Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book for beginners and a nice basic reference
Review: Of all the cooking books out there, this would be the one book I would recommend for anyone who wants to learn to cook, but has no kitchen experience at all. It explains basic kitchen terminology and methods in very basic terms....even a child could understand them. If you have much kitchen experience at all, you probably won't learn a whole lot from this book, but it does serve me well as a reference book. For example, if I can't remember exactly how long or how hot to bake a potato, I turn to Cooking for Dummies. It's recipes also serve as a wonderful jumping off point for developing your own cooking creativity. The recipes are very basic, and can always be changed or doctored up to your own tastes.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book for beginners and a nice basic reference
Review: Of all the cooking books out there, this would be the one book I would recommend for anyone who wants to learn to cook, but has no kitchen experience at all. It explains basic kitchen terminology and methods in very basic terms....even a child could understand them. If you have much kitchen experience at all, you probably won't learn a whole lot from this book, but it does serve me well as a reference book. For example, if I can't remember exactly how long or how hot to bake a potato, I turn to Cooking for Dummies. It's recipes also serve as a wonderful jumping off point for developing your own cooking creativity. The recipes are very basic, and can always be changed or doctored up to your own tastes.
Rating: 
Summary: The Greatest Book Ever Written in the History of Mankind
Review: Okay. I have your attention. Several years ago, I searched and searched for ANY book that would simply tell me how to cook. ANY! Finally I found a Godsend, "The New Cook Cookbook" by Raymond Sokolov. But, well, the book deserves five stars in it's own right, but it's not really written for, well - all right - DUMMIES! Then I found this book. It is simply incredible! It sits you down. Lies and tells you that you are not a "Dummie". Then proceeds with a graphic survey of the elements of simply...learning...how to cook! I would also advise those who are expert cookers (or whatever the name- culaniasts maybe) to buy this book as well. We need the basics before we can go ahead. But then we have to go back to the basics time and time again. THIS book goes with me if I'm ever on the Titanic!
Rating: 
Summary: This book covers the obvious bases and does it humorously.
Review: There are lots of cookbooks out there. However, we think "Cooking for Dummies" makes a great Xmas gift for recent graduates or anyone who has just left home or is living on their own. It takes the fear out of cooking for kitchenphobes and will put a good meal in your tummy without much sweat, strain, and stress.We're doing "More Cooking for Dummies" soon and we're looking for readers' true-life tales of disasters in the kitchen. The most bizarre so far is the fellow who mistook his "self-cleaning
Rating: 
Summary: Disorganized, badly edited
Review: There is alot of good information and good simple recipes in this book but the key word is *simple*... Anyone past a novice is going to already know alot of this information. Not that everyone cant use the occasional booster or reference guide. Its just that if you have any knowledge of cooking basics alot of this will be redundant. If you are looking for a general knowledge cook book there are better ones.I can see this being a good book for the beginning teen cook, someone going away to college, getting a first apartment (or dorm room) or even a shower gift for the very uninitiated to cooking.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for the very novice cooks..
Review: There is alot of good information and good simple recipes in this book but the key word is *simple*... Anyone past a novice is going to already know alot of this information. Not that everyone cant use the occasional booster or reference guide. Its just that if you have any knowledge of cooking basics alot of this will be redundant. If you are looking for a general knowledge cook book there are better ones. I can see this being a good book for the beginning teen cook, someone going away to college, getting a first apartment (or dorm room) or even a shower gift for the very uninitiated to cooking.
Rating:
Summary: Bachelor(cooking clueless) finds help and guidence with book
Review: This book has helped me so incredibly much.
Mainly because i didnt even know the basics.. Terms in such..
