I first came across Thug Kitchen online, back in the days when they were primarily a cooking blog. I stumbled on their recipe for Quinoa Oatmeal, which promised it had so much protein and fiber “you’ll go to work and punch the clock in the face.” I was amused by the colorful language—I’d never had a recipe swear at me before—and more importantly, when I tried the recipe, it worked, and it was easy.

Fast forward a few years, and the third Thug Kitchen cookbook is on library shelves. Now, I don’t know about you—maybe you’re an old pro at cooking, and have no trouble flipping through a cookbook to find something you want to make. But maybe you’re like me, and have asked yourself more than once “Does microwave popcorn count as dinner?” or stood staring at your cupboards wondering if there’s anything you actually know how to cook with the ingredients you have. If you are, Thug Kitchen 101 is a good place to start. The recipes are straightforward, with very specific instructions like “two carrots, chopped into quarter-moons”, and there’s a page near the back with illustrations (in case you don’t know what “quarter moon” means). They also have a glossary that explains what some of their more obscure ingredients are, and offer substitutions in case you can’t find one (“scream, then use curry powder instead”).

Not only that, but all of the recipes are vegetarian, and there’s a handy set of icons for other things you may need to consider, like “freezes well”, “one-pot”, and “gluten-free”. Each recipe has a time estimate listed, and they’re designed to be quick. So if you’re new to the cooking game—or even if you aren’t, and you just want so shake things up a little—give this book a try!