This is a simple-to-use illustrated guide to kitchen skills and techniques, with 500 step-by-step photographs. It covers all basic cooking techniques, from chopping vegetables to melting chocolate; from steaming to stir-frying; and from pot-roasting to making pastry. It includes over 100 recipes, variations and cooking ideas clearly explained in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step format, and with every dish shown in its finished form. It offers expert advice, practical instructions and hints and tips to guarantee successful results every time. This book is not just a recipe book, it is a wonderful encyclopedia of cooking techniques, clearly and simply presented with step-by-step photographs. Whether you are a complete novice or an occasional dabbler, whether you merely need a little help with tricky techniques or want to improve your skills, this book reveals the secrets of successful cooking. Techniques such as peeling tomatoes, crushing garlic, cooking perfect rice, making an omelette, baking a pastry case and cutting up a mango, are all explained. There are also 100 classic recipes, so that you can make snacks, main courses, desserts and treats with ease and confidence.