Not sure if to put this under books \ advice or here but thought I would ask in here.

I'm just about to move into my own place and need to get a basic cook. My brother moved out and he just lives off frozen birdseye chicken and pies and stuff and I don't want to go down that route.

I want to be able to cook and do a few things on my own. I know rice is boiled but not really sure how long it takes and when I know it's done, same thing with veg and things like that. I sort of know how to cook it but not really how long for, if I need to prepare things first and stuff like that.

I'm just after a cook book that will give me a few of the basic points like how to cook veg and rice and chicken and all the usual things maybe how to make my own lasagne rather than by the frozen one.

if anyone has any recommendations I would appreciate it

Delia Smith's (original) cookbook is really helpful if you have little or no cooking experience.

Hi sherer

You won't go far wrong with one of Delia Smith's more basic books - I have her Complete Cookery Course which has never let me down, and she also did the How To Cook TV series which had books accompanying it which were really basic (even including how to boil an egg).

Totally agree with other posters, you can't go wrong with Delia, either her complete cookery course, or her How to Cook series, there are 3 of them I think.

I started out with Catherine Kirkpatrick's '500 Recipes - Cooking for One' which has just about everything you need in one little 96 page book. I still refer to it occasionally.

Though Delia's Complete Cookery Course covers more in a much bigger (and less convenient) tome.

If you have the internet in your new flat or whatever, it might be good to look for recipes on the BBC website. If they trun out well then print them off and laminate 'em - build up your own book of tried and tested stuff.

Also

http://uktv.co.uk/food/homepage/sid/566

If you like American grub:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/

As other posters suggest, print the recipes you like, build up a ring-binder of your favourites.
Whenever you cook something, write notes on the recipes afterwards like "use more salt next time" or "try this with pork instead of chicken", and you'll soon build up some experience.

The classics for beginners are spag bol, chicken casserole, but you'll get plenty more ideas!

And:

http://www.videojug.com/tag/food-and-drink

I was just about to post this!

I concur!

This is the BEST cook book there ever was. It teaches you how to boil an egg, cook rice, make pancakes, boil potatoes, EVERY THING you need to know and more!

I was given this when I first left home and now I am actually quite a dab hand in the kitchen I still use this for simple and fantastic cooking. It really is a bible and a must have for any one who cant cook.

All these modern fancy chefs have not got a patch on Delia and I have tons of cook books but hers is still the best.

thanks for the advice.. That sounds like the sort of book I am looking for as although sort of have an idea how to cook a few things it's learning the timings and things like that. The basics is really what I want to learn and then if I can pick that up move onto other things. Does anyone know the exact title of this, i've had a look on amazon and there are quite a few listed.

Will pop into my local waterstones too so I can browse through a few and see if they cover what i want

"Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course". It was published by the BBC.

Sirpipe's post above is the book you are looking for.
It is rather large and is £25 but really is worth it.
Let us know when you have bought it and what you think of it. It sounds just the thing for you (timings, preperations, measurements etc )

Enjoy!

Waterstones have it online for £14.39.
https://www.waterstones.com/watersto...do?sku=5405639

thanks for the advice that sounds like the sort of book I am after. i will check it out in my local bookshop first just to make sure it covers what I want but it sounds perfect so far.

I agree completely. I also have hundreds of cookbooks, but this one is the only one that never ever leaves my kitchen shelf when I swap them around now and again - no space for all of them in the kitchen!

THUD
I think I paid about £8 for mine when I bought it! Shows how long it's been on my shelf

Another vote for Delia Smith's book here, and I think I saw it in Tesco today for £10.

Thanks for starting this thread, sherer. I'm a novice in the kitchen too and was thinking just the other day how useful a basic cook book would be. I'm going to hop on to Amazon and order my copy of Delia now

Dairy Book of Home Cookery

Not sure if you can still get it but its a brilliant book with loads of basic recipes

I would go for 'Cookery Book' by Good Housekeeping. I do have a copy of Delia's too, but tend to go for the Good Housekeeping one every time. I got hold of a copy of it on ebay, Delia can be found on there too.

Cooking evolves from experience so good luck and don't be afraid to have a go, I pick up tips from Ready Steady Cook etc even though I don't cooke the recipes from the programmes, the advice and knowledge is there for the taking.

I'd recommend Gary Rhodes "Keeping It Simple" its a great book for people who aren't going to be able to spend ages in the kitchen or have masses of ingredients lying around (i.e. anyone living alone). I've use it a lot.

Also, I picked up a copy of Delia's "How to Cheat at Cooking" at the weekend, that looks like it will be a very useful cook book.

I bought this one for my bro when he moved out: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/07...38#reader-page
It's got all the basics with picture step by step guides and it's nice and easy to follow. I have a copy myself that I still use all the time, it's great.