Reddit mentions of Starting Out: The Essential Guide to Cooking on Your Own

Since I'm a college student and recently cooking more for myself, my favourite cookbook current is Starting Out I love it cause it explain what to look for when buying meats and veggies, what to do with left overs and how to change recipes. I found it very inspiring to go out into the kitchen.

As for a staple food, past tossed with bacon and chopped spinach. I just portion off the bacon and frozen chapped spinach when I pick them up. Cook all three and then mix together. I pretty much always have pasta, bacon, and spinach on hand. It might be less of a staple meal and more of a "Oh wasn't I suppose to go to the grocery store on the way home" meal.

When I moved out, my mother gave me this book. It's a really good place to start. Bonus, they teach you how to do laundry (symbols and all!).

When I was in college I was just starting to come in to my own as a cook and I found this book really helpful. The curry dish in here has become a staple of mine that I love to cook and all my friends love to eat.