There's a whole bunch of cookbooks for college students by college students here is a link with several listed. Cookbooks

or the old stand by, joy of cooking....remind her though, food companies like kraft foods are online....and most of those are quick, easy to adjust recipes....

And there are cooking for two cookbooks, but I bet the college cookbook might have some very simple recipes with very few ingredients.

This is a link to the book I bought for both my kids. I also give it as a graduation gift. My daughter still uses hers..shes now 47

lWhere's Mom Now That I Need Her

Another vote for The Joy of Cooking. If she can do simple math she can adjust the amounts for two people.

If she wants a cookbook with the best detailed instructions on HOW to do things, then definitely get 'The Joy of Cooking'! I have older versions of 'Better Homes & Gardens' cookbooks that I think are the best for basic and easy recipes that appeal to everyone -- 'Betty Crocker' would be a close 2nd. I suspect that newer versions of the book might have "updated" recipes that are more processed-food oriented though. :p If she is the type that wants to experiment, something like 'The Frugal Gourmet' has many good recipes that a new cook should enjoy.

Check your local thrift stores and half.com! You can probably pick up several different cookbooks in very good condition (cheap!) and then she can pick and choose.

While I love Joy of Cooking, it might be a bit intimidating at first. I would get it for her but think something along the lines of Betty Crocker/BHG or even Mark Bittman How to Cook Everything may a bit more approachable. I've even suggested America's Test Kitchen/Cooks Illustrated to beginners and while large books, they pack a lot of info.

Rachael Ray cookbooks are a great starting point and are worded in a more casual manner. Her approach is relatively simple and straightforward, which builds confidence in the kitchen. Once that confidence is established, moving on to JoC or other books is a breeze.

When I got married, I really didn't know how to cook anything but knew basic stuff in the kitchen. I used the Betty Crocker cookbook all the time. It tells you how to cook everything in very simple easy to understand words and also has pictures. I have also purchase the BHG cookbook and find it just as good if not maybe a bit better with even more pictures. We didn't have the internet back in the early 80s though, I feel like you can find how to do almost anything on the internet by google searching. She asked for a cookbook though so I'd suggest either Betty Crocker or BHG. I own Joy of Cooking and I never use it. Perhaps in her cookbook that you give her, you could include the web addresses to your favorite cooking sites.

Another vote for Joy of Cooking. I graduated college at age 21 a total non-cook. I had lived in a dorm and ate at the school dining hall. Mom was not a great cook and she never taught me anything. I graduated, moved far from home, got a job and an apartment. I bought Joy of Cooking. It was a two-volume paperback back then. Read it cover to cover. Everything from how to boil water cover.to fancy cooking methods (saute/braise/etc). I taught myself to cook for myself. Later got married (to a man who cooks) and had 2 kids. Bought cookbooks along the way but find myself still using Joy once in a while. I made devilled eggs for Easter and wanted some tips, which I got from Joy.

Depends on which version of Joy of Cooking you get. I have the one from 1953, and it is hilarious! I just love her running commentary. I detest the online version, updated commentary and the changes to recipes, no thanks!

Mine is fourth from the bottom.

I like the Good Housekeeping books. Check at Barnes and Noble for ideas too. If you did not want to buy a single book, how about a notebook where you can put in recipes,hints, suggestions etc. You could put difference recipes on paper, on in plastic sheets. Over the years, I put together a couple of sheets of hints, substitutions, suggestions for the beginning kitchen and it was fun. I gave these at bridal showers etc. As for spices, Penzeys has a good selection of small jars and will make up gift sets also.

How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

I have it as an app on my iPad. There is a section of the basics that takes you through recipes step by step.

ML

I've been, or used to be, kind of a collector of cookbooks. Funny, but my sis, brother and I all like to cook when our Mom never did unless she had no choice, and still does not. I can't remember the last decade I ate something from her kitchen that I didn't cook there myself.

One I've found helpful for descriptions and illustrations isn't mentioned above but its Essentials of Cooking, James Peterson. I think that would work for her too....

I agree that one of the books oriented toward college students would be best. Why not give an Amazon gift certificate and let her choose one she likes?

For occasions when she wants to do something more elaborate than the basics, I promise she'll need no guidance to be able to immediately find something suitable online.

