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How To Cook in a Jiffy Even If You Have Never Boiled an Egg Before
Never boiled an egg before but want to learn the magic art of cooking? Then don’t leave home without this Survival Cookbook: “How to Cook in a Jiffy-even if you have never boiled an egg before”.
The Book recounts, with wit and humour, the author’s own semi-autobiographical experiences of participating in “finding me a meal ritual…….(and) bumbling about in the wonderlands of cooking” in London, where he was pursuing for four years an LLB (Honours) degree as well as Legal Practice Course (LPC) Diploma.
Where this book scores over other “How To” cookbooks is in the manner in which it treats no question as “too stupid”. Its next USP is its very logical and structured approach in which it follows a step by step “graduation” process.
You start with some very basic cooking techniques such as how to break, poach, fry, boil (and peel) an egg, learn how to handle chicken, vegetables and fish and then “graduate” to making such “complicated” recipes as cheese omelette, vegetables au gratin, baked chicken or French Onion Soup.
Most uniquely, the book teaches the concept of “sequencing and parallel processing” in cooking that should enable busy people to create a 3-4 course meal in less than 30 minutes.
The book is fun and entertaining to read. The photographs used in the book are all taken by the author himself, in natural light, without using any inedible garnish or props, and of the dishes that were made right in his kitchen. These are just meant to illustrate how exactly the dish would look like if you prepared them yourself, the author assures.
This book is highly recommended for all those young people who are about to start their University education and are going to live by themselves, probably for the first time in their lives, in self-catered dorms, hostels, halls of residence, apartments, whatever. They either starve themselves or survive on fast food--- sandwiches from supermarkets, instant noodles that you can have straightaway (that you don't even need to boil) etc etc…. In the process, they become deficient in vitamins, minerals, proteins and a lot of other good stuff, which is not really a good state to be in when you need to muster all your resources for excelling in your chosen courses of study.
Next, the book is addressed to all those newly employed people who are about to start their careers in Mumbai, Dubai, Singapore, London, New York or elsewhere and who need to set up some very basic cooking facilities in their apartments. They have their dreams. They work hard, they would like to play hard too, but work related pressures are such that surviving on take-aways becomes the norm and sometimes even the preferred option. They, however, neither have the time nor the inclination to bother with anything but a very simple Survival Course in Cooking, which is what this book ventures to provide.
The third category could be that of the single moms or dads who suddenly realize the need to acquire some basic culinary skills FAST.
Finally, this book addresses the needs of the small but growing tribe of campers, and those opting to stay in self-service apartments, while on tours and vacations, who too wish to acquire somewhat decent skills in cooking.
So be it healthy college cooking, or cooking for a single person or even outdoor cooking---this book promises to help you survive all situations by teaching you how to cook literally in a jiffy.
The Book recounts, with wit and humour, the author’s own semi-autobiographical experiences of participating in “finding me a meal ritual…….(and) bumbling about in the wonderlands of cooking” in London, where he was pursuing for four years an LLB (Honours) degree as well as Legal Practice Course (LPC) Diploma.
Where this book scores over other “How To” cookbooks is in the manner in which it treats no question as “too stupid”. Its next USP is its very logical and structured approach in which it follows a step by step “graduation” process.
You start with some very basic cooking techniques such as how to break, poach, fry, boil (and peel) an egg, learn how to handle chicken, vegetables and fish and then “graduate” to making such “complicated” recipes as cheese omelette, vegetables au gratin, baked chicken or French Onion Soup.
Most uniquely, the book teaches the concept of “sequencing and parallel processing” in cooking that should enable busy people to create a 3-4 course meal in less than 30 minutes.
The book is fun and entertaining to read. The photographs used in the book are all taken by the author himself, in natural light, without using any inedible garnish or props, and of the dishes that were made right in his kitchen. These are just meant to illustrate how exactly the dish would look like if you prepared them yourself, the author assures.
This book is highly recommended for all those young people who are about to start their University education and are going to live by themselves, probably for the first time in their lives, in self-catered dorms, hostels, halls of residence, apartments, whatever. They either starve themselves or survive on fast food--- sandwiches from supermarkets, instant noodles that you can have straightaway (that you don't even need to boil) etc etc…. In the process, they become deficient in vitamins, minerals, proteins and a lot of other good stuff, which is not really a good state to be in when you need to muster all your resources for excelling in your chosen courses of study.
Next, the book is addressed to all those newly employed people who are about to start their careers in Mumbai, Dubai, Singapore, London, New York or elsewhere and who need to set up some very basic cooking facilities in their apartments. They have their dreams. They work hard, they would like to play hard too, but work related pressures are such that surviving on take-aways becomes the norm and sometimes even the preferred option. They, however, neither have the time nor the inclination to bother with anything but a very simple Survival Course in Cooking, which is what this book ventures to provide.
