Basic Cooking: All You Need to Cook Well Quickly (Basic Series) [Paperback]

Sabine Salzer (Author), Sebastian Dickhaut (Author), Jennifer Newens (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Basic | Publication Date: September 2000

Finally a cookbook especially designed to show young people how to prepare great meals rapidly, while having fun at the same time. Loaded with over 200 color photos, this is a basic, unpretentious cookbook, with the potential of becoming a favorite cookbook in modern kitchens. Previously available only in Germany where it sold more than 100,000 copies in 8 months, this American edition has been carefully edited by a Certified Culinary Professional.

The first section of Basic Cooking covers basic cooking know-how, offers advice on shopping, recommends essential kitchen equipment, and suggests fundamental staple requirements for the pantry. The second part of the book shows you how to put all this knowledge to use through over a hundred tempting recipes. From favorite Italian dishes to Mousse au Chocolat to simple fare, this book has all the key elements. You will find everything from delicious fried potato recipes, to spur-of-the-moment entrees, to basic accompaniments, such as homemade mayonnaise, to go with everything. Loaded with color photos, trendy design, and humorous text, this book transforms cooking from chore to recreation.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Where can twentysomethings learn to cook? Basic Cooking, first published in Germany and now Americanized, is a good starting place. Relying on bold layouts to keep things visually spirited and a "hip" authorial voice that jollies readers along, the book imparts solid cooking information and core recipes in a direct, friendly way. "Think basic and have fun," the authors exhort; most readers, of whatever age, will.

Assuming kitchen innocence but informed taste, the book offers its readers data on shopping and pantry setup (a sidebar usefully dissects refrigerator space), basic techniques (the labels "strong" and "gentle" cooking are its helpful way of dividing the wet-cooking methods), and over 150 attractive recipes. Recipe chapters begin with basic info--on rice types, for example--and then present photo-illustrated formulas for the likes of spaghetti with clams, caesar salad, baked salmon, and chocolate pudding. The recipes, which include extensive prep information, cover not only simple dishes, as above, but more sophisticated ones such as Whole Fish Baked in Salt, Provincial Vegetable Ragout, and Crème Caramel. With small tutorials such as "Five 5-Minute Savory Sauces" among its trove of show-and-tell material, the book should attract its intended audience and others as well. --Arthur Boehm

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Silverback Books; 1st edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930603002
• ISBN-13: 978-1930603004
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Favortite cookbook, March 15, 2004

By 

RC "RCSop" (Baton Rouge) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Cooking: All You Need to Cook Well Quickly (Basic Series) (Paperback)

I love this cookbook. I have had it for 5 years, and it is still my favorite. The best thing about it is that it teaches you everything you need to know about stocking your kitchen with essentials, how to cook all different types of foods, and even how to cook for company. The recipes are simple, and taste delicious. I could never get tired of it. Most of the meat dishes are now my staples.

I am actually an accomplished cook, but I bought this book because I used to be a vegetarian, so I did not know how to cook meats. It makes everything simple, and doesn't use crazy ingredients, which makes it a staple for everyday cooking. Also, it tells you how long it takes for prep time and cooking each dish so you can judge if you have time to make it.

I highly recommend this book to beginners and anyone looking for easy fast recipes that will have everyone thinking you are the best hostess ever.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just the basics, May 22, 2002

By 

Melissa (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Cooking: All You Need to Cook Well Quickly (Basic Series) (Paperback)

I've been cooking for a long time so I really didn't need to know the basics. In fact, as a graphic designer, I only bought the book originally because of its beautiful yet trendy book design. But EVERY single recipe I've made out of that book (about 12 so far) has been incredible! They have everything from sushi, creme brulee, to the BEST guacamole. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone looking for a wide range of easy to follow yet great quality recipes!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb, October 22, 2000

By 

Lili A. Rollins (Alameda, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Cooking: All You Need to Cook Well Quickly (Basic Series) (Paperback)

This is the book I should have had twenty years ago when I was just starting out. It tells you everything about what you need in your kitchen. Not just the usual items that every other book tells you about. This book tells you how to shop so that you don't spend everything you have on food and still come away with the very best ingredients just to name one example.

It is clear that it was written by a culinary professional, however, it does not intimidate the person just setting up their first apartment. The recipes use basic ingredients and the instructions are easy to follow. Though the cook will end up with some very special culinary dishes and will have used complex techniques, they will assume they have not because it was so easy for them to do. Isn't this the way all of us want to learn?

Congratualations on a job very well done. Now I'll be ording my second copy for my daughter as I can't seem to part with the first.