Your Time to Cook: A First Cookbook for Newlyweds, Couples, and Lovers Book

For some people, cooking a meal is as easy and effortless as a walk in the park. But for others, even frying an egg may seem like a hike up Mount Everest. Designed for everyone who feels clueless in the kitchen, Your Time to Cook is a true “first” cookbook, packed with important kitchen essentials and cooking fundamentals—as well as a collection of basic, easy–to–prepare recipes. Kicking off the book is an introduction to kitchen gadgets and gizmos, essential guidelines for stocking the pantry, and a review of common cooking terms and food-preparation techniques.

Hundreds of magnificent full–color photos help make the information clear and accessible—whether it is a description of a how to chop an onion, scramble an egg, cook the perfect steak, or brew the best cup of coffee. Over 250 foolproof recipes include everything from breakfast favorites and party appetizers to hearty soups, salads, veggie side dishes, pastas, and seafood, as well as chicken, beef, pork, and lamb dishes. There is also a dessert chapter that s packed with your favorite sweet treats. To further ensure successful results, photos accompany each recipe’s step–by–step directions, while practical tips and “tricks” make sure that each meal is not only picture perfect, but also perfectly delicious. The book even contains a pocket for additional recipes.

Whether you are a newlywed struggling in your first kitchen, a single out on your own, or just someone who d like to gain more confidence in the kitchen, Your Time to Cook is your key to cooking success.

Publishers Weekly

Blakeslee's beginner's guide to all things culinary could prove as essential for new cooks as a good knife, far exceeding it's stated goal: to give novice cooks a solid foundation in technique and tools, as well as an understanding of how they work with raw ingredients to create a finished dish. Essentially two books in one, a kitchen-basics primer and a recipe collection, Blakeslee takes his time covering fundamentals like kitchen layout, ovenware, stocking the pantry, and techniques such as dicing onions, folding batter, folding napkins, and even boiling water. Dishes are detailed with the care of a doting mother, instructing with clear text and more than 1,000 step-by-step photos while avoiding condescension. Blakeslee heavily favors familiar foods and basic techniques-scrambled eggs, garlic bread, mac and cheese, and meatloaf-though cooks ready to expand their repertoire will find dishes like Ahi Tuna Burritos and tempura vegetables. Blakeslee tosses in everything he can think of for cooking couples just starting out, including menus for casual and upscale get-togethers, tips on serving wine, and variations for many of his recipes. This volume should sustain newlyweds and other cooking partners well past their first year together.
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