Was given this as a gift when I turned 13 and started highschool. I still use this cookbook all the time. Got some pretty handy recipes in there. My favourite part is the desserts. Nom Nom NOM ( )

Tested by one typically apathetic 14-year-old boy who agrees it's better reading than any of the novels I've recommended this summer, and is finally, FINALLY pumped about cooking dinner. He made an awesome dish out of ground beef & Top Ramen (and loads of vegetables, but it was still technically "ramen" so therefore acceptable), cake from scratch, and even felt undaunted by the lack o' frosting in the house. He said, "It's okay, there's a recipe for frosting in here, too." Laden with factual information about food, food prep, grocery shopping, etc., it uses language that feels authentically teen casual, thus making it far superior to Home & Careers textbooks & his mom's cookbooks. ( )

This is a great intro to cooking book. It's full of tips and definitions, and the recipes are complex enough to make you feel like you're cooking without being overwhelming. My mom gave it to me when I went to college, and I've given it to several of my siblings. It's great! ( )

This is a great cookbook for those who are just starting out in the kitchen. It has basic need-to-know at the beginning and then easy to follow recipes, broken down into types (breakfast, desserts, chicken, beef, etc). Everything I have made from this book has been easy and good. ( )