Dish out fun in the kitchen with cookbooks, recipes for kids

Posted in Mom Stuff
by besttech

Open your own culinary school in the kitchen by exploring some of the recipes in these easy-to-follow cookbooks for kids. With these recipes, your family can learn new skills and travel the world — all for a few dollars.

“The Spatulatta Cookbook”

by Isabella and Olivia Gerasole

Scholastic, 2007

For ages: 8 and up

Given the James Beard Award for Excellence, this cookbook stars Liv and Belle — two grade-school-age girls who have taught kids to cook online. The book starts out discussing basic skills that chefs need for the kitchen. Moms and dads will be pleased that new chefs are reminded to wash their hands thoroughly before beginning. They’re also reminded of the importance of a well-set table. Other basics such as measuring ingredients and separating eggs are shown with bright photographs, allowing readers to understand how things should look. Tools used in the kitchen are also shown.

Recipes are divided into seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall; there’s an additional chapter focusing on vegetarian recipes and snacks. Some recipes have literary influences. For example, in winter we are encouraged to make a bowl of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” and “Stone Soup.” In the spring chapter, the girls show readers how to make a bunny-shaped salad with a pear body and carrot ears. In summer, the girls show how to make a fresh blueberry pie and how to make weenie dogs out of hot dogs. Fall includes recipes of hearty meals such as black bean chili and harvest soup. All recipes have mouth-watering photographs of the food being prepared, inspiring little chefs of every age.

“Around the World Cookbook”

by Abigail Johnson Dodge

DK Publishing, 2008

For ages: 8 and up

This cookbook focuses on recipes from around the world. The Earth is divided into six chapters, and each begins with a colorful map labeling the region. All recipes are simple introductions to new tastes. For example, the India chapter offers a cauliflower and pea curry that is mildly seasoned with curry powder and coconut milk. Ingredients in this book should not be new to kids, but the preparations and flavors may showcase a new way for food to be prepared. Adults may also be interested in these recipes since the easy instructions offer healthy and family-friendly flavors; basic recipes for gazpacho, ratatouille and pavlova are all included. Other classics such as warm German potato salad and Swedish meatballs can be found here, too. Kids will enjoy the trip back home to the United States and Canada at the end of the book, where they can discover regional dishes such as jambalaya and Southern-style cornbread. Recipes are clearly organized for kids to prepare on their own. Lists of ingredients, equipment needed and directions are clearly labeled. An exclamation point icon is marked on each recipe that requires a hot, sharp or electric tool.

“Kids’ Kitchen”

by Amanda Grant

Sterling Publishing, 2007

For ages: 8 and up

This is another cookbook that offers new and unique flavors in the family kitchen. This book is divided into recipes that explore food from the sea, farm dairy, garden, mill and afar. The goal of the book is to teach children where different foods come from, and it does so by devoting a two-page spread as an introduction to each topic. For example, the dairy section discusses eggs at length. The book teaches readers the difference between barn eggs, free-range eggs and organic eggs and discusses how different commercial farms treat their hens. Following the introduction are recipes for an egg omelet, warm poached egg with bacon salad and an interesting egg and toast dish called boiled egg and soldiers.

All recipes offer helpful hints on food preparation techniques. Kids learn whisking in the chocolate mousse recipe how to use a candy thermometer when making vanilla fudge. Those with discriminating tastes might enjoy making the roasted mediterranean vegetables and parmesan and herb risotto. All kids will enjoy making Super Easy Pizzas, chunky oven fries and Quick Cheese Twisties. The design of this book is simple; photographs of children cooking the food accompany each recipe and easy-to-understand text allows for a bit of culinary education.

“Emeril’s There’s a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone”

by Emeril Lagasse

HarperCollins, 2002

For ages: 8 and up

Emeril’s recipes follow meals over the course of the day, starting with breakfast dishes and ending with desserts. Breakfast dishes include easy morning meals, like French toast and Mile High Blueberry Muffins. Emeril encourages readers to kick scrambled eggs up a notch with his Baby Bam blend of seasonings (recipe included). Make a Happy Happy Club Sandwich for lunch and Some Real Good Chili or a side of Oh Yeah Baby Glazed Carrots for dinner. Recipes include cartoonlike drawings of dishes or special steps that need to be described in detail. With Emeril’s Cajun-style encouragement, meals are sure to be a blast.

An extra bonus of recipe cards includes great ideas for quick snacks; strawberry cream cheese pizzas and turkey cheese pinwheels are perfect for after school.

“Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook”

by Paula Deen

Simon & Schuster, 2008

Paula Deen has a new cookbook out for little ones. In this scrapbook-themed book, Deen also follows the day with breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes. Extra sections feature special-occasion recipes for birthday dinners, holiday treats and drinks. Also included is a chapter of recipes for arts and crafts, which include directions for making clay, dough and giant bubbles. Each chapter has pictures of Deen’s family and brief captions describing the photos. Recipes are on a two-page spread: the first page illustrates what supplies and ingredients are needed, while the second page explains what to do. The collection of snack and lunch recipes is most appetizing with homemade peanut butter for apple dipping and applewiches — peanut butter and cheddar cheese sandwiched in between apple slices.

“Southern Living Kids Cookbook”

by Elizabeth Taliaferro

Oxmoor House, 2007

For ages: 8 and up

This colorful cookbook is fun, hip and full of interesting recipes everyone in the family will want to try. Breakfast recipes include strawberry French toastwiches and bacon cheese cups. Main courses have recipes for El Paso oven-fried chicken (chicken is breaded in crushed chili cheese corn chips) and Chicken Salad Scoops (a homemade scoop of chicken salad in a cake ice cream cone). Intriguing dessert offerings include apple enchiladas and redcoat trifle. Other chapters give ideas for bread, soup, fun food, side dishes and beverages, making this book a great inspiration for weekday dinners. Photographs of prepared food are displayed in funky serving pieces on decorated tables, making the dishes even more appealing. This book has an index of recipes and a cooking section that describes basic equipment and examples of different cutting techniques such as cutting crosswise and lengthwise or cutting by julienne or mincing.

–By Lisa Erickson, McClatchy Newspapers