Introduction Summary:
General Cooking Tips
1. Add a little zest. When a recipe calls for a zest of a citrus fruit, its referring to the colorful outer part of the skin, not the inner white part, which is known as the pith. The zest contains all of the aromatic citrus oils and provides a hint of citrus tang to the recipe. A simple method of obtaining a fine zest is by rubbing the fruit against the smallest holes of a cheese grater.
2. Dont be afraid to experiment. Good cooks are never afraid to deviate from a recipe and add their own flair. Whenever you make a substitution or addition be sure to make a note on the recipe so you remember next time whether you liked the change or not.
3. Keep your recipes organized. Nothing is more frustrating when youre ready to start cooking then not being able to find your recipe. Keep things organized by finding a system for filing your recipes that you can keep close at hand in the kitchen. A great option is to buy one of those photo albums where you peel back a plastic sheet and underneath is a sticky surface. This makes recipes easy to find and at any time you can remove or replace them!

Chapters
1. General Cooking Tips
2. Sauces and Seasonings
3. Meat and Poultry
4. Barbecuing
5. Fruits and Vegetables
6. Pasta, Rice and Potatoes
7. Baking