Book excerpt: Even the best takeout food gets boring after a while--and expensive. But how do people develop basic kitchen skills and become accomplished home cooks? This unique cookbook shows them the way, offering a complete illustrated guide to cooking basics and beyond. It provides more than 100 recipes--from simple to spectacular--and demonstrates how to prepare them using step-by-step full-color photographs. Chef Stephen Hartigan divides his recipes into three levels: Level I includes basic comfort foods and simple snacks; Level II ups the ante with more sophisticated skills and flavor twists; Level III goes for broke with elegant dishes to impress the family . . . or that special someone. Written in lively, conversational style, the book includes nearly 400 color photos, advice on equipping a kitchen, sample menus with easy-to-follow game plans, and lots of helpful tips and sidebars.Stephen Hartigan (New York, NY) trained at top London restaurants and was named one of the top ten chefs in Ireland. Since moving to the U.S., he has worked at New York′s Caf? Gray and as a private chef to a prominent entertainment attorney. Jerry Boak (New York, NY) is a freelance writer who has also worked at top restaurants in New York and Seattle.