29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for beginners, October 2, 2007
This book is exactly what i have been looking for. I have purchased many cookbooks that make a promise to be easy and help me achieve edible food, but all have failed. This book is amazing! The tips at the bottom of every recipe are exactly what every new cook needs in a cookbook. How do I de-seed a tomato? Well the tips at the bottom tell me exactly what page to refer to so that I can complete the recipe with ease. There are easy recipies, and then some tougher recipies I can grow into.
The front section that offers advice on kitchen utensils, bakeware, cookware, and other kitchen tips is the most helpful to a new cook. There are plenty of pictures and practical advice to make cooking no so scary and overwhelming. There is even a breakdown on popular drinks and cocktails for when entertaining.
This book has recipies and tips that will benefit someone just moving out on their own or leaving for college as well as new couples or anyone who wants to entertain. I have to say this is by far the best cookbook in my collection, and I can see myself using it for a lifetime.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great intro to the kitchen, whether you're young or old, May 7, 2008
This review is from: Anyone Can Cook (Better Homes & Gardens) (Ring-bound)
I just bought Anyone Can Cook for a recently-retired family member who's as unfamiliar around the kitchen as I am in an auto shop. I wanted something with a solid foundation and ample descriptions of basics such as choosing, storing, and prepping fruits and veggies (a step which is often overlooked in "regular" cookbooks), a primer on kitchen tools (knives, utensils, appliances), and step-by-step guidance in addition to easy-to-prepare recipes. The first hundred pages or so are devoted to the differences between produce and tool tips (red, yellow or white onions? Cremini, enoki, button, morel, or portabello mushrooms? Springform or cake pan?). Also, recipes are ranked according to skill level, with 1 being easiest and 3 being easy.
Enter Better Homes and Gardens: Anyone Can Cook. Like millions of other housewives, I grew up using the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, and have several reincarnations, so I had no reservations about investing in Anyone Can Cook. Its organization is similar to the traditional BHG cookbook; i.e., appetizers, soups, salads, meats (including detailed charts of the various cuts), poultry, veggies, desserts, breakfast and more. However, many of the recipes are simplified and rely heavily on store-bought shortcuts such as refrigerated dough and precooked meats (in that respect, it reminded me of
Betty Crocker Quick and Easy Cookbook: 30 minutes or less to dinner (Betty Crocker Books), so if you're put off by the idea of using so many processed foods in your recipes, you might want to invest in the original BHG cookbook. Of course, once you have a little more experience, you can whip up your own pasta sauce or use leftover roast to achieve the same effect with fewer preservatives.
The layout is stuffed with step-by-step photos and can be visually overwhelming at times, especially with the choice of bright colors. I noticed that several of the recipes are carryovers from other BHG publications such as
Vegetarian Cooking (Better Homes & Gardens). Also, many of the recipes are ethnically influenced, including many with a Latin/Asian flair. If "exotic" doesn't appeal to you, you might want to steer clear.
For everyone else, this is a perfect, step-by-step introduction to the kitchen, including some simple baked goods, that will allow you to graduate to more difficult standard recipes once you've mastered the basics.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anyone Can Cook!, October 11, 2007
As someone who has been cooking on their own for years, I was concerned this book would be strictly for a true novice. I am happy to report that I was mistaken. Although I would contend that this book would make an excellent high school graduation gift for a young person first leaving home, or a great bridal shower gift for the new, inexperienced bride (or groom, I suppose), this book contains recipes with a depth enjoyed by even those who would considered themselves well seasoned, in manning the stove.
I found the tips, whether they be on cooking utensils, or how to prepare ingredients, interesting enough for a veteren, yet easy enough for even the most inexperienced chef-in-training. The recipes ranged in difficulty from very easy to moderately difficult without being boring in the least. The recipes herein, despite their ease, would make a proud presentation on any dinner table. From breakfast to after dinner cocktails, this book covers it all in an easy to digest format. Truly, Anyone Can Cook!
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