Hi.

Constraints inspire creativity, and I hope that's the case here. Can
you help me recommend a cookbook?

I've been with my boyfriend for over a year and have decided to try to
nudge him into cooking, gradually.

He has some strengths, and some constraints:
* He is ovo-lacto vegetarian, likes vegetables and fruit, cheese,
bread, and has a Middle Eastern and Indian palate. And pizza,
falafel, hummous, quesadilas, tortilla chips, peanut butter. (Not
whole beans, pasta, rice, tofu or East Asian flavors.)
* has a microwave, toaster oven, and knives. (Stove/oven, food
processors are a bit scary now. An immersion blender might be okay.)
* no nutritional concerns: he's healthy and currently he just eats
refined starch. Anything will be an improvement.
* He lives in a part of LA with inexpensive produce and fresh herbs.
* His cooking experience consists primarily of slight creativity with
bagel pizzas. He's never boiled water or steamed broccoli.
* He prefers not to be reminded of meat.

Unfortunately, I don't live near him right now. Otherwise, I would
just try lots of things and see what sticks.

Just so he doesn't sound like a complete imbecile, I'll add that he
has a PhD and writing credits on the Cartoon Network, and seemingly
infinite patience. :-)

These are large constraints, but I'm trying to work with him on this.
Salads and mezze are clearly the way to go. Are any of the 3-5
ingredient cookbooks good? Are any vegetarian? Do any lean towards
middle eastern or Indian flavors?

Thanks for any help you can give,

Janet
(On usenet since 1993, but new to r.f.c)