I collect cookbooks and I have a cookbook geared to college kids....
that came in a box of cookbooks I bought. I just went to look for it and can't find it, so I probably gave it away. The name of it was something like, My Apartment has a Kitchen. Anyway, it was very basic. However, I would vote for one of the Betty Crocker cookbooks. I cooked out of them for years and they are about as basic as it gets. Pinterest is also good for recipes, and I would suggest a board like this one, which has recipes that were tried and people say whether or not they would make it again, or what changes they made to the recipe. https://www.pinterest.com/lizkubin/reviews-on-pinterest-recipes-weve-made/

I edited that post. I am using a lap top and if I don't pay close attention, it will jump back and I will be typing in mid sentence somewhere.

Marilyn, There's a cookbook called Help! My Apartment Has a Kitchen Cookbook. Is that the one you meant?

http://www.amazon.com/Help-Apartment-Has-Kitchen-Cookbook-ebook/dp/B002K6ESE6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429297445&sr=1-1&keywords=my+apartment+has+a+kitchen

There are also ones with titles like I'm in the Kitchen. Now what? and others along those lines.

I agree with Snidely. I have purchsed many cookbooks, mostly before computers. The problem I find is that you usually like only a few and are not interested in the majority.

McCormicks has a nice selection of recipes. You join on line and sometimes get updates. They seem simple enough.

Certainly look at all those recommended. I probably will too!

I think everybody got the plaid, ring-binder Better Homes and Gardens at one point. I know I did, in 1974. It's a great one.

I probably didn't give enough information. I think one of the main things she needs to consider is the availability of ingredients (she lives on campus and has no car) an extremely limited pantry and fridge, and the cost of ingredients.. She's a math whiz and a chemistry major (SUMMA CUM LAUDE from high school a year ago) so she can do the math/division if needed, but there is little space for leftovers and as yet has NO cookware.. We're starting with the basics here.. I think I will order that one about "Where is Mom....." and would like any other personal reccomendations.. Thank you all!. I was thinking of Joy of Cooking because I've heard so much about it, but I have never even looked at it myself!. May have to do that.

I'm with Marie_ndcal. I too like the Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook. I have several editions of these. You can find an old edition for less than $1 or a little over $3 with shipping fee (http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=The+Good+Housekeeping+Illustrated+Cookbook).

It has a section that provides cooking time for various type of beans/peas. Not all beans/peas take a long time to cook. It also showed different cut of meats. These were especially helpful to me. Plus, I like illustrated step-by-step instructions. It makes it easier for a foreigner to understand English cooking terms.

Yes, that was it...Help, My Apartment Has a Kitchen.

redcurls, maybe you should be getting a cookbook for camping (re having no cookware, limited ingredients, and no place to store leftovers).

My first cookbook was the plaid, ring-binder Better Homes and Gardens. My favorite is the Joy of Cooking (mine is the 1953 version, which I "inherited"). With those two, I have never needed another cookbook!

Does your granddaughter know basic kitchen stuff? My son didn't when he moved into his apartment last year...I'm such a bad mom :( But then, I didn't either when I got my first apartment. My mom gave me a "how to Boil Water" which cracked me up, and Joy of Cooking and I was so intimidated by it, but when I finally started cooking regularly (marriage and babies will do that to you) it became my bible for even knowing what cuts to get, how to select, store, prepare, very basic cooking, and recipes from quick and easy to "want to impress".

I collected a dozen or so of my favorite easy-peasy-but-yummy recipes, mainly from "Joy", a fundraiser cookbook, and a menu-planning service I suscribed to, typed them up in an easy-to-use format, slipped them in page protectors in a skinny binder with just a few "tips", and he's done pretty well. His roomies are all different: vegetarian, no pork/mixing meat with dairy, etc, so they learn a lot from each other. And eat out a lot.

When my grandson went to college, I got him copies of books from Amazon. I think they were something like "What You Need to Know When Mom is not Around.....and when Dad is not around"....can not remember the exact names. They had a lot of simple recipes and things college students need to know when living out on their own...i.e...doing laundry, taking simple care of their car etc....lots of good information as well as cooking.

What type of kitchen facilities will she have? Is is a community kitchen for the entire floor of a dorm or is she in an "apartment style" dorm with 3 or four roommates and a kitchen? Kitchen or kitchenette?

