need a beginner's cookbook

[apac]

I have a good friend who is a hopeless cook, and lives by a few recipes

- grilled cheese
- scrambled eggs / toast
- egg salad
- tuna melts
- pasta

Recently, he cooked some chicken that wasn't bad, but could have used some work. The recipe composed of coating chicken legs in wing sauce and baking them in the oven. So yeah, we're talking basics here.

Any suggestions?

 

[iGas]

4 ingredient cookbook

college student cookbook

 

[Chronoshock]

Alton Brown's book: http://www.amazon.com/Im-Just-...&qid=1253256685&sr=8-1
Gives great, simple recipes along with explanation of cooking techniques and the science behind cooking

 

[Crono]

http://www.amazon.com/Frugal-G...&qid=1253280263&sr=1-1

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Chronoshock
Alton Brown's book: http://www.amazon.com/Im-Just-...&qid=1253256685&sr=8-1
Gives great, simple recipes along with explanation of cooking techniques and the science behind cooking

Alton Brown is the man. His recipes are usually the best versions. His show is a little cheesy but good.

 

[PottedMeat]

Good Eats DVDs instead? Tell him to copy the food he likes.

 

[TwiceOver]

For the absolute basics, the standard Betty Crocker cookbook from the '60s - '70s can't be beat. I'm sure there is a reprint of this out there.

 

[Fritzo]

I usually recommend the Betty Crocker Cookbook

It has recipies that common people would use everyday, uses ingredients that most people would have around the house, and teaches simple cooking concepts that apply to other areas. The mistake every beginning cook makes is getting a $50 "super-fancy-pantsy" cookbook that shows you how to do things a 10 year chef would need to practice at to get good. This book shows the basics- which is what most people want.