Semi-Homemade Cooking with Kids
Author: Sandra Le
Children's Literature
While Food Network's Sandra Lee takes it in stride when people criticize her as a "noncook," she certainly has convenience and easy success as primary goals in this book. Unlike her cookbooks for adults, this one has cartoons instead of photos. The language aims to be breezy and hip, but comes off as condescending and cloying, at least to this reader. Contents include safety tips, notes on recipe reading, kitchen gadgetry, cleanup, and health tips. Each recipe includes a header that tells how long it takes, as well as what tools and ingredients are needed. Specific brands that kids will easily recognize are noted. Some recipes have photos on facing pages, but most are illustrated with cartoons. The "Bright Breakfasts" chapter includes recipes for egg nests, breakfast burritos, pizzas, quiche, pancakes, French toast, and granola. The chapter of "Lazy Day Lunches" includes 18 recipes, among them pizza, calzones, sloppy joes, grilled cheese, ramen, and other kid-appeal food. The "Meal Mania" chapter has 14 recipes, including pork chops, meat loaf, and turkey burgers. Ten "Everyday TV Dinners" recipes (e.g., porcupine meatballs, spaghetti, lasagna) are included, while "Brainiac Breaks" provides recipes for easy energy boosters. "Movie Munchies" includes recipes for popcorn nachos, pizza dogs, fruit leather, ice cream sandwiches, stuffed celery, and more munchies. "Sleepover Sensations" features fondues, quesadillas, pizza, and potato bombs. "Groovy Goodies" is the super-sugar chapter with recipes for rainbow ribbon cake (very pretty), tie-dyed cupcakes, and dinosaur cookies. As cocktails are the final focus of each of Sandra Lee's shows, "Dynamite Drinks" can be found in the final chapter.The index is well done, with subject headings as well as recipe listings. The book has an internal spiral binding, but many pages do not turn easily and had to be coaxed into position to avoid tearing them. Each easy-to-make recipe follows Lee's typical formula of being 70% store-bought and 30% homemade. The inclusion of photos for the finished products would have made this the 100%-best not-from-scratch cookbook on the market. Still this would be a good addition to a recipe collection for young adults with little cooking experience who have a high need for success and speedy preparation. It would also be great in the classroom, since most of the recipes take well under an hour. This is not the book for purists who want broccoli forests and round-the-world cuisine. It is, however, the book for ordinary mortals who just want to turn out a decent dish with a minimum of fuss. Reviewer: Gwynne Spencer
New interesting book: UltraMetabolism Cookbook or Fix Freeze Feast
Recipes for the Good Life
Author: Patti LaBell
"A lot of my memories with my loved ones are set around a dinner table, sharing a meal and sharing good conversation. Food has always been at the center of my joy, from the fish fries my parents had every weekend to the barbecues I have in my backyard today. Food can bring people together, to laugh, to eat, and to simply celebrate life. Most people know me for my voice, and that is truly a gift from God. But food and the ability to share it with others is also a gift—a gift that you can give to those you love. It is with that spirit that I share my third cookbook."—Patti LaBelle
Miss Patti is back, as fierce as ever, sharing more than 100 new recipes that will have your mouth watering and your guests begging for seconds! With dishes ranging from the Over the Top, Top, Top Macaroni and Cheese (with shrimp and lobster!), to the Poached Salmon with Basil Cream Sauce and Fettuccine, to the Tender and Juicy Barbecued Baby Back Ribs, to the Fried Apple Pie, there's something perfect for every occasion. She not only walks you through the preparation of her favorite dishes with ease, but also shares heartfelt and witty stories about food, family, and life throughout the book. Her first two cookbooks were hits and this one is sure to please as well.
"You'll see throughout the book that I have used products from my Patti LaBelle Good Life product line. The philosophy behind the brand is that the good life can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of background or how much money you have. It's not about spending a lot of money—it's about making what you do spend count, taking pride in what you have, and pampering yourself in little ways that make you feel special. This is thethinking behind my signature line of products—it's accessible to everyone, reasonably priced, simple, and from my heart. So, here's perhaps the most important recipe in this entire book, so memorize it—it's my recipe for living the good life: keep it simple, make it special, share your heart, and pamper yourself!"—Patti LaBelle
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