Jeremy Scheck has charmed a new generation of home cooks with his simple yet remarkably tasty recipes and his reliable culinary know-how. Now, in this stunning and personal book brimming with approachable recipes and step-by-step guidance, Jeremy shares the building blocks of what he calls culinary literacy: understanding why a recipe works and empowering readers to cook with confidence every day. Recipes are designed to minimize single-use ingredients and equipment (for example, all baking recipes are no-mixer-required), encouraging versatility with easily available essentials and Jeremy's favorite kitchen staples. Organized by course, recipes include:Honey Lemon ChickenCoca-Cola Braised BrisketSpaghetti Aglio e OlioMaple Za'atar CarrotsSheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon and VeggiesMac and Cheese OrzoPretzel BlondiesInvaluable primers throughout offer simple explanations of age-old techniques and food science facts, such as how to get the perfect creamy pasta sauce, how to make leftover veggie soup without a recipe, why you need brown butter in your life (and in your cookies!), and why a little sweetness is the secret to the best roast chicken. With this must-have kitchen companion, everyone can learn the basics of cooking simple but delicious food, whether it's your first cookbook or it's joining a full shelf of dog-eared and sauce-stained classics.