This is a cooking book, not just a book of recipes, but about everything involved in cooking for yourself and others. There is general information about cuts of meat, poultry, pork, seafood and vegetables - how to choose them, store them and cook them in a variety of ways. There are lists of the cooking tools and equipment every kitchen should have on hand as well as the essential items that should be in one's pantry. Basic techniques like making a roux for sauces and gravies are explained. Because this book is targeted to the single cook many recipes have been reduced to single servings. The recipes in this book offer a variety of the basic and most common comfort dishes. If you are just beginning the adventure of learning to cook or need a basic cookbook, this will be a good resource for that journey.