Cookbooks to Get You Started, February 2012

Not someone who thinks cooking is any fun? You just haven't found the Joy of Cooking. This book is a staple and though something of a retro throwback (does anyone really eat Oysters Rockefeller anymore?) it's chock full of all the basic recipes you could ever need. Surprisingly useful are the charts of different meat cuts --- everyone should be a little bit educated before heading out to the butcher!