PrintBest books / web sites for a real newbie of a cook?
My son, age 19 and just moved into his first college apartment, called me last night and asked for some simple recipes. He has grown up in a house that values a good meal but had never expressed any interest in learning how to fix food for himself until necessity struck! I emailed him a few quick recipes but was wondering if anyone could recommend good books or web sites for a true novice cook! THANKS.
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29 Comments:
Cooks illustrated's Best recipes and Mark Bittman's How to cook everthing would be my choices.
Colorado Jim at 10:36AM on 08/21/07
Having just graduated from uni, the one book that I found most valuable is this old mennonite, "More-With-Less Cookbook". I use it all the time and recommend it to everyone I know. There are great and easy recipes in it. (get the plastic comb edition if you can!)
my first post!
chlamers at 11:30AM on 08/21/07
Real Simple magazine has a cookbook called Meals Made Easy. It is clear, concise,and can satisfy all food tastes.
Mich23 at 11:31AM on 08/21/07
I second the Bittman book. Cooking for Engineers is a great site.
hereandthe at 11:34AM on 08/21/07
Joy of cooking is a staple. Also Cook's Illustrated get a subscritption online or the magazine. Everyday food the show, website and magazine are for beginners. I think a good healthy dose of watching cooking shows adds to your education. Now it is cool to do. Your just baiting the hook you know, soon all the girls will knocking down his door.
JerzeeTomato at 12:00PM on 08/21/07
I gave my intern (that just went off to college) Basic Cooking: All You Need to Cook Well Quickly which seemed to be pretty decent. More about process and "why" than just a bunch of recipes. Slightly off-topic, but a half-way decent chef's knife would likely be a great addition to whatever book you get - that's one of the basic go-to tools that you need to have.
corycm at 12:26PM on 08/21/07
I would recommend Julia Child's The Way to Cook. It's fun to read and she covers everything; she teaches you all the methods/techniques so you can expand upon them. The photographs are excellent. I often turn to it when I have a question. It's full of great recipes, too.
ride&cook at 1:03PM on 08/21/07
I second Bittman's "How to Cook Everything." His recipes are basic, but they teach you to feel comfortable adapting them on your own. Also, the column he did in the NYT a few weeks back with 100 meal ideas would be great--it's full of easy, as well as inexpensive, stuff that would be great for a college student.
carriebwc at 1:47PM on 08/21/07
Although it will take a little longer to put together, a collection of recipes from your kitchen would make a wonderful gift. Maybe for Christmas or his birthday, you could give your son a book full of all his favorite foods from your kitchen and family secrets.
July at 2:35PM on 08/21/07
Check out www.amateurgourmet.com and buy Adam Roberts' new book (he says it is out next Tuesday) for your son. The book not only includes many basics, it explains how to get started in the kitchen and at the market.
flip at 3:04PM on 08/21/07
Elise at www.simplyrecipes.com has a nice variety of recipes, good photos, and the comments from her readers are very helpful. I don't follow recipes often, but have followed hers and never been disappointed. www.thepioneerwomancooks.com also has great step by step photos of really tasty recipes-not a lot of them, but all winners and with a great dash of humor. I love all the books/mags mentioned, but think that Cooks Illustrated, The Way to Cook, et al could actually scare a true beginner off!
Cary at 4:04PM on 08/21/07
I agree with flip: Adam Roberts, The Amateur Gourmet is the way to go. So funny & posts great, simple recipes. I also think the Julia Child Way to Cook is an excellent choice.
gwenpentland at 5:05PM on 08/21/07
I third How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman. I too am a student just starting culinary adventures and this book has been very helpful. It has a great mix of the basics as well as more adventurous recipes, and lots of good information about ingredients, methods and equipment.
flye3076 at 5:05PM on 08/21/07
I think the Joy of Cooking is a good starting point. Alternatively, my mom gave me a book published by chatelaine called '15 minute meals' or something like that, especially good for young students on the go, on a budget. it is organised by basic ingredients: ie by a tin of tomato sauce, an eggplant, a bla bla bla. Its good for the cook who looks in their fridge and says right: I've got a chicken breast, and a lemon - what can I make?
B
http://handtomouthkitchen.wordpress.com
handtomouth at 6:46PM on 08/21/07
the best site i've found for recipes from around the country is allrecipes.com. this free site has thousands of recipes and has a feature that enables you to type in the search box food you have on hand or simply want in a meal and recipes matching your search will come up.
they also have pictures and videos that will teach you to chop onions, store fresh basil, cut up a whole chicken, grill a steak, make stock, get rid of whiteflies on your night blooming jasmine and change the oil in your car.
