Mealtime Magic: The Anti-Cookbook

I recently had a chance to see an e-copy of The Anti-Cookbook. It makes a good gift for anyone who's about to be on their own for the first time, or someone who has been living on convenience food that is looking for a way to ease into the world of cooking. The book is part cookbook, part collection of stories about cooking, and part advice on what to do in the kitchen.

I love how the book aims at making things easy - and also easy to change up. For example, the recipe for granola:

Granola (prep time 15 minutes)
Toast 1-2 cups of assorted raw chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts) on a large cookie sheet for 10 minutes at 300 degrees. When done, empty into large glass container and let cool. Turn oven to 350 degrees.

Meanwhile, mix in medium bowl: 6 cups organic rolled oats, 1 cup assorted raw seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, ground flax), Pinch salt, ⅓ cup oil (flax or canola), ⅓ cup maple syrup. Spread oat mix on cookie sheet, and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool in pan. Add oat mixture to nuts, and add about 1 cup dried fruit. Store in airtight container.

This comes from a chapter called "save time, save money" and gives examples of when it's better to make vs. buy.

For seasoned cooks, this cookbook might be a little annoying - there's not exactly a rhyme or reason based on traditional cookbook organization (like dessert, sides, beverages, etc). Instead, the chapters flow organically between different meals and food types based on the category of advice (meal planning, eating on the go, saving time and money, etc).

If you're just getting into your own kitchen, or know someone who is, this would be a great first cookbook to look at!