<p>Roast anything is super easy and you can roast vegetables in the oven at the same time. When I was young I mostly sauteed things in frying pans and steamed vegetables. All my son ever asks for in the way of recipes is pie! If I were going to give a kid a cookbook I’d give them Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything.</p>
<p>My mom put all of our family recipes onto a PDF for me to have on my computer. </p>
<p>I agree about teaching techniques. I’d been helping my parents in the kitchen since I was about 8, and I started doing almost all the dinner cooking once I was in high school, so I knew a lot of things, but I was shocked at how many of my friends didn’t. One of my suitemates once asked me how long to cook chicken breast. I responded, “Um…until it’s done?” She then asked me how to tell if it was done. “Errr…when it looks done…?”</p>
<p>But seriously, teach them things like that, that are second nature or obvious to you.</p>
<p>A copy of The Joy of Cooking might be good, since it has EVERYTHING.</p>
<p>When I’m at school I make a lot of soups, casseroles, etc…things that I can make on the weekend and eat all week as leftovers. Baked Ziti and a really good Green Chile & Chicken Casserole that my family loves are two of my favorites.</p>
<p>I taught my children how to make their favorite foods. I also made sure they knew how to cook oatmeal, make a grilled cheese, and French toast. Both of my children have gone well beyond the basics at this point—and entirely by using the internet to find recipes and videos.</p>
<p>Grace, Joy of Cooking is also too complicated.</p>
<p>Create her an e-mail with links to good recipes on-line, if she needs it with video. </p>
<p>S2 had quite a large grocery bill, and I asked him what he bought. He said “chickens.” Plural. Apparently, he had bought himself a cast iron skillet which would hold one chicken to fry. I don’t have one, so he got instructions on line on how to season the pan. Watched a video about how to cut up a chicken, and found a recipe that called for soaking the chicken in buttermilk. He’s gone on from this to create multiple versions of cornbread, biscuits, various pasta dishes, sushi, ribs, you name it. He’s even catered some of his friend’s parties. </p>
<p>I’ve always cooked a lot and adventurously, and he’s often cooked with me, but I sometimes call him for advice, and he’s learned it all on-line.</p>
<p>Since I have boys who minimally cook (pasta, steaks on the BBQ, that sort of thing)…maybe I should have sent them my ole college favorite…Top ramen, cooked, drained, do not add the season packet, then stir in favorite salsa. I think I lived on that.</p>
<p>My son got a bag of ramen noodles for a graduation gift…with a gift card.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>ha ha…so now he can buy some salsa to go with those noodles! ;)</p>
<p>Seriously? What about the thrill of discovery and the joy of being independent? I’ll certainly give specific directions when asked, but I hope that by the time has come to be in one’s own apartment, my instructions won’t often be needed.</p>
<p>My S2 loves to cook and swears by the Epicurious online recipe bank – shops for ingredients by checking recipe on his iPhone in stores. </p>
<p>For every day basics, can he make his favorite breakfasts? Perhaps a few lessons in eggs and bacon and hot cereal and such and that should get him going.</p>
<p>m2ck, I gave D1 a bag of ramen noodles just in case she’s too tired to cook.</p>
<p>One of the absolutely best things we can do in life is teach our kids to make healthy food. Making and eating food together will be the most memorable aspects of raising the kids. We know a couple that eat out or take in just about every night. While they are normal weight all three of their kids are obese.</p>