I need guidance as far as selecting cookbooks for beginners?

Answer 1

1. Look for books with a lot of pictures. For me it helps to see what the dish is supposed to look like. Also, the pictures show techniques.

2. Go to the bookstore or library and thumb through cookbooks that peak your interest.

3. Start with general cooking - Betty Crocker, Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset are some examples of good general cookbooks with graphics.

4.. As you become more comfortable, you can get more wordy books like "The Joy of Cooking" which is just a collection of recipes - some good and some so-so.

Answer 2

The Betty Crocker or Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks are very good for beginners because they give you recipes along with the basics, such as measurements and terminology. One of these is a very good starter cookbook, and feel free to branch out from there. You can find these at most any bookstore and at Wal-Mart.

Answer 3

Betty Crocker are my favorite. It comes with lots of refrences in the back like measurements and it tells you what certain words mean that are sometimes confusing. I think these are great cookbooks for beginners to the Pros. My mother to this day still grabs hers if she has a cooking question.

Answer 4

this has worked for me, i've been married almost 4 years now and have started cooking about 2 years ago, i'm so afraid of a kitchen! but great beginner books are the campbells soup 1-2-3 book and liptons soup mix 1-2-3 book, it shows pictures of exactly what ingredients you'll need and the recipes are really easy and yummy, i got mine at barnes and noble but you can probably get them on amazon.com too, the campbells book is in the shape of a campbells can, also there are 3,4,5 ingredient books you can buy on amazon or the book store where you only need a few ingredients to make a dish, i would start out on these and then move on to rachael ray books, good luck! i didn't know how to cook anything when i got married and i have come a lot farther from these recipe books

Answer 5

The Better Homes and Gardens series of cookbooks are great for beginners.

Answer 6

I would have to say The Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. It is full of illustrations and has all the basics as well as good recipes. I learned to cook many years ago with one.

Answer 7

*30 minute meals by Rachel Ray
*Semi homemade cooking by Sandra Lee
*Betty Crocker

All three are good. They all contain pictures and are easy to follow. There might be some more difficult recipies mixed in but for the most part a beginner would be able to follow the recipes pretty well

Answer 8

For a no fail cookbook, I suggest Betty Crocker. I had one when I started to cook many years ago. I've sinced moved on to bigger and better books, but about once a month or so, I find myself looking something up in "Betty." Best book you'll ever own. Full color photographs, step-by-step instructions, etc. Put it this way--if you can't make one of the recipes out of this book, you weren't meant to be a cook! :)

http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crocker-Cookbook-Everything-Today/dp/0764583743/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6570113-4204902?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174595168&sr=8-1

Answer 9

Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book is awesome. It has several catagories, as well as how-to's, substituions, budget tips, etc. I cant remember where I got mine, but I use it all the time. I'm sure a book store would have it. Also, Taste of Home magazines are great too.
Also KraftFoods.com will send you their Food and Family magazines free, you can request on their website and they have really good, easy recipes.

Answer 10

You might want to try the Taste of Home series. It comes in annual cookbooks as well as monthly magazines. The recipes are tasty and easy to prepare.