What is a good basic cookbook for a student?

[harbingerofdoom]

Have 2XDDs going off to university shortly. Unfortunately the one in self-catering is going to live off cereal unless there is some book infront of her!
DD in catered accommodation can cook quite well but it might be useful for her to have a book anyway.

TIA

Ahaa! Easy peasy.

Put a blob (I never measure, maybe a heaped dessertspoonful) of butter or margarine in a pan, ideally one with a heavy base. Melt it gently.

Take it off the heat and add flour (any old flour) gradually while stirring until you have a really thick paste which rolls itself into a ball (this bit's called a roux).

Then slooooowly add cold milk, just a splash at a time, and stir it thoroughly into the paste until it is all combined and smooth before adding the next splash - go too quickly here and you'll get lumps. Once you've added your desired amount of milk (start with maybe 250ml in total?) put the pan onto a high heat and stir continuously - some people like to add a bay leaf and black pepper at this point, it's nice but not vital.

You will need to be careful to keep it moving all the time so it doesn't stick or burn but as it comes to the boil it will thicken and get glossy and once it's boiled for a few moments all the flouriness will have gone from it and it will have a really smooth texture. You can always whisk any lumps out afterwards. For cheese sauce add a ton of strong grated cheddar once the sauce has boiled and stir in until melted.

Honestly, it's a spoon, a pan, and 3 ingredients - can't go wrong as long as you take your time! :)

Oh, thank you. I've just been so scared. I've always got the ingredients in the house,so will try tomorrow(when it's quiet!).
:)

The Essential Student Cookbook by Cas Clarke is the updated Grub on a Grant.

Meals in Minutes by Ainsley Harriott is also very good.

I was sent to uni with delia's complete cookery course. covers everything from basics to fancy bits.
still regularly refer to it now.

Jamie's Ministry of Food. Recipes use simple ingredients, teach basic techniques and allow variations.

I love The Dairy Cookbook! Mum got it for me for uni and I still use it all the time 10yrs on.

Another vote for Real Fast Food by Nigel Slater. Easy and yum!

Right, I think I will buy four and then rotate them,as and when needed. One seems to stand out.