Hi Girls! I am looking for a good cookbook for college dummies. Son rejected my embroidered apron, but will accept a cook book in large print with lots of pictures. Any suggestions? (I really wanted to spend my hard earned pay for a lifesize Derek Jeter-hate the team, love the man-but wasn't in my budget this month!)

There's a cookbook called "a man, a can, a plan" which is pretty much what is sounds like. Then there's one that features recipes that call for five ingredients or less - can't remember the name, but it's probably "Five Ingredients or Less" or something equally intriguing. Both have been very popular with my boys when they headed off to college. Both gifts from Grandma that she has found multiple copies of at garage sales.

There are a lot of Crock Pot cookbooks floating around. That and a crock pot will be the perfect Christmas gift. I also recommend the old stand by -Better Homes and Garden cookbook. My daughter, who does not cook much, is getting pretty familiar with hers.

Cooking for Dummies:

http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Dummies-Bryan-Miller/dp/0764552503

Good morning Moms!

I love the frantic calls that I get from my kids:
"Mom, I have to be at a party in half an hour and I have to bring a desert. No, I don't want a store bought desert. What can I make?"
"Mom, I have half an onion, cool whip and a six pack in my fridge. What can I make for the cute boy I have invited for dinner?"
Best yet: "Mom, I miss your risotto! Can I learn how to make it?"

I was at the last Nationals Game in RFK Stadium yesterday. The day was beautiful and the Nats were tied with the Phillies. In the middle of the game, my phone rings. Our daughter, a grad student in California, wants me to give her my recipe for stuffed peppers. Uh, hold on, could I talk to her boyfriend, he is actually going to do the cookin? Ok - take ground beef...uh, we are making this for some friends who are vegetarian. So, I stood in the walkway outside of the seats and tried to scream directions for making stuffed peppers in a way that I had never made them before. The crowd inside the stadium erupts and I miss the Nats go ahead run and the double play that takes them out of the inning.

I have no idea whether they were edible, but it is kind of fun that they call and ask for help, even if they disregard it.

The Better Homes and Garden New Cookbook recommended by mythreesons is a great basic cookbook.

There are two other cookbooks that you might want to take a look at: The Starving Students' Cookbook and Where's Mom Now That I Need Her? Surviving Away From Home. (I like this one for the title, if nothing else!)

There are also sites on line that can be really helpful. I can look up a recipe and e-mail it to my kids. Recipe.com, allrecipes.com and, for the more adventurous, epecurious.com. On recipe.com you can search by ingredient, type of food, course, and I forget what else. I have even found an old family recipe for Italian cookies that I had lost by searching several different ways.

The daughter, you know, the one that called during the Nats game? On her bookshelf, here at home, are the cookbooks that she received for graduation from high school. It may be time to ship them out to her. Well, maybe not - I enjoy sharing those recipes with her - uh, her boyfriend.

Happy cooking, and keep the fire extinguisher handy.

\('!')/ Big HUGS,
P&CMom

quote:

"Mom, I have half an onion, cool whip and a six pack in my fridge. What can I make for the cute boy I have invited for dinner?"

If you can substitute a half bottle of chardonnay for the six-pack I have a daughter who might be interested in that recipe!

That one really stumped me!

Now, remember, she is older, several years out of college, and I can kid with her without losing my parental pedestal (soapbaox).

But I think it was something like: Feed him the beer first. Then, take a long time to saute the onions, bake them with bread crumbs and eggs, salt and pepper, and call it a soufle. (OK, there was more in her cupboard than those three things). Everything tastes better when you are really hungry and have had a beer or a glass of wine.

I don't want to know what she did with the Cool Whip.

I agree with "A Man, A Can and A Plan". Add to that "A Man, A Can and A Grill", and "A Man, A Can and A Microwave". I actually bought a set for myself! The recipes are simple! And tasty!!!

Just make sure that the chef knows that metal does not go into the microwave.

One of ours (who shall go unnamed) tried to microwave homemade muffins I had sent. TWICE I warned that the METAL foil tins needed to be removed before microwaving the muffins. Needless to say, the warnings were not heeded and a small fire ensued. Luckily, there was no ejection from the dorm (that we are aware of).

I should know better that to have any expectation that a warning would be heeded. I could have taken all the metal tins off before sending them, but now I know that the lesson has been learned well, hopefully with no major personal or structural damage.

Am pretty sure this is the one I bought our son
It is now available at Amazon.com for $10 and change.

Also saw this one while I was checking and it looks informative and very funny ...