GregoryHarper
Assistant Cook
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2011
- Messages
- 5
I've just started to grow an interest in serious cooking!
Anybody has a good cooking book to start with?
Thank you!
Anybody has a good cooking book to start with?
Thank you!
ISO a good cooking book to begin with
- Thread starter GregoryHarper
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone that enjoys cooking.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Aunt Bea
Master Chef
I am a big fan of Marion Cunningham for American home style cooking. Her book learning to cook with Marion is a good basic book. She also edited the Fanny Farmer cookbook which is great as an everyday reference, mine is a paperback that is held together with rubber bands and tape because it has been used so much. She has written many others and they are all cozy comfort food type cookbooks. Check online I am sure you can find them used for a small price.
jennyema
Chef Extraordinaire
Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything"
Joy of cooking
Essentials of Cooking (Petersen)
Ruhlman's Twenty
Essentials of Cooking (Petersen)
Ruhlman's Twenty
Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
Joy of Cooking was also my first cookbook. I found the recipes not only accurate, but informative. I learned a lot from that book. It's literally falling apart as it's quite old now.
Seeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
Seeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
Sir_Loin_of_Beef
Chef Extraordinaire
The Fanny Farmer Boston Cooking School Cookbook. Every standard American meal you've ever wanted to make is in there!
I started with Betty Crocker. Easy to follow recipes.
I made my first Thanksgiving dinner using these recipes and everything came out perfect.
I made my first Thanksgiving dinner using these recipes and everything came out perfect.
Dawgluver
Chef Extraordinaire
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2011
- Messages
- 25,033
All of the above. Also, any church or organization cookbook.
I agree. It was one of the first one's I owned and I still go back to it for recipes.
If you can find it their Cookie Book is a great one too.
letscook
Head Chef
Betty crocker for me.
I was given a childrens betty crocker cookbook and cooked everything, on my 12th birthday I was given the big book - I was so excited I have gotten 2 new ones thru the years. I still have all of them.
I have an uncle that bless his heart, I used him for my taster. I told him to be honest and he was, we laugh at some of those recipes, now at 57 yrs old I still included him in my new and old recipes. He always tells me whats next and what I should make next, stating his tastebuds need to revisit some food.
I also have the cookie book, He really loved that one, I made everyone off them. lol
The memories past and present !!!
I was given a childrens betty crocker cookbook and cooked everything, on my 12th birthday I was given the big book - I was so excited I have gotten 2 new ones thru the years. I still have all of them.
I have an uncle that bless his heart, I used him for my taster. I told him to be honest and he was, we laugh at some of those recipes, now at 57 yrs old I still included him in my new and old recipes. He always tells me whats next and what I should make next, stating his tastebuds need to revisit some food.
I also have the cookie book, He really loved that one, I made everyone off them. lol
The memories past and present !!!
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danbuter
Senior Cook
I also recommend Bittman's "How to Cook Everything". He uses simple ingredients, and the food is good.
Snip 13
Master Chef
South African Cookbook- Heritage Publishing
It's not only South African Recipes it's cuisine from many countries. There is not much that this book doesn't teach you.
It includes cooking techniques and everything else you need as a beginner and it was pretty cheap!
I was just a bit bummed since I bought it for the traditional SA recipes only to find out it's full of European cuisine too.
It was like buying an apple only to get home and find out it's an orange! Even though the orange might be really tasty it's still not an apple lol!
It's not only South African Recipes it's cuisine from many countries. There is not much that this book doesn't teach you.
It includes cooking techniques and everything else you need as a beginner and it was pretty cheap!
I was just a bit bummed since I bought it for the traditional SA recipes only to find out it's full of European cuisine too.
It was like buying an apple only to get home and find out it's an orange! Even though the orange might be really tasty it's still not an apple lol!
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Max Sutton
Senior Cook
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2008
- Messages
- 195
Now You're Cooking
I used NOW YOU'RE COOKING (1994) by Elaine Corn. It was like having the author right there helping me in my apartment kitchen.
I also picked up a lot of cooking tips watching Giada De Laurentiis on her "Everyday Italian" TV cooking show. She explains why she does various things while she cooks.
Remember to always have fun while you are cooking.
I used NOW YOU'RE COOKING (1994) by Elaine Corn. It was like having the author right there helping me in my apartment kitchen.
I also picked up a lot of cooking tips watching Giada De Laurentiis on her "Everyday Italian" TV cooking show. She explains why she does various things while she cooks.
Remember to always have fun while you are cooking.
niquejim
Senior Cook
Tom Colicchio's "Think Like a Chef"
Tom Colicchio's "Think Like a Chef": DCFoodies.com
After reading this book I started planning meals at the store once I saw what was good
Tom Colicchio's "Think Like a Chef": DCFoodies.com
After reading this book I started planning meals at the store once I saw what was good
NotActuallyaHero
Cook
It's almost embarrassing for some reason. When I was 11 or 12 I was a pretty fat little kid and I could barely put together a bowl of cereal without setting the kitchen on fire.
My mom gave me the "Better Homes and Gardens: Chocolate" cookbook from like 1980 and managed to barely make a cake. It was falling apart and was by far the saddest looking cake in the world but I was seriously proud of it. I've been cooking like crazy ever since.
My current favourite cookbook is actually "The Gallery of Regrettable Food" but the difference is I love it because it's hilarious and not because I'm a fat little kid. Seriously, there's a lot of marshmallows in this thing.
My mom gave me the "Better Homes and Gardens: Chocolate" cookbook from like 1980 and managed to barely make a cake. It was falling apart and was by far the saddest looking cake in the world but I was seriously proud of it. I've been cooking like crazy ever since.
My current favourite cookbook is actually "The Gallery of Regrettable Food" but the difference is I love it because it's hilarious and not because I'm a fat little kid. Seriously, there's a lot of marshmallows in this thing.
CookNow
Cook
My wife swears by "The Joy of Cooking," and I started out with the ubiquitous "Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook." "The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook" is another one that I've heard a lot of good things about.
babetoo
Chef Extraordinaire
betty crocker was for me. now mostly i just cook without a cook book. not baking, mind you but cooking.
Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
Whatever cookbook you choose, remember, recipes are a starting point, not the goal. Learn the techniques, and how to use the tools of cooking from the books. Real cooking comes when you start experimenting with flavors and techniques to create your own masterpieces.
It is absolutely true that the first time I roasted a chicken on my Webber Grill, I followed a recipe. It gave me technique. I was able to take what I learned from grilling that chicken, and transfer it to roasting turkeys both in the oven, and on the grill. They come out perfect because I was able to learn how meat reacts to heat, and to different kinds of heat. That's what you use your cookbook for. It is a teaching tool.
And don't be afraid to alter the recipes. You will get the hang of it in no time. That's the lesson I try to teach in my blog.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
It is absolutely true that the first time I roasted a chicken on my Webber Grill, I followed a recipe. It gave me technique. I was able to take what I learned from grilling that chicken, and transfer it to roasting turkeys both in the oven, and on the grill. They come out perfect because I was able to learn how meat reacts to heat, and to different kinds of heat. That's what you use your cookbook for. It is a teaching tool.
And don't be afraid to alter the recipes. You will get the hang of it in no time. That's the lesson I try to teach in my blog.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
