A Recipe for Cooking, Cal Peternell

Originally written by Chez Panisse alum Cal Peternell as a going-away-to-college present for his son, this "cookbook" has some of the foundations of cooking — you may have guessed from the name — but also more advanced riffs to build on those basics. Think everything from vegetable fritters, to a full-on rolled pork loin roast stuffed with olives and herbs. 

This is the kind of cookbook you want to sit down and read, not just follow.