Synopsis As the new generation of school-leavers depart from home, either to university, or to seek their fortunes in the outside world, many face the daunting prospect of cooking for themselves for the first time. Rather than resort to a diet of expensive takeaways, or anything-on-toast, this great book by 22-year old newcomer Tiffany Goodall shows first-timers how to cook everything they might want to eat.

Whilst at university last year, Tiffany wrote From Pasta to Pancakes with a student budget firmly in mind. It covers key basic skills such as how to cook pasta, pizza, pancakes, couscous, rice, bake a jacket potato, each with dozens of variations and moves on to explain how to whip up delicious breakfasts, filling lunches, proper dinners and delicious treats. With recipes ranging from Minestrone Soup to perfect Roast Chicken, from Spanish Omelette to Thai Green Curry and from Chocolate Brownies to Vodka Watermelon, this book will set young adults up for a lifetime of enjoyable cooking.

With its brilliant cartoon-strip design, more than 750 photographs and over 90 recipes, From Pasta to Pancakes makes it really easy to learn to cook. It explains the things that other books assume you know, and crucially, includes photographs to illustrate every step. So, if you need to know what simmering water really looks like, whether your sauce is the tight consistency, or how to check whether chicken is properly cooked, you will find clear instructions next to some handy pictures. Packed with recipes and helpful tips it is an ideal partner for those taking their first steps in the kitchen.

Hot Brands Verdict
If you are leaving home for the first time, or have a son, daughter, or family friend going to the university, or if you are absolutely hopeless in the kitchen this is a perfect gift. Full of illustrations and an easy to follow step-by-step approach this is something that will be propped up on the breakfast bar of bed-sits all over the land. It covers all the basic recipes as well as some fun dishes created by Tiffany, for everyone on a budget this is a great buy. The style is perfect, written by an ex-student she knows the target audience really well, with headings like Breakfast with Tiffany, Healthy Days for Healthy Girls, Boys are Back in Town, Tiff’s Tuesday, Wasted Weekends, Tiff’s Treats and the section on Food Hygiene will hopefully save many cases of food poisoning in novice cooks ! Highly recommended!

Buy From Pasta to Pancakes: The Ultimate Student Cookbook from Amazon.co.uk