Looking for a book on cooking techniques, anyone have a recommendation?

Question

I saw a few online but they don't have much to tell; such as "Mastering Knife Skills: by Norman Weinstein" (http://www.amazon.com/Culinary-Artistry-Andrew-Dornenburg/dp/0471287857/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218088573&sr=1-11) So yeah, I'm looking for a book that shows basic techniques for everyday cooking; whether it be knowing your way around a knife, or how to [whatever in the kitchen]. I'm learning to cook but I don't know how to cut or peel and whatnot.

Answer 1

Cookwise: The Secrets of Cooking Revealed by Shirley O. Corriher

Winner of a 1998 award from the James Beard Foundation, this book includes 225 recipes. More importantly, it explains how a recipe can fail, how to make sure it doesn't, and how to do everything from whipping cream properly to making a cake that will rise to producing a Hollandaise sauce with no lumps. For the cook who wants to understand the process, Shirley Corriher has the information--and explains why understanding how things work leads to better cooking.

This book is a great read, resource, cookbook and gift.

When something goes wrong in the kitchen, like a cream custard pie that sets up and then falls, look no further than Shirley Corriher's terrific book. Freatured are great recipes like Touch-of-grace biscuits with specific instructions. This book is for all of us who like to know the why and the how of cooking. Shirley does a great job of explaining it to us. And surely this is one of the best gifts that just keeps giving.