If you're a beginner with similar questions, you'll be relieved to know that it is not that difficult to get started. As I look back, I didn't find a single book that answered these questions for me either -- as a result, I decided to write one that not only addressed these questions, but did it in a conversational, easy-to-read style in 120 pages or less. In my book, I explain how to set up a basic functional kitchen (that may cost you $200, but may save you over 10 times that amount). I also explain how to plan your vists to grocery stores and avoid the 10 risks that cause many people to overspend at grocery stores. I then break down the cooking process, step-by-step, in a modular fashion with 3 easy steps: the prep, the actual cooking and the assembly. Finally, I provide about 40 recipes that you can immediately try, adopting the techniques in this book. These recipes have Indian, Asian, French, Italian and American influences. I also include a chart that shows the breakdown of spices, herbs, flavor bases, etc. for each cuisine and how you could completely change the look and feel of a dish by simply substituting those elements from other cuisines.