The MUST HAVE Cookbook

Why another cookbook I hear you ask?

The answer is simple – because a couple of generations now don’t know the basics when it comes to cooking. These are the…

‘packet people’

’sauce from a bottle brigade’

‘cake in a box crew’

Sure, it’s convenient. But it’s also limiting, often unhealthy and ultimately expensive.

When I was a school teacher, we taught the fundamentals of food preparation and cooking … how to boil, fry, poach and scramble an egg, how to make a béchamel (or melted butter) sauce and how to cook meat, chicken and fish, but we have more than one generation now who don’t posses these very fundamental and basic cooking skills.

Well – this little cookbook

IS THE FUNDAMENTALS

It contains all those forgotten basics; the majority of recipes, skills and techniques from which most recipes are created.

And once you master what’s in this book you’ll be able to easily…

• Make any recipe from any book!
• Replicate meals you have in restaurants easily at home!
• Replicate recipes from just an image in a magazine or book you see somewhere!
• Dissect someone else’s recipes just by observation and taste!
• Create your own unique recipes by combining base recipes!
• Whip up anything with just the content of your fridge or pantry!
• Never be stuck for something to cook for a family meal or for guests!

WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO TO SEE WHAT’S IN THE BOOK!

But don’t just take my word for it, here’s what some satisfied customers had to say!

I think your book is brilliant. I must have wasted weeks of my life stirring risotto and now I don’t have to. Made the cheesecake on the weekend and the ladies thought I was some kind of genius. I’m very impressed, thanks very much.

Mark

I have had this book for several months now it’s great! Even an old fellow like me can understand it I particularly like the variations you present for each recipe it certainly simplifies cooking for me. The only problem is I enjoy the fruits of our labour too much! Thanks very much and well done.

Gordon

I would like to congratulate you on producing your fantastic book First Principles. I have just bought each of my two ‘20 something’ children a copy of the book as each of them is living independently and both love cooking. They often ring to ask for help! I am so impressed with your book that I am going to buy my own copy – I thought I had enough in the hundreds I own, not to mention the mags I buy, but I found plenty of information which is handy to have in one small volume. You truly have produced the contemporary Green and Gold!

Sandra

I saw your cookery book while shopping this afternoon, and bought a copy. I have just been looking it over and think the selections, explanations, and layout are all good. The idea of doing a basic recipe then listing variations is good. You have achieved a ‘Common Sense’ book in an updated way. I particularly like it because you have done the ‘measurements’ in spoons and cups where practical.

Jean

I love your new recipe book. Easy to follow and with readily available ingredients. Well done!

Joan

I just wanted to give you some feedback on your fantastic basics cooking handbook, First Principles. I received the book for Christmas and have only today had time to sit down and flip through it. I would like to congratulate you on producing a handbook with all the important information which is often not included in other cookbooks, such as explanations of key cooking terms and what to stock your pantry with – you are right that the chore of buying ingredients for specific ‘recipes’ can sometimes be quite bothersome and can stop you cooking something. I feel the book will really help me.

Louise

I have purchased your book ‘First Principles’. It is a marvellous book. Just what every cook should have.

Keith

At age 37, my cooking skills were limited to meat and boiled veggie’s, and one pancake recipe learned at my mother’s knee. All my life, meals had been provided by (a) parents, (b) the army, or (c) a wife, who wouldn’t let me in the kitchen except to wash dishes. When I found myself living alone, the most important tool in the house was a can opener. I stumbled through, learning things the hard way, until a girlfriend (in frustration, no doubt) recently gave me a copy of First Principles. My fingers are still sticky from my first quiche, now cooling on the bench. The sense of achievement is out of all proportion to the effort involved. Thanks for providing such an easy-to-follow, cover-all-bases, and not-scare-beginners-with-jargon reference. Let me know when you want to come by for dinner.

Jonathan

My friend Carol wrote this on her blog!

The Peekaboo Tree on Carol and Victor's NSW Property

My media friend and foodoholic, Victoria Hansen, has a new cookbook, First Principles. I went online to see for myself what she has to offer. And she’s offering a great deal because it’s a cookbook for everyone. For beginners, it’s a book that teaches every cooking principle from scratch. For experienced cooks like me, it’s more than back to basics. It’s a book about taking the basics, and converting them into delicious dishes.Once you know how to boil and beat an egg, you’re only a step away from making Creme Anglaise, Creme Brulee and Custard Tarts. The video is a knock out. She leaves nothing to your imagination about what you’ll receive when you have First Principles on your kitchen shelf. I ordered mine today and can’t wait to receive it. You can also scroll through portions of her book online so you can see exactly how easy it is to use.And how well it’s laid out. This book is written by a domestic cook for a domestic cook. How important is that!? Believe me, you won’t be disappointed. I know I’ll have something I’ll treasure forever. Carol Jones – The Ironing Board Cover Lady

And from Fiona who purchased the very first copy!

The New Book

I wanted to let you know how excited I was to receive your new First Principles book in last night’s mail. The book looks fantastic and your photo at the front is just gorgeous. I really like the spiral binding as it makes it very easy to use and of course the book easily stays open. It is very well laid out and will be well used by me as I need all the help I can get in the kitchen. To find such easy to understand explanations is just wonderful for me. My mother is very ill and she just loves your original book and she was really thrilled to see the new book. Mum also commented on how beautiful you look in the photo. I hope it sells well for you – I will probably buy a few more copies as I think it would be an excellent gift. Fiona