What about The Joy of Cooking? It not only has wonderful recipes it explains how to do specific techniques that are used in cooking and other handy tips. It's good for the novice or the expert or anyone in between.
Amazon.com: Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 (9780743246262): Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker: Books
And look they even have a website
Joy of Cooking Joy Kitchen
Also this might help
Basic Cooking Techniques Cooking Techniques for Beginner and Intermediate Cooks
With a little creativity you may be able to find everything you need online. Just google Basic Cooking Techniques or How to ....
Good luck and remember cooking is about having fun and mixing flavors that you like. Don't be discouraged if the first time you make something it looks and tastes horrendous. It takes practice.