Anyone can cook, but to be a good cook - a passionate cook and a confident cook - it takes time, dedication and persistence.

Just like any of life's worthwhile endeavours really.

How to Cook: step-by-step is the perfect guide for beginners and experienced cooks alike - packed full of delicious recipes, with clear instructions and step-by-step photographs to get you through the trickier techniques.

For novices who may find the look of some dishes intimidating or overwhelming, remember to gradually work your way through the recipe, breaking it down into manageable stages - confidence comes with practice.

And don't forget, cooking is about expressing yourself, sharing the love and having fun.

Thanks to TV cooking shows there is a great resurgence of interest in cooking at home. This book shows you how to do it with instructive step-by-step photography.

We have divided the book into beginnings, middles, sides and ends.

Each recipe has a chef's hat to denote the degree of difficulty (1 hat for easy recipes; 2 hats for a bit harder; 3 hats for tricky), so even if you are a beginner you can cook like a chef.