Meaty Main Dishes

April 1, 2013

Gr 1-4-These recipes manage to hit a sweet spot in kid cookery: they require little in the way of expertise, yet are complex enough to be interesting. None of your "Ants on a Log" nonsense here. Young chefs will be taking a stab at "Tasty Pad Thai Noodles," "Chicken Wonton Soup," and "Terrific Turkey Burgers." The instructions are detailed and thoroughly illustrated with clear color drawings; photos show the enticing final products. The ingredients are readily available and include very few processed foods and only one or two convenience items-after all who could blame cooks for buying a bag of shredded carrots instead of julienning two cups of carrots themselves? The 9 or 10 recipes in each book focus on nutritious ingredients but aren't stingy with the cheese. Most of them have a suggested "Try This!" variation that gently encourages kids to get creative with their cooking.

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2013
Grades 4-7 The You're the Chef series invites readers to get behind the stove and start whipping up recipes they and their family will enjoy. Each trim volume begins with a detailed list of exclamation-pointed safety tips ranging from Reserve your space! to Wash it! As for grown-up involvement, the book advises kids to talk with their adult helper about which tasks will require assistance. The introductory spread also includes a helpfully illustrated page of cooking tools and a glossary of technique terms: bake, drain, knead, whisk, etc. Then it's time for the recipes. Meaty Main Dishes includes recipes for meatballs, drumsticks, Asian stir fry with shrimp, and the humble tuna-fish sandwich. Each title ends with notes about special ingredients and a website link. A colorful, easy-to-read design and illustrations of the process combined with a photo of the finished dish top off these tasty treatments.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)