Before you go and buy a book, you should check out ChefSteps:
It's linked to Modernist Cuisine, which is also linked to Nathan Myhrvold, who isn't popular here (for good reasons), but it's really a good resource for cooks -- comprehensive and pretty reliable. I haven't really looked into their basic stuff but it's always getting new content so even if they don't have what you are looking for now they might in the near future.