Designed to help beginning cooks master essential kitchen techniques, this user-friendly book gives you the skills and confidence that are the hallmarks of a great chef. As helpful as a professional cooking teacher working right alongside you, each chapter features a single cooking technique accompanied by step-by-step directions and photos. Using basic cookware and kitchen tools, you'll master sautéing, stir-frying, frying, braising, steaming, simmering and poaching. Each of the 50 recipes includes expert secrets for success, from choosing the ideal tools and ingredients to making great vegetarian specialties and transforming a simple dish into a complete meal. Whether you're hosting a party or just trying to get dinner on the table, you can count on this book to guide you through all sorts of real-life cooking situations – and have lots of fun along the way. Softcover, 144 pages.