Cookbooks For Beginners Of All Ages

By Rhea Frazier


Books always make good gifts, especially when thoughtfully chosen. Although not everyone is a great reader, most people do like to eat. Preparing food for oneself and for others is not an innate skill; it must be learned. Cookbooks for beginners are useful and never need to be boring, since there is a wide variety available.

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of cooking guides. If you're looking for a great wedding present, for instance, one of the classics is good. The Joy Of Cooking, for example, has many gourmet dishes but also covers the basics. In addition, it has a lot of good kitchen information, like how to substitute ingredients if you're missing one on the list. It also explains many cooking terms, which might be unfamiliar.

Another great resource is the selection of cooking guides put out by the Betty Crocker folks. This is a treasury of American cooking, dating from the mid-1900s when Mom's apple pie reigned supreme. The focus of these volumes, some of which are especially for children, is family favorites and quick, easy meals. Comfort food like macaroni and cheese and chocolate chip cookies can be found here, as well as fail-safe meat loaf.

A cookbook can have a theme. Some may feature only casseroles, others may contain recipes made with canned soup, and others may be compiled by ladies' clubs, fire department auxiliaries, or churches. Southern hospitality, Texas barbecue, New England seafood, or New Orleans Cajun cuisine are examples of regional fare that those from other parts of the country or the world may be novices at preparing.

Today there are lots of specialty diet books, which tell people how to cut the fat but keep the flavor, make desserts without sugar, be a healthy vegetarian, or make low-carbohydrate meals. If you or someone you know is starting a lifestyle-changing regime, a targeted cookbook can be a thoughtful and appreciated gift. Eating like a caveman, like a rabbit, or like a fruit-bat is not instinctive for humans, after all.

There are many fun cooking guides for kids, with safe recipes to make alone like no-bake cookies or easy ones to fix under supervision, like grilled cheese or jello squares. Older people who meed to change their eating habits will appreciate new ideas. Healthy eating may be hard for those who can't tell spinach from lettuce or who have never broiled anything. All of these people could benefit from the right cookbook.

A gift of a crock-pot makes a great housewarming or wedding present, and if a specialized cookbook is included, it's even better. Blenders or panini grills are also fun, and many people have never experimented with them. Guidance in using any new appliance will always be appreciated. Even those who have all the gadgets will enjoy new ideas on using them.

Everyone likes to eat - and most of us don't want it all to be raw. Therefore there's always a need for fresh ideas and better ways to delight the palate. Whether it's out of necessity or based on a desire to please, proficiency enhances cooking every time. Give a gift that keeps on giving and find the perfect cookbook for everyone on your list.




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