Betty Crocker's Cooking Basics: Learning to Cook with Confidence [Spiral-bound]

Betty Crocker Editors (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 1998 | Series: Betty Crocker

Today, many people find they don t know kitchen basics, much less know how to cook a meal. Betty Crocker comes to the rescue in Cooking Basics, covering all the information anyone needs to cook, whether they are just leaving home, or discovering a need to cook at any age. Using the 100 appealing recipes here, anyone can learn to cook a complete meal. Nothing is intimidating, and every technique, term and ingredient is clearly explained. Each recipe has its own two-page spread, complete with a photo of the finished food and how-to photos of techniques used in the recipe. It s never been simpler to create a great dish!

Betty Crocker interviewed inexperienced cooks, to get just the the right recipes for this book, the ones novice cooks really want: hamburgers three way broiled, grilled or fried; Quick Lasagna; Teriyaki Chicken Stir-fry; Quick Chicken Soup; Shrimp Scampi; Quesadillas; Mashed Potatoes; Strawberry Shortcakes, and other tempting treats. Anyone can cook a dinner -- even entertain -- with these sure-fire recipes.

Did you think only gourmets tackled Thanksgiving dinner? Not with Betty Crocker. Included is a complete Thanksgiving feast, with a timetable so everything comes out just right. Whether you want to host the show, or bring a dish to help out your host, this Thanksgiving meal is perfect for everyone.

Also covered is how to set up a kitchen, how to read a recipe, a glossary of ingredients and a complete explanation of food preparation terms. Learn about fresh herbs--what they look like and how to use them -- plus complete easy-to-read listings of pasta shapes and salad greens. Sections on grilling, entertaining, table setting, and refrigerator and freezer storage guides complete the book, and make new cooks feel confident on all fronts. No longer does anyone have to be afraid of the kitchen. With Betty Crocker know-how and experience, you can cook up a great dinner!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Betty Crocker Helps You Cook with Confidence!

Your Guide to Easy and Delicious Everyday Cooking!

Do you yearn to cook something simple yet tasty for dinner, but aren't quiet sure how? Then Betty Crocker has the book for you!
We created COOKING BASICS because we heard from so many of you that you'd like extra help and guidance in the kitchen—whether you're a new cook or have some experience but would like to cook with greater confidence.
We began by asking new cooks what they'd like to know about cooking basics. You told us to include:

• The 100 recipes you must want to cook
• How-to photographs that show preparation techniques for each recipe
• Cook time with every recipe
• A complete Thanksgiving Dinner—you can do the whole thing yourself, or take a home-cooked dish to a friend's house or family gathering
• A do-ahead dinner that's perfect for stress-free casual entertaining
• All the equipment you need to set up a kitchen, including helpful photographs
• Photographs showing most basic cooking techniques
• Nutrition with every recipe
• Cooking ingredients and menu terns
• The scoop on herbs, spices, food storage—everything you need to feel at home in the kitchen

Let Betty Crocker make you a confident cook with this picture perfect book! You'll turn to make it again and again for everyday cooking that'' easy—and delicious

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 304 pages
• Publisher: Betty Crocker (September 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028624513
• ISBN-13: 978-0028624518
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since 1921, the Betty Crocker name has symbolized the General Mills continuing tradition of service to consumers. Although Betty was never a real person, her name and identity have become synonymous with helpfulness, trustworthiness and quality.

Betty Crocker has survived the decades by providing consumers with food information and food products that are contemporary without being faddish. The first hardcover cookbook, Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook was published in 1950 and quickly became a national best seller. Since then, more than 250 Betty Crocker cookbooks have been published.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 95 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Cookbook for the Bachelor May 16, 2001

By BookGuy

Format:Spiral-bound

I'm a single guy who got tired of fast food. I tried this book, because it seemed like what I wanted; information on how to get started cooking. I have no basic cooking skills, so traditional cookbooks leave me dusted before I get past the introduction. Also, what I now have learned is a hallmark of Betty Crocker cookbooks, you will notice that the production values are very high (lots of color, lots of illustrative content). Content-wise, nothing is assumed. My advice: If you want to learn how to cook, get this book.

72 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If I can give you an advice December 2, 2002

By M. Sonino

Format:Spiral-bound

this should be your first cookbook, or if you already have others, well, don't let the title fool you. It has great recipes, with pictures for each of them and detailed instructions. I have over 50 cookbooks and if I had to choose just one, well it would be this one.
Simple recipes, "the basics" including a a chapter where it teaches you how to make a traditional thanksgiving dinner. Let me tell you that I did it this november 28th and guess what? It turned out to be great! My family couldn't belive I've done everything by myself. And it wasn't such a big effort 'cause it teaches you how to organize every single thing.
I love this book!!