Knowing those things would affect what type of cookbook would best serve her needs.

Dorm floor kitchens are notoriously under-stocked and frequently pretty messy and dirty depending on who used them last. DD and her friends would use them as prep for parties but cooking meals in them was more trouble than it's worth. The "kitchens" in the apartment style dorms lack storage for fresh ingredients and are not really conducive to very much from scratch cooking. Are her roomies on the same page? They will be using the kitchen for their stuff too.

I agree with the Where's Mom cook book, but I would go with a couple of the 4 ingredient or 5 ingredient cookbooks and toss in a small-medium sized crock pot/slow cooker in the package to also use as alternative to the stovetop or oven. She won't have lots of time to spend cooking, but could easily pick a recipe and make sure she has the items on hand and have hot meals every day. Not a lot of storage needed and they can get nutritious meals. After getting familiar with times needed, the cost and her building confidence around cooking she can move up to the higher levels of cooking.

I'd go with some of the church/school cookbooks. Most of them are not gourmet foods. They're usually easy to prepare, comfort foods. Sounds like you're looking for recipes rather than learning to cook. The other thing is to jot down your own recipes that they liked. I've made special cookbooks for several people and it's easy to customize to their needs and tastes. You can also ask some friends/relatives for their recipes that meet the criteria you're looking for and include those.

I actually HAVE made her a file of very simple recipes. Not simple because she couldn't follow a complicated one, but simple because of the ease of preparation, ingredients, and equipment. The biggest thing I need to keep in mind is that she won't have a large pantry of staples like I do. The "kitchen" in her dorm is quite limited. She will also not have the equipment, nor space for it. I must have 40-50 spices.. She'll MAYBE have a dozen, but more likely closer to a half dozen.

For a little different take consider the Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. It's got a lot of the basics in a simple, concise volume.

Here is another vote for Joy of Cooking. You can learn most cooking techniques from it. My mom had hers from the 40's and we daughters all got our copy in the 80's from mom. I have tons of cookbooks but the one I always go to is my better homes and garden cookbook, I have 2 one from the 60's and one from the 80's. I also have a james beard cookbook. For a college student I would buy one with the basics and easy recipes with a few ingredients. Remember students don't have a lot of money to buy what they need to make many dishes. How about one of family recipes?

I realize this is an old thread, but one of the best books for anyone new to the kitchen, especially starting from scratch without a lot of kitchen experience, including fitting out a kitchen, shopping, proper food storage, a general how-to for food preparation in the simplest terms, is Clueless in the Kitchen - A Cookbook for Teens - by Evelyn Raab.

I use it as a guideline for teaching all ages, including a class I teach at the Senior Center for men who are having to take over the task of meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation. This class came about when an elderly man was having difficulty finding things on the grocery list for his wife and asked me for help. He was as lost as I am in an electronics store! I have men who are newly widowed, or their wives are no longer able to do all the shopping and meal preparations. There was a whole generation of men who might be good at grilling a steak, hamburgers and hot dogs, but that was about the extent of their cooking prowess, and they were grateful for the information this class gave them. It's become a popular class, and really fun to teach.

When my own (now adult) kids left home, they had a number of cookbooks, including Joy of Cooking and Betty Crocker, but they also had their own 3x5 recipe box with recipes they collected from their grandmothers, aunts, and friends mothers. Our kids had to plan and cook one meal each week from the time they were 10-years old until they left home. It pays you and them dividends to teach them early.... BTW - We also included hubby in the process as well. He was the first son after 4 daughters, so he never had to do anything in the kitchen, and it was a good life lesson for him, as well.

Another good choice is Semi-Homemade -The Complete Cookbook - by Sandra Lee (or any of her Semi-Homemade books - recipes also available on-line at the Food Network). This helps ease newbies into cooking.

Once a young adult has an established home and kitchen, I'd recommend The New BEST RECIPE - from the Editors of Cook's Illustrated. This is the grown-up version for real cooking - beyond the confines of a dorm kitchenette.

-Grainlady

I collect children's cook books. Recipes so easy, even a child can do it.....

Momcat2000, do you have The International Cookbook for Kids? The kids in our family love it. It's easy to follow, has basic foods that kids like, and teaches them to cook from stock on up.