Six Basic Cooking Techniques

Culinary Essentials for the Home Cook

Welcome to New York City's most popular cooking class -- now in a book! This vividly photographed manual is a peek inside culinary instructor Jennifer Clair's best-selling class her cooking school, Home Cooking New York (homecookingny.com), where just six cooking techniques lay the groundwork for a solid culinary foundation.

You'll learn the proper way to handle a chef's knife, cook meat to perfection, create impressive pan sauces, and prepare restaurant-worthy vegetable dishes. Plus, you'll discover which ingredients truly make a difference in a home kitchen (kosher salt, extra-virgin olive oil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, to start).

Each technique chapter includes a collection of flavorful recipes, so you can practice your newfound skills while cooking delicious meals. And throughout the book, myth-busting "Students Ask" and "Chefs Say" columns feature pearls of indispensable kitchen wisdom (why you should never mince basil, mint, or sage; why blanching vegetables is better than steaming; what are the three key flavors that make all food taste better; and more).

Confidence is what makes a great cook, and this practical culinary guide is filled with the teachings you need to gain control of your kitchen.