No More Takeout: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide to Cooking

By Stephen Hartigan

Even the best takeout food gets boring after a while--and expensive. But how do people develop basic kitchen skills and become accomplished home cooks? This unique cookbook shows them the way,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470169982
• ISBN13: 9780470169988
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 2.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.7" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Better Than The Kama Sutra!

I was recently married and a few weeks later my husband and I both lost our jobs. In an effort to save money and not get so depressed about looking for work, we decided to cook more at home but for two people who love their food but didn't use the kitchen beyond reheating left over take-out and making coffee, this was a challenge. I've bought cook books before but either the directions were really confusing and lacked pictures or the book was too technique oriented and whatever I made looked nothing like the picture (forget about what it tasted like). If you're taking the time out to cook something special and spending the money on fresh ingredients that maybe you've never bought before, your efforts will not be wasted with this book. This was the BEST investment purchase I've made in the last 6 months!!! NO MORE TAKE OUT eliminates the mystery and anxiety with cooking something new because the pictures are so clear and well presented. It has made two budding chefs out of me and my husband and it's been fun fine-dining at home ever since. The recipes are delicious and include a lot of things we order when we go out so its title has proven to be well chosen. If offers up some great advice which makes even the most tentative cook like myself feel confident. NO MORE TAKE OUT has great recipes for those desiring little effort but maximum impact at their dinner parties as well - the sticky toffee pudding I made for a small dinner party was rewarded with applause! I have never received such a reaction from my guests even when I was working and could afford to drop a lot of money on a take-out dessert from some posh bakery. I wish someone had given this to us as a wedding gift instead of the 5 rubbish Kama Sutra books we got - NO MORE TAKE OUT has been much more fun and enjoyable for my marriage, and my friends and family have reaped the benefits too.

Ideal Cookbook for College Students

I've been teaching my little brother how to cook for the past few months, since he's going off to college this August. We went through recipes in Joy of Cooking, Bon Appetit, How to Cook Everything, Cooking Know-How, and Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy...all of those books intimidated him. Finally, we tried a few recipes from No More Takeout, and he was hooked. He actually became excited about cooking, and started to invite his friends over so that he could cook for them...very unusual for him. As a gourmet cook, I was also impressed by the quality of the recipes. The authors have experience cooking for celebrities and top restaurants, so the food they create is top-of-the-line, without being intimidating. It's food that you can confidently make, proudly serve, and happily eat. It definitely beats dorm food!

The perfect book for starter (or occasional) cooks!!!

I love this book -- it's perfect for an occasional cook like me! Most cookbooks are too complicated for my taste but this one doesn't assume you already know how to do stuff. It doesn't call fancy equipment or fancier ingredients. I'm going to use it for my engagement party to make stuffed mushroom caps -- hooray!

I am inspired

No More Takeout! I am inspired--- to cook once again!! Great recipes- something for every taste! I especially love the pictures- so helpful to those of us who are visually oriented. Deb from Va

Amazing Do-it-yourself Guide

I've had this book for about a week, and I'm cooking things I didn't think I was capable of. On Monday, I made steak for the first time in my life and was able to get the precise result I wanted; it was delicious. If you are unfamiliar with the kitchen, or even if you think you know what you're doing (i.e. chicken breast), this book will enhance the repertoire and carry you forward. So good, so good.