The Fannie Farmer Cookbook has been teaching home cooks the basics of food preparation since 1896. This classic kitchen reference is filled with tips and instructions that are useful to both new and seasoned cooks. All kitchens need a basic cookbook, and this one encompasses everything from ingredients to techniques.
The most useable cookbook works like an encyclopedia, including every fruit, vegetable and cut of meat you could possibly find at the grocer. Save trendy cookbooks that cover only one technique or ingredient for later when your skills are better developed. This reference book is one you will continue to turn to, long after becoming an experienced cook. The recipes are reliably delicious, the illustrations clear, and the instructions easy to follow. It's like having a cooking class in your kitchen.
A thorough reference book is an invaluable aid in the kitchen. Fannie Farmer includes helpful resources, such as meat-roasting charts, measurement equivalents and acceptable substitutions, that will secure its permanent residence on cookbook shelves.
Even a non-baker may find this job a necessity at times. A cookie recipe for the holidays, a quiche for dinner when there's nothing left to eat, or a homemade roll for a special party are all occasions when you may wish to consider yourself a temporary baker. Baking's precise demands can be intimidating to a new cook, and that is when you will most appreciate Fannie Farmer's clear instructions.
If your old copy of this classic cookbook is well worn, now is a good time for an upgrade. This most recent edition of Fannie Farmer has been updated for the modern cook. The new edition has lightened some of the heavier recipes, added ethnic dishes, and included the use of modern appliances.
All the recipes in this cookbook are made from scratch, and you can feel proud of the simplicity and quality of the dishes prepared. If it's the only cooking instruction you ever have, it's enough to make you a very good cook. In addition to the basics, there are some wonderful, elegant recipes included for special-occasion meals.
The skills learned from this book will encourage a new cook to explore in the kitchen, and will become a trusted resource for many years. The 896-page hardcover edition (ISBN 978-0679450818) was published by Knopf in 1996, authored by Marion Cunningham, and can be purchased for $19.80.