The last straw for me was when I screwed up burger helper. I thought "simmer" on the instructions ment high heat. Then 2nd attempt forgot to "drain the meat" which didnt make for very good Fettuchini Alfredo helper :( This book talks in low level terms.. Explaining Simmer among others. Before I bought this book, i recieved a cookbook for Xmas.. Which was no use to me because I didnt even understand half the instructions. So I was screwing up burger helpers and didnt even know how to make good scrambled eggs.. *sigh* NOW!! I make probably some of the best breakfast you ever had. My scrambled eggs are nice, soft fluffy just right.. I mix in Chorizo and heat up some tortillas for some Migas.. OH THATS NOT ALL! I have impressed my mother greatly with hommade stew.. Started off with the recipe in this book (Which is very good BTW).. Then migrated from the stove to a slow cooker(crock pot) and now MY MOTHER asks for me to bring her some of my stew(which is sorta developed into a custome recipe of mine). Pot Roasts.. Tacos...Grilling fish.. ect ect... My kitchen never had the right tools in it to cook with. This books gives you a nice basic economical listing of things that you must have to cook. VERY GOOD INFO.. Also the listings of spices to have on hand, herbs and other stuff. Also even explains how to properly use knives and what knife to use for what! Again but $ wise its reasonable.. it doesnt ask you to go out and spend 300.00 on junk you will hardly use. Its very common sense... And then safety. Book goes over proper cooking times and temp for various meats and cautions on cooking chicken. It also gives you a very nice chart on how long various foods, leftovers, meats can be stored in Fridge and stay edible. THIS WAS VERY HELPFUL! Again.. Great book for person who is cooking clueless and needs it.. Like me ;-)
Rating:
Summary: Disorganized, badly edited
Review: This book should have been organized such that a beginner can read through the book in linear chapter order. The beginner should be taught techniques and lessons that can be built upon in later chapters. The text is written like it was teaching someone how to cook, but it is organized by food type! One chapter lists all the tools, pots, and pans a well stocked kitchen should have -- it even lists tools that appear to not be used in any recipes given. However, a few pages later, a recipe is presented that uses tools not mentioned previously. It presents recipes using techniques not explained until many chapters later -- the forward references (if any) refer only to the chapter thus forcing the reader to peruse that whole future chapter to find the technique referenced. Simpler, one-pot-meals appear later in the book and simultaneous recipe preparation meals appear earlier. C'mon. The title of the book has the word "Dummies" in it. It is not friendly to someone who actually wants to learn how to cook. The writing, even though it was badly organized, was good. The problem was the book's editor. If you are a "dummy" in the kitchen, look elsewhere for instruction.
Rating:
Summary: Take Baby Steps
Review: This book was given to my wife as a wedding gift from a friend of ours. She asked for it so she could better prepare herself for married life even though I prepare all the family meals. She studied the book for two weeks in preperation for my birthday dinner and I must say - everything she cooked came out perfect. The kitchen may have been a bit messier than normal but by following simple recipes my wife was able to prepare one of teh best meals I've ever eaten. From the salad to the dessert each item was beautifully presented and lovingly prepared. My only problem with this book was in regards to the equipment needed. As Catering Director at Shepherd College I don't even use many of these items on a full time basis. My recommendation is to read this chapter after you've skimmed the rest of the book and take to heart that the items listed are not nessesarily needed in every kitchen. Over all a good book with some great recipes. Pick one up and enjoy the new found freedom in the kitchen!
Rating:
Summary: Take Baby Steps
Review: This book was given to my wife as a wedding gift from a friend of ours. She asked for it so she could better prepare herself for married life even though I prepare all the family meals. She studied the book for two weeks in preperation for my birthday dinner and I must say - everything she cooked came out perfect. The kitchen may have been a bit messier than normal but by following simple recipes my wife was able to prepare one of teh best meals I've ever eaten. From the salad to the dessert each item was beautifully presented and lovingly prepared. My only problem with this book was in regards to the equipment needed. As Catering Director at Shepherd College I don't even use many of these items on a full time basis. My recommendation is to read this chapter after you've skimmed the rest of the book and take to heart that the items listed are not nessesarily needed in every kitchen. Over all a good book with some great recipes. Pick one up and enjoy the new found freedom in the kitchen!
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