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners and the more experienced as well! June 13, 2002

By "emartilini"

Format:Spiral-bound

Finally a true beginner's cookbook which deserves a permanent place in your kitchen. Betty Crocker's answer to customer requests for a beginner's cookbook is "Cooking Basics, Learning to Cook With Confidence".

This book features a nice variety of recipes including Italian Pasta Salad, Creamy Chicken and Dumplings, and Orange-Glazed Pork Chops. For entertaining there's Quick Guacamole, Tiramisu, and Strawberry Smoothies. It even shows you how to prepare an American Thanksgiving dinner from start to finish including appetizers and dessert.

Each recipe includes a full color photograph, nutritional information, and helpful tips pertaining to the dish's ingredients. Substitutions are discussed and there are suggestions to help keep the dish low fat.

What I found most impressive were the informational chapters on everything from kitchen utensils to classy centerpieces. So in addition to the fabulous recipes, the book contains handy information covering all areas of cooking and the kitchen.

This cookbook can take a college coed living on their own for the first time up and through the marriage years for it demonstrates cooking basics such as the proper way to cut an onion or how to cook an omelet, yet teaches the art of preparing Shrimp Scampi or Pesto Sauce. For all these reasons, I highly recommend this cookbook.

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! December 6, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Spiral-bound

I have this cookbook and I love it. I recently moved in on my own and this tells me how to do everthing. I didn't even know how to cook a baked potato and this book told me how. It is the perfect gift for a college student or someone on their own for the first time. The recipes are simply and very easy to follow. I highly recommend it to anyone.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From an experienced cook September 23, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Spiral-bound

I originally purchased this cookbook for my daughter-in-law at a homeshow and after bringing it home, I decided to keep it myself. So I purchased another through Amazon.com. This book is great because it lays completely flat on the kitchen counter. It has great basics like mashed potatoes and pot roast to understanding menu terms and how to pronounce them when ordering at a restaurant. Also how to make substitutions when you don't have all the ingredients the recipe calls for and how to convert some of the recipes to a lower fat version. Thanksgiving Dinner is even in there. I currently have probably over 30 something cookbooks but I think this one is the most complete and informative ! Don't miss the Beyond the Basics section. I Love This Cookbook. Can you tell?

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Cookbook! November 3, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Spiral-bound

As a college student I was tired of microwave meals- then I got this cookbook and it has been great! For someone who has never cooked before, cooks for one and refuses to make recipes that require too many ingredients, this book has been great! For those just wanting some good, basic recipes, I highly recommend it.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the best!!! September 29, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Spiral-bound

I used to own over a hundred cookbooks. most I never used. I also have cooked professionally in restaurants. I ignored this book on the shelf because I thought I was above such things as "cooking for those who are clueless". so one day I gave in to looking at it in the store and was pleasantly surprised. even though I am capable of making elaborate food...with two kids...if it doesnt go together in under half an hour it isnt happening. I have made almost every recipe in this book. with the exception of a couple of the stir frys(and maybe thats just us..my husband hates stir fry), everything has been not only delicious, but unbelievably fast. I use this book a few times a week. I have a few other cookbooks that get heavy use, most of them Betty Crocker, but this one is at the top of the list.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a timeless cookbook for amateur cooks and proud chefs alike June 27, 2004

By SH

Format:Spiral-bound

While internet has greatly influenced the way we obtain any kind of information, recipes and cookbooks are most useful in an old-fashioned, paper format. This cookbook is one that you will return to over and over again. Every recipe in this book is presented with step-by-step color photos (no hand-drawn, monochromatic pictures here), as well as photos of finished products make this book a keeper.

A few recipes from the book: twice-baked potatoes, stuffed pasta shells, pot roast, pork chops and apples, fudgy brownie cake with raspberry sauce, pumpkin pie.

Along with easy, modern and old-fashioned, tried-and-true recipes, Cooking Basics features a glossary of cooking techniques, types of herbs (along with to which dishes to use each kind of herb), greens, basic and advanced cooking equipment (i.e. oudoor grills, grilling fuel), formal and informal buffet table setting, food safety, proper storage of meats and produce... all very thorough and valuable. Careful explanations in this book assume that the target reader is completely new to cooking; yet descriptions are precise, seldom exhaustive. For instance, 'stir' is defined as "[To] combine ingredients with circular or figure-eight motion until uniform consistency. Stir once in a while for 'stirring occasionally,' stir often for 'stirring frequently' and stir continuously for 'stir constantly.'"

I also love the hard cover and the spiral binding that make the book durable and easy to keep open. Those are especially handy traits because this book WILL get a lot of use in your kitchen.