Betty crocker in Cooking Books

Cooking Basics and Entertaining Basics—all in one accessible guide

Do you yearn to cook something tasty for dinner, but don't know where to start?

Want to host an easy and elegant cocktail party for friends, but aren't quite sure how to do it?

Now you can—with a little help from Betty Crocker! With this 2-in-1 book, you'll learn to cook and entertain with confidence in no time. First, Cooking Basics gives you the guidance you need on kitchen tools and equipment, ingredients, cooking methods and more, complete with how-to photographs that guide you every step of the way. It includes the 100 recipes you most want to prepare—and shows you how to cook them, from Juicy Hamburgers to Caesar Salad to Frozen Chocolate Mousse. Then, Entertaining Basics gets you into party mode with a simple Entertaining Equation that helps you combine people, food, setting and planning into one great time. With the help of crowd-pleasing recipes and fun decorating ideas to get you started, you'll be completely confident throwing a party.

Betty Crocker Basics gives you:

• 200 delicious recipes for virtually every type of occasion
• More than 150 illustrated cooking how-to's, from chopping a tomato to carving a turkey
• Special menus for casual get-togethers as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays
• Simple do-ahead tips, serving suggestions and presentation ideas
• Hundreds of color photos of techniques and finished dishes
• And much more

Come celebrate the 125th anniversary of one of America's favorite kitchen ingredients—Gold Medal Flour, the award-winning flour that's been a kitchen staple for generations. In Baking for Today, Gold Medal Flour and Betty Crocker come together to create an irresistible collection of classic and contemporary recipes that are perfect for you and your family's busy schedule.

From easy cookies and pies to bread recipes that are the perfect way to de-stress after a hectic week, Baking for Today makes baking delicious and fun. It's the cookbook you'll turn to for years to come!

• 150 delectable recipes, from Apple Crisp, Gingerbread and other classics to fresh ideas like Blue Cornmeal Muffins, Pear-Nut Scones and Garlic and Asiago Loaves
• Wide assortment of sweets and treats, including main courses, cookies, cakes and pies, breads and biscuits, regional favorites and more
• Kid-friendly dishes everyone will love, like Cheesy Pretzels, Pepperoni Spinners and Chocolate Teddy Bear Pops
• Award-winning desserts like White Chocolate Mousse–Raspberry Pie and Cinnamon Shortcakes with Warm Blueberry Sauce
• Tips and advice on equipment, ingredients, serving and storage, plus information on baking traditions and Gold Medal Flour's rich history and heritage

The four elements of a great party are the Entertaining Equation: Good Company + Good Food + Good Setting + Good Planning = Great Time! Betty Crocker's Entertaining Basics: Learning to Entertain with Confidence details all the steps to take to guarantee that a party adds up just right.

One hundred of the best recipes to prepare for a party are here, from appetizers to desserts (all photographed) in an easy-to-read and easy-to-follow format. Plus, you'll find more than 25 easy Set the Scene" decorating ideas (all photographed) for making festive additions to the table such as: a picture frame serving tray; illustrated menu-, buffet-, or placecards; rustic cast-iron candleholders; iced decorated wine bottle.And, there are more than 80 how-to's (all photographed) explaining basic and slightly more advanced cooking techniques such as: pressing out pizza crust dough; layering lasagna ingredients; cutting and seeding a jalapeno chili."