Reddit mentions of The New Family Cookbook

Firstly, I would invest in a decent cookbook, because a lot of the recipes on the internet are garbage and you, as a new cook, won't be able to separate the good vs. the bad. Any beginner's cookbook is probably decent (How to cook everything, the joy of cooking, etc.) but america's test kitchen is probably my recommendation, if only because the equipment reviews and ingredient tests are a boon to a home cook who is starting with little knowledge or equipment. Buying spices/basics when you need it is a good plan as well. That being said, don't get too wrapped up if you can't find the exact brand recommended by ATK.

People on reddit in particular will also recommend the food lab book, which is a fine book on itself, or tell you to watch all of Good Eats, but i'm going to go against the grain and recommend against both, as they both somewhat unnecessarily belabor the science aspect of cooking that, IMO, isn't necessary to be a good chef (also, Good Eats is super fluffy and oftentimes highly reliant on DIY hacks that aren't applicable except for their very specific application within their recipe). OTOH if you really dig the science-based cooking method, Alton Brown's "I'm just here for the food," The Food Lab (slightly more involved), or ATK's "The Science of Good Cooking" are all worth exploring (it's just important to recognize that cooking doesn't begin and end with science)

I actually think America's Test Kitchen's Family Cookbook might be a good option for you here. While the book is pretty big, it covers different courses, not just mains. So you wouldn't feel the need to make every single dish, as you may not always feel like a soup course or whatnot. An added benefit is that the ATK books are generally well researched and their results are pretty consistent. It's also pocketed with useful information about ingredients and cooking techniques in general.

While not as "adventurous" in difficulty as buying a tome from Ottolenghi, it also covers a wide spectrum of ethnicity, so you don't get tired of serving one thing all the time.

If I had a 'dream book' to follow along with, it'd probably be Franklin's :P

America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook it has a little bit of everything in it, and it explains why and how different things work. This is my goto wedding or house warming gift, and everyone has always loved it.

America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. I have the older edition, but I assume the new one is good as well. It has both basic recipes (such as different ways to cook eggs or the best way to make a baked potato) as well as typical classics (lasagna, roast turkey, steak with pan sauce, pizza, etc.).

Basically if you're looking for one cookbook that covers all common American fare, this is a great option. Also has equipment and ingredient brand recommendations. It's spiral-bound, which is great for a cookbook since you can lay it flat on the table.

America's Test Kitchen Cooking For Two. Many of the same recipes as above sized for two people. Plenty of different ones as well. A lot of focus on easier weeknight meals.

You won't be able to smoke your own salmon unless you know what you're doing, and you have a smoker and cured raw salmon. For an amateur cook it's not really a good use of your time and money (raw salmon is expensive) to learn how to smoke it yourself. Hell I've been smoking briskets and pork shoulders for years and only tried my own salmon once.

You almost always buy salmon that's already been smoked, and if your deli doesn't have it, check in the same area you would buy your canned tuna. Smoked salmon is like

Smoked salmon isn't cheap, either. Personally I would skip that part of Ramsay's recipe along with the creme fresh. Focus on getting your eggs cooked properly, I provided a better link to how he does it below.

Also, I would highly suggest looking into Cook's Illustrated magazine and their cookbooks, especially their [America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook] (http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Test-Kitchen-Family-Cookbook/dp/1936493853/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414034236&sr=8-1&keywords=america%27s+test+kitchen+family+cookbook). There's also a PBS show that's great. Clear, concise explanations of hundreds of recipes, presented in an almost scientific manner that explains why you want to do X over Y. Plus unlike the stuff on the Food Network it's not trying to entertain you or sell you Rachel Ray's latest cookware.

The America's Test Kitchen New Family Cookbook has perfected recipes for everything in the book and runs the gamut from as basic as a grilled cheese sandwich to full multi-course formal sitdown meals. The format is cook-friendly too since it lies flat.

This book is so great that I have started buying it as a housewarming gift for people just starting out on their own. It includes everything you need to know but might think it's a dumb question and too afraid to ask.