The third category could be that of the single moms or dads who suddenly realize the need to acquire some basic culinary skills FAST.
Finally, this book addresses the needs of the small but growing tribe of campers, and those opting to stay in self-service apartments, while on tours and vacations, who too wish to acquire somewhat decent skills in cooking.
So be it healthy college cooking, or cooking for a single person or even outdoor cooking---this book promises to help you survive all situations by teaching you how to cook literally in a jiffy.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2013
2 people are currently reading
830 people want to read
About the author
Prasenjeet Kumar
171 books55 followersI am currently an Author, blogger and entrepreneur.
I love writing about things that I am truly passionate about.
I believe that my writings should help change people’s lives forever (for good, of course!).
I live in India, in the north, close to the Himalayas. I love the mountains with its temperate climate, snow covered peaks, pine and fir forests, cherry and peach blossoms and the green pastures.
I also run two websites, www.cookinginajiffy.com that I have dedicated to my mother and www.publishwithprasen.com where I share tips on self-publishing and writing.
I love writing about things that I am truly passionate about.
I believe that my writings should help change people’s lives forever (for good, of course!).
I live in India, in the north, close to the Himalayas. I love the mountains with its temperate climate, snow covered peaks, pine and fir forests, cherry and peach blossoms and the green pastures.
I also run two websites, www.cookinginajiffy.com that I have dedicated to my mother and www.publishwithprasen.com where I share tips on self-publishing and writing.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 28, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review. This is a good informative book for someone starting out in the adventure of cooking. This would make a great gift for a young bride who is just starting out with her new duties of cooking or a single person getting out on their own. In today's busy life parents often don't have the time to teach their kids the important skill of cooking and this book is wrote very easy to understand with clear step by step directions to follow to help you learn the cooking basics. It is a wonderful tool to help instill a love of cooking and healthier approach to a quick and good for you meal in a jiffy! I enjoyed the simplicity of the recipes that were shared and the approach to embrace cooking without worrying about the imperfections that can sometimes happen and just enjoy the end results.
March 28, 2014
I received this e-book from the author on a gratis basis and I'm happy to pass along my thoughts about it.
I hesitate to call "How to Cook in a Jiffy..." a cookbook, since it is more a step-by-step guide for the kitchen neophyte than a collection of recipes.
For those of us who have been cooking since childhood, this book may seem too simplistic, but it is a very straightforward, practical and simple excursion into the kitchen for one who is confounded by anything beyond a microwave.
From cooking an egg to making a full meal, this instruction book lays out everything in painstaking detail -- which, for its intended audience is a good thing, but for the seasoned cook/chef will be somewhat tedious.
Then again... an accomplished chef wouldn't need this book. :)
I applaud Mr. Kumar's initiative in learning to cook, and for having the tenacity to take what he learned and bring it to others who may be as confounded as he was when he began his culinary journey. His narrative style works, but it does make for a little difficulty in culling the recipes from the chit-chat. A little change in layout might help in that regard.
Terms and measurements are very British, although non-metric equivalents are included for American readers. Instructions are repetitive, which are probably necessary for the beginner, and appropriate for the book's target audience.
All in all, if one is a complete novice in the kitchen, this is a good place to start.
I hesitate to call "How to Cook in a Jiffy..." a cookbook, since it is more a step-by-step guide for the kitchen neophyte than a collection of recipes.
For those of us who have been cooking since childhood, this book may seem too simplistic, but it is a very straightforward, practical and simple excursion into the kitchen for one who is confounded by anything beyond a microwave.
From cooking an egg to making a full meal, this instruction book lays out everything in painstaking detail -- which, for its intended audience is a good thing, but for the seasoned cook/chef will be somewhat tedious.
Then again... an accomplished chef wouldn't need this book. :)
I applaud Mr. Kumar's initiative in learning to cook, and for having the tenacity to take what he learned and bring it to others who may be as confounded as he was when he began his culinary journey. His narrative style works, but it does make for a little difficulty in culling the recipes from the chit-chat. A little change in layout might help in that regard.
Terms and measurements are very British, although non-metric equivalents are included for American readers. Instructions are repetitive, which are probably necessary for the beginner, and appropriate for the book's target audience.
All in all, if one is a complete novice in the kitchen, this is a good place to start.
August 1, 2014
Great first cookbook for anyone feeling overwhelmed by taking on a kitchen for the first time. There are some very good, practical suggestions in here for anyone who wants to begin eating in a more economical and healthy manner. I can't wait to try the french onion soup recipe!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews