Let's Cook

“Let’s Cook” focuses on cooking techniques that are fundamental to becoming a good cook.

As Christmas gift buying season is upon us, today’s “lesson” is about how to select a cookbook.

Cookbooks make great gifts. And with so many, many cookbooks available, having guidelines will save you time and money and cause you to be less susceptible to what I call the “pretty picture” syndrome.

Here, then, are guidelines that have proven value to me:

• Pretty pictures on the cover or inside a cookbook have their place. However, for the most part it is always best to not judge the book by its cover.

• The...