When I first came to university my mum and my two sisters made me a cookery book.

 It was unlike any other cookery book ever made, written, published or created. The opening pages were filled with photographs from my old kitchen; colourful memories of a familiar place that made me feel at home. Next to these photos were small poems, drawings and jokes that made sense to me but not to anyone who just happened to pick up my big cumbersome cookery-book. After the first few pages the recipes come thick and fast. Instead of writing what the original name of the dish may be, my family have written their own nicknames for each meal. Spaghetti Bolognese becomes "Spag Bog" Mashed potato-topped sausage pie simply becomes "Pie Pie". For me these meals that reminded me of home. In conjunction with all the pictures, pop-out 'extra tips' this was the perfect "mum in a book".
Whether you're cooking for the first time away from home or you are a seasoned veteran of the student-kitchen, the best recipe, reference, question or tip that you will get about food will never be from a cookery book found online, or at the back of a dusty shop, but from your family, those people who have cooked you your favourite meals from day one!
How many people have had to ring their mum, dad, sister, grandma whilst attempting to stir a bubbling, spitting saucepan of some red-ish liquid to ask them simply the name of the concoction that has appeared in front of you? or just to question whether you are in fact allowed to eat the 'mystery meat' that has been lodged in the back of the freezer since your first week at uni. For me my family have always been my cookery-book, perhaps everybody should (depending on if your family can cook of course) ask their family before buying a microwave meal, or destroying your kitchen!