Quick, recommend me:

[conuly]

1. A snack box subscription

2. Any other box subscription, not necessarily snacks

3. A cookbook

These are for Christmas presents.

Comments

[dine]

sorry, I've no idea on subscription boxes, as I've never done that.

I recommend the Betty Crocker picture cookbook for good solid cooking instruction, or the Cookie Book for sweets. both offer basics info on prep, and recipes for some delicious dishes

[swingandswirl]

I love Salt Fat Acid Heat, if they don't have it already.

[fred_mouse]

That is a fabulous book, but not for the faint hearted (I bought it for Youngest)

[conuly]

How so?

[fred_mouse]

It is both a large/heavy book physically, and oh, so much detail. It was the right choice for Youngest, because it meshed with their studies, and they were absolutely fascinated with all the theory. But as a cookbook -- I don't think they have used a single recipe out of it.

[james]

We've gotten Universal Yums snack box for the past year, and I like that it comes with informational brochures about not just the food, but how it fits into the culture it's from. Also, you can go shop for additional snacks at their website if you fall in love with something or are just curious about stuff you haven't tried.

I cannot vouch for it being better or worse than others as it's the only one we've ever had, but I am pleased with it.

[erinptah]

I was getting ads for Universal Yums for a while, but when I checked the website it talked about how you get "recipes" and "activity books" and I don't want a ton of extra stuff, just some food.

So I shopped around and got a 6-month subscription to Munch Addict instead, and that worked much better for me. Also a monthly box of international snacks, comes with an info pamphlet that tells you where each one is from, and that's it for extras.

[james]

The activities and recipes are really minimal in terms of pieces of paper, but the box is really geared towards it being a "family activity" and not just a box of snacks. (So, like, just to provide more detail for good decision making for conuly!)

[erinptah]

Oh, for sure! Glad I didn't get it myself, but the upcoming gift-recipient may or may not be more family-activity-inclined.

[conuly]

Is there any way to preview the sorts of activities?

[erinptah]

Better ask james, I'm the one who got the no-activities version.

[gingicat]

3. Fannie Farmer, the Joy of Cooking, or the King Arthur Baker's Companion.

[readerjane]

Particularly helpful if you're shopping for a male who might not think he wants to cook: A Man, A Pan, A Plan. Aimed at guys who are nervous about complicated cooking.

My mom gave this to Son several years ago. He already enjoyed cooking, but was coming to the end of the repertoire of meals I usually made, and was getting bored. It's a list of one-dish meals: casseroles and stews and such. Son's gumbo is a family favorite now.

[movingfinger]

I liked Universal Yums, did it for a while. There were several snacks I re-ordered!

Can't recommend a cookbook without knowing more about the recipient. This year I'm giving Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz to someone, if that helps. Mark Bittman's books are worth a look for a beginner cook.

[thewayne]

Athena Scalzi, author John Scalzi's daughter, subscribed to and reviewed a Japanese snack box subscription on John's blog, Whatever. It was quite impressive, she's a pretty good writer and reviewer.

https://whatever.scalzi.com//?s=japanese+snack+boxes&orderby=relevance&order=DESC&post_type=post%2Cpage

I'm hesitant recommending cookbooks without knowing more or discussing it with the recipient. Having said that, if they don't mind ebooks, there's two cookbook bundles on Humble Bundle (.com) right now. I don't think that you can go wrong with The Joy of Cooking, nor with a good one from Milk Street or America's Test Kitchen.

[conuly]

No e cookbooks. That is not a thing that's gonna work out.

So... not quite a beginner in their one field where they like to cook (dumplings, fried, also empanadas... presumably samosas etc. would be easy too) but beginner elsewhere, fond of Asian food from all over if it has dumplings.

[fred_mouse]

Eastern Vegetarian Cooking by Madhur Jeffrey (https://www.librarything.com/work/36680/book/16295040) is one of my favourites; not sure about dumplings though.

[shadowkat]

I was going to rec Athena's reviews on the snack boxes as well - she also did some Chinese snack boxes, I think. There were a lot of them that she reviewed.

[oracne]

3. https://cookingwithroswell.com/ - it's a vegan cookbook by a friend of mine.

[bitterlawngnome]

I've been enjoying Julie Sahni, _Classic Indian Cooking_ and _Classic Indian Vegetarian and Grain Cooking_, both of which I found used quite cheap. But if you're looking for something that's basic but very useful I'd second all of gingicat's recommendations as eminently practical.

[waterfall8484]

You Suck at Cooking is, despite the name, a really nice cookbook. You may want to use your judgement on who you give it to though :D

[conuly]

LOL, clearly!

[chase_acow]

1. I've enjoyed Mantry in the past. And I like Curdbox.