"Know your fire," Chef George Hirsch's signature sign-off on his popular public television programs, means: Understand the fundamentals that go into good cooking - what to cook and how to cook it. Whether it's choosing the right cut of meat for your favorite stew, blending the right seasonings to add zing to a traditional recipe, exploring new ways to use familiar ingredients, or planning quick-and-easy meals for the family, you'll find just what you're looking for in the pages of this book.Ingredient selection, shopping tips, menu planning, cooking methods, preparation secrets, and more than 175 original recipes...Know Your Fire is comprehensive without being intimidating. Infused with the same friendly and knowledgeable voice that has made Chef George's cooking shows and other books so popular, this book includes plenty of practical advice, ranging from the most basic techniques of food preparation to sophisticated yet simple ways to add wonderful gourmet touches to any meal. And the recipes - from favorite classics to unusual variations - have been developed to highlight a wide array of ingredients and cooking methods that will be as useful to the novice chef looking to acquire basic skills as they will be to the more experienced home cook. Read Less