New Easy Basics

This book is perfect for beginners, with good illustrations and simple recipes, but the recipes are good enough to satisfy experienced cooks and mother-in-laws alike. Many of the dishes (such as "Creamy Tomato Soup" and "one-Hour Lasagne") have become staples in our household and impress our guests as well.

Sunset's "Easy Basics Cookbook" is one that you'll reach for often when mealtimes roll around or when you are looking for a good party dish. It's a great starter book for beginning cooks, with interesting recipes that experienced cooks will enjoy also. The pasta recipes are especially good. The mac and cheese recipe, an excellent comfort food, is the easiest, most delicious one I have found in years. Unlike some of the recipes which appear in the monthly magazine, these offerings are not labor- and time-intensive; yet they are satisfying to make and to eat. Also you will not be asking your grocer about exotic products as the recipes here draw on pantry staples instead of hard-to-locate ingredients. Highly recommended!

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. It's the perfect gift for someone just starting to cook. The recipes are good and a little more upscale from Better Homes & Gardens for instance, but not so upscale as to be overwhelming. As a more experience cook, I still find it a useful reference.