This book was written for people with little or no cooking experience. Most of the recipes are for two people but the recipes can be scaled up. Exotic spices and other ingredients were avoided to keep the cost down and preparation simple, but flavor was not sacrificed. Many of the newly emancipated take the easy way out by eating out. But a steady diet of fast foods, Roach Coach cuisine, restaurant cooking or just plain grocery store frozen meals is unhealthy. A continuous diet of these foods taxes your body with unhealthy amounts of sugar, salt or fat. This "Trinity of Hell" is used to enhance flavor but over time it can have a devastating effect on the body. Part of the key to a long, healthy life is proper nourishment and that's what this book is all about. Exercise also plays a part but that can be achieved through physical labor, outdoor activity, or trips to the gym. This book covers these subjects, in enough detail, to keep you smiling for life. Pleasure can be achieved while avoiding the "Trinity of Hell".This book gives you delicious recipes, instructions on how to cook, background material on how to cook, and diet information on how to eat for health. Included are: Recipes. - For everything from casseroles to Thanksgiving dinner, and many in between. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and appetizers. Meats, salads, breads and sandwiches are also covered. Recipes include Tamale Pie, Cassoulet, stuffed turkey, Pizza, Chili and beans, Jambalaya, Portuguese Bean Soup, Ambrosia, desserts and candy. Guidelines. - How to prepare food, rules for food handling and preparation, food storage, shelf life of foods, seasonings, a glossary, and substitutions. How to cook. - Detailed instructions for using the stove top, oven, baking, broiling, roasting, slow cooker, steam cooking, pressure cooking, and the Bar-B-Que grill. Supporting recipes are included in most cases. Instructions on the use and care of your cooking equipment and utensils. Metric conversion. Measurements. Nutrition.