Where to learn what ratios to use in cooking?

Question

I am learning to cook. I want to know whether there is a good resource at what ratios of ingredients to use when I am cooking. Thank You. :)

Answer 1

How about Ruhlman's book, Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking?

The entire work is dedicated to breaking cooking down into ratios, and it includes recipes. I hear the bread recipe is particularly good.

Answer 2

I will outline some tips in the book suggested by BobMcGee:

1. use weight measurements in using ratios. Do not use volumetric, density or anything like that.
2. have a digital scale that can measure up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg) and in grams and pounds due to the point 1.
3. 3-2-1 -rule: pie = flour:fat:water, cookie = flour:fat:sugar (look at the cover cheatsheet)
4. have at least 3 different sized liquid measuring spoons 8:4:1 (four soups, water and serving)

Answer 3

The Food Network's Alton Brown show "Good Eats" frequently describes base recipes in form of ratios. But for this you actually have to watch the shows, when the recipes are published the ratios are replaced with measurements.