# Cookbook suggestions for someone about to leave for university **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093 "2008-12-20T18:31:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/1 "2008-12-20T18:31:24Z")
My younger sister is going to be starting university next fall and my mom was suggesting that a cookbook would be a useful gift. She bake cookies with my mom from time to time but beyond that I think the limit of her cooking experience would be making Kraft Dinner and the like. She’s not a huge fan of red meat, but she’s not threatening to become a vegetarian like she was when she was younger. She does like chicken and seafood, although she won’t be anywhere near the coast so seafood probably won’t be a cheap option for a student. She likes pasta but not tomato-based sauces. She definitely likes her vegetables. Given all that, does anyone have any suggestions for a good cookbook? Given how close it is to Christmas, it’ll have to be something I can find in a bookstore. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/2 "2008-12-20T18:51:01Z")
Amazon might be able to ship by Christmas. Since she will be in college, here’s the Amazon section on [cooking with special appliances.](http://www.amazon.com/Appliances-Cooking-Food-Wine-Books/b/ref=bw_ab_6_14?ie=UTF8&node=4256&pf_rd_p=236866701&pf_rd_s=browse&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=6&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1FAKKDR5F9HY6RCBFEHW) And of course, the mainstay for [college cooking.](http://www.amazon.com/101-Things-Do-Ramen-Noodles/dp/1586857355/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229798768&sr=1-1)😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/3 "2008-12-20T18:59:41Z")
The _Joy of Cooking_, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/4 "2008-12-20T19:05:42Z")
My main problem in University was not having a stock of ingredients so I would recommend the [4 Ingredient Cookbook](http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft:*&resnum=0&q=four+ingredient+cookbook&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title). ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/5 "2008-12-20T19:40:25Z")
Is she going to be living in a dorm, and if so, will she have access to full kitchen facilities? Or will she be stuck making whatever can be accomplished in a hot pot? A Crock-Pot? A microwave? ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/6 "2008-12-20T19:44:05Z")
[How to Cook Everything](http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Everything-Completely-Revised-Anniversary/dp/0764578650) by Mark Bittman was the book I was given for exactly this purpose and now I love to cook. He teaches lots of basic techniques and covers lots of territory which is very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![stucco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@stucco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stucco)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/7 "2008-12-20T22:09:51Z")
> [@WoodenTaco](#): > > [How to Cook Everything](http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Everything-Completely-Revised-Anniversary/dp/0764578650) by Mark Bittman was the book I was given for exactly this purpose and now I love to cook. He teaches lots of basic techniques and covers lots of territory which is very helpful. I came in here to say _How to Cook Everything_ too. I bought the vegetarian version the first semester I went off meal plan. He has very good instructions on making basics and many of the recipes have a list of variations following, so once you learn how to make one thing, it’s easy to mix it up. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/8 "2008-12-21T00:47:21Z")
I’d say if you’re going to have only \*\*one \*\*cookbook, then it has to be _Joy of Cooking_. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/9 "2008-12-21T02:25:04Z")
[This](http://www.amazon.com/Help-Apartment-Has-Kitchen-Cookbook/dp/1881527638) is a good beginner cookbook for students. The recipes are all quite simple but are very tasty and easy to make fancier as one gets more comfortable in the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/10 "2008-12-21T03:37:28Z")
I second Hong Kong Phooey’s suggestion - get her a copy of _Help My Apartment Has a Kitchen!_. It’s one of my favourite basic cookbooks… it’s a comprehensive collection of quick, simple recipes written in clear beginner terms. It assumes that the reader is probably your typical student: little to no cooking experience, strapped for cash (and time), and with limited access to hard-to-find luxury ingredients. It’s not to say that _Joy_ and _How To Cook Everything_ aren’t good cookbooks - they are, but they’re not written specifically with a student’s lifestyle in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/11 "2008-12-21T19:48:53Z")
I’ve always been a fan of the **[Company’s Coming](http://www.companyscoming.com/recipes/list/)** line of cookbooks, and many in the line are geared toward novice cooks and simplified preparation… S^G ---
