Tastes Just Like Mom's cookbook is for the beginner chef in you. This book was written by a mom to help her son at college. He wanted to cook meals for himself but had a fear of the kitchen and was lost in the grocery store. All of his fears, and yours, will be set at ease as you learn to cook just like Mom. The recipes are written as a guide to teach you how to cook for yourself, family, and friends. Learning to cook is simple if you can follow directions. You will enjoy using fresh ingredients which leads to a healthier lifestyle. Eating out should be a treat or an occasional fast meal, not an everyday eat-on-the-run escape from healthier choices. After you have made a few of these recipes, you will find yourself capable and excited about cooking more often. Eating at home will save you money and having leftovers can be a free meal for the next day Read the NOTEBOOK section first. This section is a class for beginner cooks. It will cover all the basics you should understand before you start working in the kitchen. There are dangers in the kitchen that must be avoided and technical information that should be learned to help make cooking easier. Plenty of photos are included for visual reference. Choose recipes from the LEAN AND MEAN section for daily healthy choices. All recipes in this section are healthy and low-fat meals. Look to the GAME DAY section for lots of outdoor grilling options and crowd-pleasing side dishes. Check out the DATE NIGHT section and find restaurant-style menu options to impress your date or friends for a taste of a night out at home. The COMFORT FOOD section is full of yummy home cooked meals that Mom or Grandma would have made but not necessarily the meals you should make on a daily basis. Planning a party? Find all of the crowd-pleasing dips and appetizers in the IT'S A PARTY section and enjoy the fun.