytime) written for beginner cooks and usually highlight seasonal produce that's on special offer, so keep your eyes open for them.

Answer 3

This book's recipes are simple and versatile. It provides all the basic things, like sauces and pastry, and has a very wide variety of recipes. It also gives a little background on different ingredients and it showcases certain staples of cooking, like a section on how to make different cheesecakes, and none involve coolwhip, lol.
I've found the book very useful. And it's not outrageously priced. It holds up well to having stuff spilled on its pages too, hehe.

Answer 4

Family Circle's Cooking: The Common Sense Guide. Great variety, pictures and easy to follow recipes.

Answer 5

Any recommendations on a good cook book for beginners?

yes, one in your mother language and one that has small words that doesn't confuse you too much...

Answer 6

Betty Crocker

Answer 7

Delia Smith's "How to Cook". It's a series and I use it even though I'm not a beginner.

Answer 8

Betty Crocker for sure -- very basic instructions, explains the different cuts of meats, measurements and give suggestions on substitutions. Betty Crocker has many cookbooks, so look for the basic one, nothing specific, 'just for baking', etc.

Answer 9

Yeah "Cooking for Dummies"they got a book like that for everything else why not cooking?!

Answer 10

Americas Test Kitchen, it gives easy to read charts, ways to store food, it is simply wonderful, I gave it to my little sister (18) who is terrible. She has made several things,baking and dinner items and they all came out great. Plus it come in a three ring binder so you can add your own recipies.