Betty Crocker's Cooking Basics: Learning to Cook With Confidence Spiral-bound – January 1, 1998

Almost seven years ago I left the nest (younger than most these days) and this was the first cookbook my hubby (then bf) purchased together. This was not my first cook book by any means and I wasn't new to cooking but it was the first time that cooking was an everyday responsibilty. This book was the best tool in my kitchen. The title can almost fool you into thinking the book only contains very basic recipes and common sense. It does have a section dedicated to eggs ("Excellent Eggs-FIve Ways") but there is so much more to the book. As mentioned, there is an entire guide to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner which includes pumpkin pie. The recipes are not "boring" and the book contains so much information including substituting one ingredient for another, storing foods, stocking the pantry, food safety, equivalents and so much more. Yes, you can easily find recipes and all this information online but it is really convenient to have it all in one book, ready to be used at any given moment. Years later, even after one of my dogs (then untrained) chewed up the front and back cover, the pages are all stained and crinkled from getting wet (things happen when I cook LOL), this is still the book I reach for the most at home. Even hubby finds this a very useful guide. I have to say that after all this time I use the Pumpkin Pie recipe every year to bake for family and friends. Yes, I do make a few modifications (little of this and that) that makes it my own but this recipe is the foundation. Definitely, the first cook book I will share with my future children but in the mean time I have a niece who will get much use from it as I did and continue to.

When I retired my wife was still working and she told me I had to learn to cook. In my single days I had a Betty Crocker "Cookbook for Two" which I found was easy to use and made good tasting meals so I decided to try this book.This book made cooking a breeze and I was able to make some very great tasty meals, many of which I make several times a year. Not only did I amaze myself I amazed by wife and kids. Now my wife wishes I had this book years ago.It has coated pages so you can spill food on it all you want and just wipe it off. It comes with handy information in the back to help novices and experienced cooks.

This was one of the first cookbooks I used and I think it's especially helpful for people who aren't familiar with cooking. None of the recipes are complicated and it gives wonderful pictures and easy to follow instructions. And the best thing is it goes over recipe/cooking basics - explaining a lot of terms, what different herbs/pasta/leafy greens are.Perfect for a new college student living on their own (that's when I used it!).

This is a must-have for the beginning cook and for anyone who likes simple, easy-to-follow recipes. No need for exotic spices or fancy kitchen tools. Each recipe is accompanied by a mouth-watering photo. Lots of tips and valuable cooking information.

I bought this as a high school graduation gift for my granddaughter. I gave both of my children, son and daughter, and my 2 step-children each a basic cookbook when they graduated. I found that the Betty Crocker Cookbook that I still have from my cooking class in Junior High has always been the greatest and most used cookbook I own as it contains basics on how to do various things, what substitutions to make for different ingredients, measurements and conversions, cooking times for doneness, and many other basic guides for cooking things that you can spinoff from as you become a more experienced cook.

I LOVE this cookbook. Bought it for my 18 yr old son who wants to learn to cook on his own. After reading all the reviews I thought it was the best choice and now I'm really pleased I got it. Thinking that I might get one for me too. The basics of cooking and easy to read recipes makes it easy to use. There's wonderful recipes that you'd serve for guests, not just quick 'n easy ones. Purchase one for you too - you wont be disappointed! A+ all the way!

This is a great beginner's cook book filled with basic recipes with common ingredients and well known choices. Anyone can cook, as the clarity of the recipes are simple, and the break down explanations of necessities and details are pictured and labeled step-by-step. Some of these pages include details of what a sauce pan is, to how to cut a pepper correctly. Even if you are not a beginner, and just need some great common American recipes you grew up with, this is a desirable book to have! Although, some recipes you will find through practice, you will want to change a few things to your own taste liking, but if directions are followed, you will be successful!

Like some of the other reviewers below, I am a single male and have been eating out most of my adult life. I now find that I enjoy being in the kitchen like I did when I was a child hanging around my mother and grandmother's apron strings. The cook books I purchaced prior to this one seemed to be over my head. This book has easy to understand instructions with pictures of every item in the book. I have made some of the recipies and all have come out great. I would recomend this book for anyone that wants to learn the art of cooking at home.

This cookbook is awesome. I had to replace my old one; I used it so often it was getting pretty ratty! Will take it to the cottage instead of all the photocopies. Every single recipe in this book is easy and yummy, using easy on hand ingredients.Highly recommend 👏👏

This item was purchased for a young lady who has just got engaged and unfortunately had never been given any cooking or buying experience in her home life. The book not only gives recipes but also a list of basic utensils, basic food items to keep in the cupboard and a glossary with explanations of terms such as 'baste' and 'flambe', etc. There does not seem to be anything like it currently in print. Although this book was second hand, a wipe with a damp cloth brought it up as new.

Very comprehensive - bought it as an aid to teaching my grand daughter how to cook. It will be a great help

This book has impressed me and just what I was after.Thanks very much