Mollie Katzen has written a new book for beginning cooks!

Do you want to eat really well–not just once in a while, but all the time–but you don't know where to begin?

Are you tired of pizza–much as you like it–and broke from buying takeout?

Do you love good food–the straightforward homemade kind–but feel challenged to set up a kitchen, shop for decent equipment and groceries, and tap into a few basic skills that can put a simple roast chicken or vegetarian entrée on your dinner table?

If your answers to these questions are "yes," then get cooking is for you.

get cooking is the first book from bestselling cookbook author Mollie Katzen designed specifically for beginners, whether you are just starting to cook for yourself or trying to kick the restaurant habit. Unlike most cookbooks, the goal in get cooking is to get you in the kitchen, no matter what your experience level might be. Illustrated throughout with color photographs of each dish, Mollie gives you clear, step-by-step instructions for making everything from classic mashed potatoes to Broccoli-Cheddar Cheese Calzones to Hot Fudge Sundaes (with homemade hot fudge!). With this book, anyone–(you included)–can make delicious, fresh food, with a lot less expense (and a lot more satisfaction) than ordering in.

You may know Mollie as the author of such famous cookbooks as The Moosewood Cookbook or The Enchanted Broccoli Forest; get cooking has all of the accessibility and personal warmth of those beloved books, but is Mollie's first cookbook for vegetarians and omnivores alike. You will learn how to make North African Red Lentil Soup, Linguine with Spinach and Peas, and Chickpea and Mango Curry–and also Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Classic Lasagna, and Steak Fajitas.

With get cooking in hand, you'll be serving everything from salads (such as Wilted Spinach Salad with Hazelnuts, Goat Cheese, and Golden Raisins) to desserts (try the Cheesecake Bars), with stops along the way for party snacks, a full array of side dishes, and a brilliant assortment of hand-crafted burgers (bean, tofu, and mushroom Ð as well as beef, turkey, and tuna). Here at last is the cookbook that will make a cook out of everyone.

Bonus Material! get cooking has a companion web site with free instructional/inspriational videos, starring Mollie & Friends. Visit www.get-cooking.com

View a slideshow of photos of recipes from the book:

• Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
• Cuban Black Bean Soup
• Corn Chowder
• Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup with Parmesan Fricos
• White Cheddar Mashed Potato Soup
• Hot and Sour Soup with Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms
• Caramelized Balsamic-Red Onion Soup with Cheese-Topped Croutons
• Cream of Spinach and Broccoli Soup
• Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
• North African Red Lentil Soup

• The Big Five: America's Most Wanted Salad Dressings:
• Raspberry-Shallot Dressing
• Creamy Balsamic-Honey Dressing
• Honey-Mustard Dressing
• Homemade Ranch Dressing
• Russian Dressing
• All-American Three-Bean Salad
• Potato Salad, Basic and Beyond
• Mostly Classic Cole Slaw
• Caesar Salad with Its Own From-Scratch Dressing
• Greek Salad with Oregano-Laced Vinaigrette
• Best Pasta Salad
• Old-Fashioned Iceberg Wedges with Luxurious Bleu Cheese Dressing
• Original-ish Waldorf Salad
• Chinese Chicken Salad with Soy-Ginger-Sesame Vinaigrette
• Wilted Spinach Salad with Hazelnuts, Goat Cheese, and Golden Raisins
• Taco Salad with Cumin-Lime-Cilantro Dressing

• Homemade Italian Tomato Sauce (Marinara and Bolognese)
• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Quick and Easy Spinach Lasagna
• Genuine Homemade Mac & Cheese
• Linguine with Clam Sauce
• Spaghetti alla Cabonara
• Rigatoni Al Forno with Roasted Asparagus and Onions
• Linguine with Spinach and Peas
• Penne with Broccoli and Pesto
• Pasta Shells with Chickpeas and Arugula
• Farfalle with Roasted Garlic, Nuts & Raisins
• Pasta with Tuna, White Beans, and Artichoke Hearts
• Chinese-Style Peanut Noodles

• Artichoke, Goat Cheese, Tomato, and Red Onion Focaccia
• Broccoli-Cheddar Cheese Calzones
• Green Pea & Feta Quiche
• Mushroom Popover Pie
• Acorn Squash Stuffed with Apple-Almond-Cherry Basmati Pilaf
• Baked Stuffed Potatoes
• Greek-Style Stuffed Eggplant
• Vegetarian Chili with Homemade Cornbread
• Mushroom-Zucchini Ragout over Creamy Polenta
• Vegetable-Tofu Stir-Fry with Orange-Ginger Glaze
• Chickpea and Mango Curry
• Thai Green Curry with Coconut Milk, Vegetables, and Tofu

• Excellent Homemade Hamburgers
• Turkey Burgers
• Salmon Burgers
• Tuna Burgers
• Very Crisp Panko-Coated Eggplant Cutlets
• Black Bean Burgers
• Portobello Faux Burgers
• Spice-Crusted Tofu Cutlets

• Poached Salmon
• Crispy Pan-Fried Fish Fillets
• Pan-Seared Garlic Prawns
• Pan-Grilled Boneless Chicken Breasts
• Simplest (and Best) Roast Chicken
• Baked Cut-Up Chicken with Fruit
• Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
• Steak Fajitas
• Broccoli Beef
• Old-Fashioned Beef Stew
• Grandma Betty's Brisket
• Peperoni e Salsiccia (Italian Style Peppers and Sausages)

• Baked Potatoes
• Mashed Potatoes
• Boiled Parsley Potatoes
• Roasted Fingerlings
• Skillet Potatoes with Fried Onions

• Classic Asparagus
• Absolutely the Best Broccoli
• Deeply Roasted Cauliflower
• Seriously Good Green Beans Amandine
• Delightfully Spiced Carrots
• Fajita-Style Peppers and Onions
• Spinach with Garlic
• Braised Brussels Sprouts in Mustard Sauce
• Dark Leafy Greens with Very Sweet Onions
• Your Basic Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Urban-Grilled Summer Squash
• Winter Squash au Naturel

• Crostini, Any Style: Little Italian Toasts
• Bocconcini Skewers (Fresh Mozzarella Balls with Basil and Tomatoes)
• Guacamole
• Hummus
• Peppy Pepitas
• Slightly Sweet Cajun-Spiced Nuts
• Bacon-Wrapped Fruit Bites
• Luxury Potato Bites

• Hot Fudge Sundaes
• Balsamic Strawberries
• Chocolate-Peanut Butter Crunchy Things
• Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies
• Intensely Chocolate Brownies
• Cheesecake Bars
• Gingery Gingerbread
• Buttermilk Banana Bread
• Apple Crisp
• Cherry Clafoutis