Cooking for Dummies?

[Nato]

You could also type in the term or cooking method in question into a google search, I also have a few cookbooks but can get lost pretty easily since I'm not familiar with all the terminology. I did many-a-google search for things I wasn't sure of in my cookbooks and my concoctions have all turned out pretty decent It may be a bit tougher to find cooking-specific information, but it's free!

 

[heb1976]

First off, hello everyone! My name is Karilan, I'm 21 and in dire need of some cooking skills.
I've got a handful of cook books, but I've never taken a cooking class and neither of my parents taught me. What I'm looking for is a recommendation for a book that covers the absolute basics.
These books I have look nice and everything...but they assume I already know what they're talking about.
I get lost when they give instructions like "sautee" or "score fish" and amazingly: "pound chicken" (does chicken actually flatten out if I take a mallet to it?!)

Needless to say, I need some help! Does anyone know of a good book that teaches me all the little things?

Thank you in advance!

Just like your title - I have the book "Cooking For Dummies." My mom gave it to me for Christmas after I got married. It tells you all the terms, measurements & all other info in laymen terms. I would pick it up for sure. I still reference it every now and then.

 

[thrintone]

I started trying to perfect the things I liked. Then I've branched out and broadend my culinary horizons.

I think the Cooks Illustrated magazines/cookbooks are the best resources. They give you the recipe and then tell you why it works and all the things they tried before coming up with perfect.