**Author:** ![Merejane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Merejane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merejane)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/12 "2008-12-22T00:21:22Z")
Even though it’s been many moons since I was in college, I own and use [The Healthy College Cookbook](http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-College-Cookbook-Quick-Cheap/dp/1580171265/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229905025&sr=1-1) for quick and inexpensive meals that kids and young people – and even old folks like me – like. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/13 "2008-12-22T01:17:20Z")
[Serves One-](http://www.amazon.com/Serves-One-Simple-Meals-Savor/dp/1891105140/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_1_txt?pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0875964486&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1R9BB3XZG2DKFW1HYRCY) A lot of cookbooks give great recipes for 4 people or someone with a large fridge, but this is great for people living alone or with one other person and not unlimited time or food storage. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/14 "2008-12-22T01:23:33Z")
I survived University with the help of [Grub On A Grant](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grub-Grant-Cas-Clarke/dp/0862873061) It seems there’s an [updated edition](http://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Grub-Less-Grant-Cookbook/dp/0747261717), which I haven’t tried. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/15 "2008-12-22T02:48:29Z")
For cheapness and simplicity, I would suggest the “Four Ingredient Cookbook”, if you can find one. Every recipe consists of things like canned cream of chicken soup, noodles, etc in other words things you can get at the “el cheapo” grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![mudkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mudkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudkicker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/16 "2008-12-22T03:49:56Z")
Another vote for _Grub on a Grant_. What would also be very useful though would be a full kitchen set - saucepans, frying pan, casserole dish, baking tray, utensils, chopping board etc - something she can use through her college years and which would probably be too much for her to buy by herself. It’s crappy trying to make a nice meal for a friend with one small saucepan and a raggedy old frying pan! I’m sure she would really appreciate something like that, and you can buy her one of those bright plastic storage boxes to move it all in. Or a set of herbs and spices would be nice too, or a few decent plates and bowls. I would have loved any of those at college or when moving into a new place - even if you’re on a very tight budget it’s so good being able to cook for yourself and friends with proper tools! I have saucepan envy now… ETA: The kitchen set is also good I think because people can buy bits and pieces of it, so shouldn’t be too expensive for any one person. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/17 "2008-12-22T05:20:49Z")
It’s rather dated, but I still swear by my dog-eared, _bechinalt_-stained copy of [The Impoverished Students’ Book Of Cookery Drinkery And Housekeepery](http://bookstore.reed.edu/shop_product_detail.asp?mscssid=25B5CBCD1E8848E5B60FFFB9DC0C2EF3&catalog_group_id=Mg&catalog_group_name=R2VuZXJhbCBCb29rcw&catalog_id=375&catalog_name=SW1wb3ZlcmlzaGVkIFN0dWRlbnRzIEJvb2sgT2YgQ29va2VyeQ&pf_id=IMPOVERISH0876780710&product_name=SW1wb3ZlcmlzaGVkIFN0dWRlbnRzJyBCb29rIE9mIENvb2tlcnkgRHJpbmtlcnkgQW4&type=3&target=shop_product_list.asp). Not only useful for recipes, but contains tips on setting up one’s first apartment (hint: one can never have too many attractive old bedspreads). ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/18 "2008-12-22T10:33:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The _Joy of Cooking_, of course. Ditto. When I moved to Germany, I asked my mother to send me a copy for Christmas. She bought it…scanned through it…and bought a copy for herself, my brothers and almost everyone in the family. I left that copy in Germany with my SO’s brother, and he is constantly reading it for recipes and emailing me for the occasional translation (his English is good, but not great). Upswing…the basics, plus lots more. Buy the hardbound version only, NOT the paperback version…it has the absolute best recipe ever for Moussaka…a pain in the ass to make, but wow! Joy of Cooking has recipes ranging from how to make a hamburger (duh) to how to prepare a bear…yes, a bear…my guess is that Sarah Palin probably uses the book on holidays, but that shouldn’t stop you from buying it! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/19 "2008-12-22T14:34:41Z")
Check used bookstores for any cookbook by Peg Bracken. Easy, good, and fun to read. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookbook-suggestions-for-someone-about-to-leave-for-university/478093/20 "2008-12-22T14:40:10Z")
I agree with **silenus** and **Dmark**. **The Joy of Cooking** is the one cookbook I bought when I went away to grad school. It tells you the basics, and why you do things that way. I still have my didintegrating copy. Of course, I alter all the recipes, but you have to start somewhere.