Your Time to Cook: A First Cookbook for Newlyweds, Couples & Lovers - Hardcover

Blakeslee, Robert L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0757002161 ISBN 13: 9780757002168

Publisher: Square One, 2009

Synopsis

For some people, cooking a meal is as easy and effortless as a walk in the park. But for others, even frying an egg may seem like a hike up Mount Everest. Designed for everyone who feels clueless in the kitchen, Your Time to Cook is a true first cookbook, packed with important kitchen essentials and cooking fundamentals--as well as a collection of basic, easy-to-prepare recipes. Kicking off the book is an introduction to kitchen gadgets and gizmos, essential guidelines for stocking the pantry, and a review of common cooking terms and food-preparation techniques. Hundreds of magnificent full-color photos help make the information clear and accessible--whether it is a description of a how to chop an onion, scramble an egg, cook the perfect steak, or brew the best cup of coffee. Over 250 foolproof recipes include everything from breakfast favorites and party appetizers to hearty soups, salads, veggie side dishes, pastas, and seafood, as well as chicken, beef, pork, and lamb dishes. There is also a dessert chapter that is packed with your favorite sweet treats. To further ensure successful results, photos accompany each recipe with step-by-step directions, while practical tips and tricks make sure that each meal is not only picture perfect, but also perfectly delicious. Whether you are a newlywed struggling in your first kitchen, a single out on your own, or just someone who'd like to gain more confidence in the kitchen, Your Time to Cook is your key to cooking success.

About this title

From the Author

I know that most people buy cookbooks of famous chefs, and mega corporations, who have somehow convinced people being an excellent cook is some sort of magical skill reserved for the  precious few. That couldn't be further from the truth. If you have a love of food - then all you need to do is know the basics, experiment, and learn from your triumphs and mistakes.

When I created "Your Time to Cook" I bought over 30 beginner's cookbooks and worked to improve on what they had done. Most of these books were merely recipe books with very little basic cooking information included. The most I could find from a single source was a little over 60 pages. My book has over 150 pages of dedicated to basic cooking knowledge before you get to the recipes. Many people actually read this cookbook from cover to cover, and use it as a reference book as well.

In "Your Time to Cook" you will see every type of vegetable, fruit, cut of meat, fish, seafood, grains, herbs and spices, and whole lot more - all described in loving detail. There are charts for everything from steaming veggies, making rice and beans, to cooking a turkey or a roast. With a full spectrum of recipes starting with appetizers and finishing off with dessert. There's even an entire chapter dedicated to traditional holiday fare.

What also sets this book apart from all the rest is the massive amount of photography and illustrations I've included - with over 1800 photos and 300 illustrations showing facet of the cooking process, and step-by-step directions and a finished shot for every dish. The book is designed to be easy to read and visually appealing. And I must have done something right because the book won the Benjamin Franklin Award for "Cookbook of the Year". 

I hope you give this book a chance. Read the reviews, take a look inside, and check out my You Tube channel also called Your Time to Cook. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Fun fact: Did you know that Betty Crocker was the name of one of the first radio shows on cooking, and that the name was created because "Betty" sounded friendly and "Crocker" sounded like cooking. It was not named after a person or a chef. (There's also plenty of food and wedding trivia in this book at the end of each chapter.)

From the Back Cover

• Over 230 easy-to-prepare, kitchen-tested recipes.
• Hundreds and hundreds of full color photos and illustrations.
• A comprehensive A-to-Z glossary of basic cooking terms.
• Clear descriptions of essential cooking and baking techniques.
• Practical information on choosing and using kitchen tools, utensils, and appliances.
• Extensive food glossaries.
• Safe food-handling practices.
• Invaluable guidelines for buying, storing, and cooking various foods.
• Foolproof methods for testing the doneness of cooked foods.
• Handy charts for ingredient substitutions and lower-fat/calorie options.
• Taste-tempting menus for cocktail parties and four-course dinners.
• Fun and entertaining wedding facts and trivia throughout.

Edition details

• Publisher: Square One
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0757002161
• ISBN 13: 9780757002168
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 416