Best cookbook for son moving out?

[Rootskate]

"The Kitchen Survival Guide" ' by Lora Brody is a good one.

 

[swilphil]

I recommend the "Joy of Cooking" by Rombauer. Has all the basics and clear explanations. I've had one in my kitchen for twenty years and still use it frequently.

I like the Joy of Cooking and use it a lot. My mom bought me the ol' Betty Crocker red checked one when I moved out on my own. I may have been intimidated by the Joy of Cooking at that point in my life. Betty Crocker is much simpler.

If you haven't already, have him start helping you in the kitchen and teach him how to make your dishes. Even after he moves out, when he comes home get him to help. I wish my mom would have done more of that.

 

[GirTheGecko]

I have 2 suggestions - the Better Homes and Gardens red and white checkered cookbook and/or the Fannie Farmer cookbook by Marion Cunningham. I have 500+ cookbooks and those are the 2 I turn to most when I need a basic recipe.

My parents used the red checkered one religiously. When I moved out, I got a copy. One problem, it didn't come with all the notes in the margins!

 

[Chicago526]

I've seen a cook book called "A Man, A Can, and a Plan", that sounds like something a young college kid could use, maybe combine that with the Betty Crocker, then he'd have a combo of quick and easy meals along with "how long do I cook a whole chicken" type info.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't know if there's a newer version, but the Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook

http://www.cyberattic.com/stores/JAKGUY/items/612165/item612165cyberattic.html

helped me tremendously (still does when I'm venturing into new territory) when I was learning to cook.

 

[Sandy321]

I recommend the "Joy of Cooking" by Rombauer. Has all the basics and clear explanations. I've had one in my kitchen for twenty years and still use it frequently.

Well I don't know how basic it is, but my mom got me the original version of "The Joy of Cooking" when I was 18. It awakened a real fondness of cooking in me and I have been doing it non stop for 35 years. My wife never does the shopping and rarely cooks and she loves it.

I will add that my first book was from my mil - her copy of Better Homes New Cookbook (she enjoyed buying the new editions) She gave me her copy, WITH her notes in the margins!!

Also, does your son like any TV food shows? DH Loved the Frugal Gourmet so I bought him that cookbook - and he loved making recipes from that - I loved that he cooked!!

DS now 22 was a boy scout and learned to cook there - not sure that he uses a cookbook - he just asks for recipes or goes online....

I think there are 2 simple shows one on PBS Is Americas Test Kitchen
http://www.americastestkitchen.com/

the other is on Food Network "How to Boil Water" with Tyler Florence

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_bw

 

[Imzadi]

If you get the cookbook, "A Man, A Can, and a Plan", make sure you give the warning that most canned foods are high in sodium & fat, so maybe not cook from it everyday.

That being said, I'm recommending another book along the same principles, so give the same warning.

Six-Ingredients Or Less-Quick-Recipes

There is also: 5 Ingredients Or Less

Plus a whole website based on the Members' recipes for 5-or-less-ingredients.

I also agree with one of Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals cookbooks.

Here's a website giving Pantry Basics : Staples. Cross out & add which ones you think DS will actually need & USE.

 

[figment52]

DH's mom gave him a book called Where's Mom Now that I Need Her?" Not only did it have simple recipes it had blank pages in the back where she wrote some of her own recipes. It is a 3 ring binder so you can add more pages if you would like. Now, almost 20 years later I have removed the pages with her recipes to put them in our personal cookbook album we use most often.

It also has instructions for laundry, illness, basic grocery shopping tips, car and bike repair and other important things.



I am pretty sure that I have still seen this book in the stores. There was also a version called "Where is Dad Now that I Need Him?"

:

I gave away many copies of that book for graduation presents and wedding presents. It is a great book for helping gain some independance for the things you took for granted when you lived at home.

 

[daisyduck123]

A MAN, A CAN, A PLAN - 50 GREAT GUY MEALS EVEN YOU CAN MAKE
by David Joachim

I gave it to my bachelor brother.

It's even "heavy duty"....a big board book (pages and all).

Each meal is comprised of only 3-4 ingredients, using Brand-name canned food like chili, corn, tuna, baked beans, etc. Many recipies also include a pound of ground beef.

It also has a picture of every ingredient, & step-by-step instructions.

 

[helenabear]

The Joy of Cooking is the best all around cookbook.

Joy of Cooking is great... but get the updated version. Trust me on this one, I have both and the new one is much better for those who don't want to use things like lard

 

[jenwolgey]

How To Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman...he is not a chef, but a home cook, and gives basic, no-frills advice. I love his book, also the Better Homes and Gardens book.

 

[ducklite]

I've seen a cook book called "A Man, A Can, and a Plan", that sounds like something a young college kid could use, maybe combine that with the Betty Crocker, then he'd have a combo of quick and easy meals along with "how long do I cook a whole chicken" type info.

That's the one I linked to in one of the first posts. My son has a couple versions of that book and uses it a lot when I'm not home in the evening. Almost every ingredient is staples that you'd have in your pantry, and a lot of it is microwaveable.

 

[kellyg403]

I also wanted to agree with the Man, Can, Plan cookbook. When ex and I were first divorced, my dd had to cook all the time when she was there. She was always complaining she had to use forks to make grilled cheese and she could barely eat pizza or McDonald's anymore. That Christmas we went out and bought a bunch of utensils and this cookbook. Believe it or not, he started cooking and now he actually cooks REALLY well and has graduated to better cookbooks. Plus, the recipies are so simple my boys could help/cook with their dad. The pictures are what I think helped the most, I know my ex had probably no idea what a can of tuna was!

Kelly