App-etite: The Photo Cookbook

When learning how to cook a new dish, there’s no substitute for having an experienced chef give you hands-on guidance. But since most of us don’t have a trained chef at our disposal, the next best thing is detailed instructions—and pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. The Photo Cookbook app for your smartphone offers step-by step instructions with detailed photos showing what your food preparation should look like at every step in the process—from raw ingredients to the finished product, with plenty of slicing, dicing, mincing and beating along the way. Although the app contains only 80 recipes, it includes over 700 color photographs, and all of the dishes can be prepared quickly and easily in under half an hour. They’ve also released a baking version, sold separately, that focuses on the finicky science of making the fluffiest cakes and tastiest bread. Both apps cost $4.99 in the iTunes store.