New books for new cooks

First time away from home? You still need to eat, don't you?

College students and others moving into their first apartments will find something besides loft bed assembly to contend with: an empty kitchen -- daunting terrain for students who grew up in well-stocked homes, with three free meals and 24/7 snack-and-beverage service.

Two cookbooks are ready to help new cooks learn an essential life skill: creating meals and snacks for themselves and friends. Many of these recipes are a lot better for you and cheaper than Domino's on auto dial.

"Cooking Outside the Pizza Box" (Barron's, $14.95) promises easy recipes for budget-minded students. Authors Jean Patterson and Danae Campbell walk beginners through the basics from shopping (check expiration dates, particularly on fresh foods like meat and yogurt) to kitchen-sharing etiquette (agree to split the cost of staples like milk and butter) to cooking (take ground turkey, mix in some pesto, and you've built a better burger) to efficient cleanup (avoid disgusting gunk buildup in the blender by pouring out your breakfast smoothie, filling the container with water and hitting "pulse").

"Munchies" (Storey, $12.95) has "no-fear recipes for the cuisine-impaired." Guys'-guy chef-writer Kevin Telles Roberts exhorts his readers, "Cook or starve!" He means that broadly, with recipes running from date-worthy Sexy Citrus Scallops to frozen pizza topped with fresh items.

So set aside the ramen noodles and Cap'n Crunch, and get cooking.

-- Constance Kurz