Best cookbook for son moving out?

[pittypat]

My DS19 is getting his own apartment and wants me to write down a recipe for "everything I cook" (his words). Does anyone have a suggestion for a cookbook that is just the simple, basic stuff that would be good for a brand new, male, cook?

 

[wowsmom]

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.

 

[Hercules10]

When I moved out the only recipes I used were canned chili and speed dial to the closest pizza place.

 

[Robinrs]

My DS19 is getting his own apartment and wants me to write down a recipe for "everything I cook" (his words). Does anyone have a suggestion for a cookbook that is just the simple, basic stuff that would be good for a brand new, male, cook?

Wow, that was a BIG compliment!! I wish I had asked MY mom... my son would want just the OPPOSITE of "everything I cook"....

 

[ducklite]

http://www.amazon.com/Man-Can-Plan-Great-Meals/dp/1579546072

 

[Crankyshank]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0028610105/interactiveda475-20

 

[suzimar57]

here are the 3 i gave my DS (21) recently:

better homes & gardens "anyone can cook"

better homes & gardens new cookbook

what's a cook to do? (james peterson) - not so much a cookbook as a reference book

DS is in last year college, sharing on-campus efficiency apartment with 3 other roommates - they appreciate the cookbooks!

 

[swanmom]

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.

 

[mgilmer]

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.

 

[lovetoscrap]

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 also agree that the red and white Better Homes and Gardens book is good. I have the Joy of Cooking and use it sometimes but I think it would be a bit overwhelming for a son on his own for the first time. It is a bit much--short on photos, long on small text and detailed explaination. Not really a guy's book!

 

[lynninpa]

One of Rachel Rays's cookbooks would be great! Also The Joy of Cooking for the "basics."

 

[DMickey28]

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 also agree that the red and white Better Homes and Gardens book is good. I have the Joy of Cooking and use it sometimes but I think it would be a bit overwhelming for a son on his own for the first time. It is a bit much--short on photos, long on small text and detailed explaination. Not really a guy's book!

That sounds like a cool book!!!

I second the red and white Better Homes and Gardens book as well. That's my go to book. The Joy of Cooking was too overwhelming for me!! I bought the Better Homes and Gardens book for my brother and his girlfriend this summer when they moved out and in together. They really appreciated it and use it all the time!! BTW: My brother is more of a cook than she is and he's 26.

 

[suzimar57]

also gave DS "where's mom now that i need her?" when he moved into his dorm 3 years ago - it has come in handy many times for him!!

 

[pittypat]

I just got home from the bookstare and I decided that any cookbook that has "escarole" listed in any recipe is probably out of the question!

 

[Ciao Mickey]

My DS19 is getting his own apartment and wants me to write down a recipe for "everything I cook" (his words). Does anyone have a suggestion for a cookbook that is just the simple, basic stuff that would be good for a brand new, male, cook?

The Joy of Cooking is the best all around cookbook.

 

[scottishduffy]

My hubby got a book called "A Man, A Can, and A Plan" when we were in college. I believe someone linked to it on Amazon up above. It is insanely easy recipes that usually involve a few canned items and was perfect for making dorm food. Try that one!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

We're talking about a 19 year old boy. Unless he's going off to study being a chef, his requirements for food will be (1) easy, (2) quick, (3) edible:

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Cook...6935605?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193174256&sr=8-1


Alternatively, if he's the engineering sort:

http://www.amazon.com/Im-Just-Here-...6935605?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193174367&sr=1-1

 

[gdulaney]

Help! My Apartment Has a Kitchen Cookbook: 100 + Great Recipes with Foolproof Instructions (Paperback) by Kevin Mills and Nancy Mills (his mom)

This one looks pretty easy -- and it was written by a young man with his mom. It even includes "mom tips".

Ginny

 

[LJC1861]

I also got "Where's Mom Now That I Need Her" when I first moved out on my own. It has some wonderful and very easy recipes in it. Also the tips that another poster mentioned on laundry and such also came in very handy. I know the book is still available because I just bought a copy for my niece now that she is moving out on her own.

Linda

 

[TinkerbellMama]

No advice on a book for himself (unless he doesn't eat meat), but tell him if he ever dates a vegetarian he should check out Vegan Planet from the library and make her something from that. She will fall in love with him on the spot, guaranteed!