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Cooking Basics

Whether you’re purchasing your first or your 40th cookbook, the cookbook section of your local bookstore can inspire feelings of vertigo–-the seemingly infinite choices! Great tomes with dozens of glossy pages displaying velvety trifles, grilled flank steaks and burgundy risottos might cause the novice to shriek: could I really cook any of this? While the budding foodie might wonder if their local gourmet shop carries agave nectar. From Middle Eastern fare to convenience cooking, over the past 20 years chefs have offered the home cook everything from culinary passports to their favorite exotic locales to shortcuts in the kitchen. So whether you want to grill a hot dog or perfect your pear strudel, these five easy tips will help you navigate the dizzying array of cookbook options.