Anyone Can Cook

The Anyone Can Cook app has a large online following. Its premise is that anyone can learn to cook. This book carries the same philosophy, and it is geared more toward novice cooks than experienced ones. The first three chapters focus on listing staple kitchen utensils and pantry staples and building foundational skills (knife skills, roasting techniques, pan-fry and saute, and blanching). The remaining five chapters contain recipes that can also be found online.

The recipe chapters are divided into “Salads & Soups,” “Vegetarian & Vegan,” “Pasta & Noodle,” “Meats,” and “One-Sheet Baked Dinners.” Most recipes show a picture of the finished product (and some of the steps along the way) and provide detailed instructions. Most can be prepared in under thirty minutes and use very few ingredients. While there are some recipes that are fairly straightforward, others require more than one attempt to get right. All (at least those that I tried) are delicious. This book is recommended for those who want to experience cooking their meals.