(sorry, those last things were meant for another website)
olddad at 10:12PM on 08/21/07
Thank you everyone! This is very helpful. I'm going to my bookstore tomorrow to take a look at How to Cook Everything since it seems to be the most popular suggestion. I love the cooking for engineers web site and I think my son will enjoy it too. He's a math major, so that's right up his alley!
If the boy really takes to cooking, it will make my Christmas shopping for him a lot easier!
Library Lady at 9:06AM on 08/22/07
My favorite recipe site is recipezaar.com, which is all recipes submitted by site users - it's a great way to find a variety of recipes using a certain ingredient, or a variety of recipes for a certain dish. It's an easy site to follow, and the user comments and ratings are really helpful. And I second the Cook's Illustrated recommendation - the magazine and the books are both full of easy-to-follow recipes, preceded by an explanation of how the recipe was developed, which is both interesting and helpful.
producestories at 11:39AM on 08/22/07
New York Times Cookbook by Craig Claiborne. Has all the classics, plenty to springboard from for a starter.
spanklin at 1:33PM on 08/22/07
Honestly, nothing beats the good old standard of the Betty Crocker cookbook that has all of the standards of recipes, and if you get the newest editions, they even contain problems with each recipe and how to fix them. It also includes variations on each recipe, and the nutritional information. They are the basic recipes that everyone sort of grew up eating, from casseroles to various egg dishes. But, the newer editions also have categories for vegetarian dishes, easy/simple dishes and quick meals. I have a lot of cookbooks, but when I just need a basic recipe, this is what I usually turn to.
Traveller at 3:05PM on 08/22/07
www.cookingforengineers.com
Basically hold you by the hand and show how to do everything. Perfect for newbies.
grubnoise at 4:23PM on 08/22/07
I second the Amateur Gourmet reference - not only is Adam helpful at explaining things and talented but he's sure to entertain your son!
In terms of recipe websites, there are a bunch out there: allrecipes.com (as one commenter already said,) epicurious.com, recipezaar.com, and recipe4living.com (I work for the last one but they're all really good and helpful with quick and easy recipes.)
Hillary
Chew on That
Recipe4Living
Chew on That at 6:48PM on 08/22/07
This has been a very helpful talk post for me. With all these shared sources, I am bound to improve my cooking skills. I am a pretty basic cook that needs step by step directions with the reassurance of a successful end product.
JEP at 7:09PM on 08/22/07
Anthony Bourdain Les Halles Cookbook.
paris221966 at 10:58PM on 08/22/07
I also recommend How to Cook Everything and Betty Crocker (as well as bettycrocker.com) cookbooks, they got me through college.
Allrecipes.com; anything from Cooks Illustrated--the magazines, website, America's Test Kitchen tv show, and many cookbooks; plus the Joy of Cooking, and many of the other sites suggested above get me through more advanced cooking now, but that's because I didn't know about them in college!
I'd say the America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook is one of my favorites and most used, has great basic techniques, recommendations for kitchen gadets and food purchases and is extremely user-friendly.
If he ever wants to bake anything, Dorie Greenspan's cookbooks have been the greatest addition to my life! She explains everything in detail, gives great tips, and the recipes are to die for!
Have him check the college library for cookbooks if you don't want to buy too many. I always loved when boys cooked for me in college! :-)
bobcatsteph3 at 1:45PM on 08/23/07
Hey, don't forget Marion Cunningham's The Fannie Farmer Cookbook! Tons of information and technique and lots of classic recipes. Where else can you find Indian Pudding? Another good place to go for your questions.
ride&cook at 5:33PM on 08/24/07
one of my favorite basic cookbooks is the Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook ( have an old edition circa 1989). The Bon Appetit Cookbook is also very good. I have never ever had a problem making any Bon Appetit recipe.
Anything by Cooks Illustrated (including the Americas Test Kitchen Book) passes my test as does Fine Cooking and Cuisine at home.
for a great book on Sandwiches... Roadfood Sandwiches.
Irongirl at 10:35AM on 08/25/07
Nigel Slater's Appetite. He doesn't really give recipes, just guidelines and branches out from there. He has a lovely, easy style of writing that makes him feel immediately like he's your best friend in the whole world. And he's a guy. I'm sure your son would appreciate a manly voice in a world that tends to be a little womanly.
Ann at 10:43AM on 08/25/07
I'm no hippie, butThe Moosewood Cookbook is a useful thing. Anybody can cook a hamburger, and students often default to a diet deficient in vegetables because of this.
outsidecounsel at 2:09PM on 08/25/07
I have given several newbies LEARNING TO COOK by Marian Cunningham there are just enough pictures, the copy is easy, and the recipes are good starters for a decent repertoire.
artoeat at 7:55PM on 08/25/07