Updated to incorporate the latest tastes and cooking trends, a step-by-step guide to cooking includes more than two thousand contemporary recipes complemented by how-to information, tips on cooking techniques, and an expanded coverage of healthy foods.

Kitchen basics -- Sauces, condiments, herbs, and spices -- Appetizers -- Soups -- Sandwiches and pizza -- Salads -- Vegetables and fruit -- Beans -- Grains -- Pasta, noodles, and dumplings -- Fish and shellfish -- Poultry -- Meat -- Eggs, breakfast, and dairy -- Bread -- Desserts -- Menus -- The 102 essential recipes in this book -- My top 100 fast recipes -- My top 100 make-ahead recipes -- My top 100 vegetarian recipes.