278411 Mon Jun 20 17:21:11 -0700 2005 13 31 Home Cooking 0 1473619 Hi, I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for a cookbook(s) for a beginner cook, and the recipient also needs to watch his diet (diabetic and weight control) it needs to be healthy. I would really appreciate the recommendations my eyes tend to glass over everytime I look upon shelves and shelves of books. Thank you all in advance! Mon Jun 20 17:21:11 -0700 2005 0 mili 1 1473629 I don't know where you are, but the Dietitians of Canada publish a very good book called "Cook great food". Very practical, healthy recipes. I use it often. Link: http://www.dietitians.ca/resources/cgf_cookbook.htm Mon Jun 20 19:35:09 -0700 2005 1473619 0 Louise 1 1473632 You might check out Dr. Weil's website (www.drweil.com) ...or World's Healthiest Foods...both sites offer healthy recipes...I am loving lentils lately though cannot claim to ONLY ever eat healthy...I tried to eat some beef short ribs the other night...they were snatched away by my son and his friend! Mon Jun 20 19:48:59 -0700 2005 1473619 0 Val 1 1473641 Lora Brody's Kitchen Survival Guide might be just the thing. Good recipes (she is a breast cancer survivor and interested in good nutrition and chocoate...) but it is an invaluable guide for getting started in the kitchen too with lots of good tips and advice. Mon Jun 20 21:55:08 -0700 2005 1473619 0 Candy 1 1473656 A friend once showed me the Cooking Light magazine. At first I laughed thinking the recipes would be crap, but I was so wrong. I have only made about 5 or 6 of their recipes and all have been extremely good. Link: http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking/ Tue Jun 21 09:30:10 -0700 2005 1473619 0 brokevespa 2 1473689 I second this recommendation. They also have several great cookbooks. I recommend the purple one (I don't know how else to describe it other than it's purple with a picture of pound cake on the front and is sort of squarish). I also recommend A New Way to Cook - for the life of me, I can't remember the author's name, but it won a bunch of awards not too long ago. Tue Jun 21 13:18:29 -0700 2005 1473656 0 MB 3 1473717 The cooking light series would be a good start for your friend, if he's enthusiastic about the whole cooking for health thing (which I'll assume he is). It assumes a basic knowledge of cooking. The American heart association also has a pretty large series of cookbooks you may want to check out. The "New Way to Cook" is by Sally Schneider. I bought it and have never used it...I wouldn't recommend unless your friend is into making a pantry full of spice rubs, essences and vinegars BEFORE he actually can start cooking for the recipes. Tue Jun 21 15:53:49 -0700 2005 1473689 0 redglass 1 1473657 Stir Fry (however, as a preamble, I suggest that in the very beginning, one is given more than just the book to learn with. (1) Watching and reading together, and (2) Class of Instruction (1) I learned watching mother (she wasn't a great cook, but very consistent while kids set the table - then she let me cook on my own at age 12 > when Shaklee Protein shakes were very popular) and other mothers. And (2) in 7th Grade was offered a class at school called "Home Economics" (a program I highly recommend Gov. A.Schwarzenegger have some interest in). In Home Economics, we learned some of the science of cooking. One project was Baked Alaska. And, we did recital for mothers in holding an afternoon tea. Initial learning with a person is better than just handing that person a cookbook, IMO. However, in way of titles, I continued learning with three cookbooks while in college and did a lot of stir fry meals; quick, easy, delicious, healthful and mindful. They were different authors, but conglomerated under Nitty Gritty Productions. See link below for the few I could find available for sale. I have: (1) "Vegetable Cookbook" by Paul Mayer [1975] A comprehensive method of cooking vegetable with also recipes and instruction for sauces, e.g.; Hollansaise, Chantilly Cream, Au Gratin, et al. Each chapter offers a variety of recipes for the entitled vegetable and begins with tips on selecting and storage of that vegetable, as well as Prparing and Cooking. I noticed a plastic clip on one of the pages; a recipe for Mushrooms Stuffed with Spinach (or in the alternative, the flip side was the beginning of the chapter on Onions). I like to make stuffed mushrooms (though Trader Joe's has pretty good one, fresh and inexpensive). The list of ingredients for this dish instructs "24 giant mushrooms, 3 bunches spinach, 2 large onions, etc. non-specific, and continues with 1/4 Cup grated Gruyere [cheese] and 1/4 Cup grated Paremsan (a much more specific ingredient). Hand illustrated. (2) "Japanese Country Cookbook" by Russ Rudinski (ryoichi Kokku), [1969] and (3) "Natural Foods Cookbook" by Maxine Atwater [1972] This book contains beginning chapters: 1. Introduction 2. Substitution Table 3. Stock Your Shelves 4. Basics 5.-9. and Index I am sorry they are likely hard to find, however, something along those lines may prove productive. I hope that helps you through the gloosy-eye period. Link: http://www.hoboes.com/html/Diner/revue/wok.shtml Tue Jun 21 09:43:18 -0700 2005 1473619 0 kc girl 2 1473658 All the three listed above seem to be available via the Internet. Google search for the title with author's name and proceed. (1) "Vegetable Cookbook" by Paul Mayer (2) "Japanese Country Cookbook" by Russ Rudinski (Ryoichi Kokku) (3) "Natural Foods Cookbook" by Maxine Atwater Best wishes. Tue Jun 21 09:53:40 -0700 2005 1473657 0 kc girl 1 1473659 On a slightly different tack: try the Good Housekeeping cookbooks. Their diabetic cookbook has some great, quick recipes with very clear instructions. Soups (big fan of the white chicken chili), dinners and sides made with fresh ingredients--not pre-packaged crap. Tue Jun 21 09:53:50 -0700 2005 1473619 0 WJ 1 1473722 I suggest the following: Jane Brody's Good Food Gourmet - fabulous any of the Moosewood Restaurant cookbooks - mostly veggie but great...they have a low-fat book that's great (check out the almost fat-free cornbread made with pumpkin/squash for moisture) Jacques Pepin has a low-fattish cookbook but I can't remember the name. Maddhur Jaffrey's World Vegitarian Cookbook - amazing Tue Jun 21 16:35:29 -0700 2005 1473619 0 oakjoan 1 1473745 Oh yeah, and Marian Burros (of the NY Times Food Column) has a great book called Eating Well is the Best Revenge Tue Jun 21 19:33:38 -0700 2005 1473619 0 oakjoan 1 1473750 I recommend "Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day"... I bought it when I was just starting to really cook 10 years ago and found it very helpful - it has a decidedly healthy/vegetarian bent (though there are fish/chicken recipes), has a smattering of recipes from various cultures, and has many easy recipes and lots of explanation for beginners, including a nice section at the back where they explain various foods and how to cook them in a basic way. I haven't used it much in recent years as I moved on with my tastes and skills, but as a beginner, I loved it and gave it as a gift to several other people. Tue Jun 21 21:13:13 -0700 2005 1473619 0 Celeste 1 1473805 How about Mark Bittman's books? I have the Minimalist Cooks Dinner . But people here have recommended the How to Cook Everything book - which may be too overwhelming. I like his style - the recipes are simple and healthy and always have substitutions for ingredients you may not have in the house .. Wed Jun 22 14:27:37 -0700 2005 1473619 0 tff