20 Recipes Kids Should Know by Esme Washburn

Kids of all ages love to help Mom and Dad in the kitchen.  From stirring the cake batter to trying to crack eggs without dropping shell pieces in the mix, kids love to learn how to create fun foods.  To promote this love of cooking, having kid-friendly cookbooks with easy recipes is a great way to provide independence and creativity in the kitchen.  Here is one of my new favorite recipe books just for kids ~ ~ ~ written by kids!

20 Recipes Kids Should Know by Esme Washburn

The perfect book for children, this fun and engaging cookbook is
written and photographed by a pair of young sisters for budding chefs.



Whether
they're helping stir cake batter or producing their own YouTube cooking
channel, kids of all ages are getting increasingly busy in the kitchen.
This cookbook features twenty classic recipes that are fun, healthy,
adaptable, and easy to prepare. From banana bread and the perfect
grilled cheese to breaded chicken and apple pie, each recipe is written
in a clear, accessible style that young cooks of every level will be
able to follow. The author is a young chef whose love of

cooking
developed from her own family's food traditions like baking popovers
with her grandmother and Sunday-night pizza making. By teaching kids
basic recipes that can be adapted in endless ways, this book is the
perfect launching pad to finding their way around the kitchen--or
launching their own cooking careers.



With fun and easy recipes like this one my 11 year old loves for strawberry shortcake (was delicious for my Mother's Day brunch in bed this year)

And don't forget the Banana bread and chocolate chip cookies she and her sister made me for my birthday!  So yummy!

 

Whether your kiddos are beginners in the kitchen, or seasoned chefs, this book is a great addition to any youngster's CookBook collection! 

Check it out on Amazon (affiliate) for $11.70

Or in most bookstores for $16.95

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Want to give a boost to your taste buds? Check out Straight Up Tasty by Adam Richman from Man VS Food #review

The much anticipated first cookbook from Adam Richman, the irrepressible host of Man vs Food and NBC’s Food Fighters, delivers what his fans have been waiting for: a heaping helping of over-the-top flavors with a side order of the erudite humor that is his trademark.

Having eaten his way from coast to coast and around the globe, Adam Richman has learned more than a little bit about what makes food taste good. He draws on all that knowledge and his lifelong dedication to seeking out memorable flavors and eating experiences in this high

octane collection of dishes that are, quite simply, straight up tasty.
 
The more than 100 diverse, dazzling, and downright delectable recipes reflect the flavor combinations, techniques, and ingredients Adam has encountered in his nonstop travels, all translated into easy-to-use recipes perfect for the home cook, and all given a distinctive Richman spin. But Straight Up Tasty is much more than a scrapbook of Adam’s culinary expeditions; it offers the perfect foodie flavor bomb for every occasion from a crowd-pleasing spread for game day to a turbocharged holiday feast. 
 
Along the way he holds forth on topics as diverse as where to encounter the nation’s best burgers and why the best thing on a restaurant menu isn’t always what you might think; delivers helpful advice on kitchen prep in haiku form; and recounts the history of chocolate in rhyming couplets.  And did we mention Candied Bourbon Bacon? You’ll find those delectable tidbits and oh so much more in Straight Up Tasty, a cookbook that could only have come from the passionate palate and irrepressible enthusiasm of America’s ambassador of flavor, Adam Richman.





Review:

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the recipes in Straight Up Tasty by Adam Richman are not all filled with strange ingredients and unheard of, or unlikable ingredients.  Although there are some recipes that I would not try or use all listed ingredients, there are a few that sound and look yummy enough even for my family's picky appetites.  



A few that really caught my interest are:

* Pg 28 ~ Tortilla Soup with Guacamole Wantons (not something I would have thought of making myself but sounds and looks very tasty!)

* Pg 35 ~ Creamy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwich Dumplings (my girls thought this sounded and looked good!)

* Pg 87 ~ Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Honeydew Sriracha Salsa (now this one I would change up a bit - the tacos are great but not so much the salsa - so I would alter the recipe a bit)

* Pg 151 ~ Spaghetti Pie (now this is funny - I actually already make a version of this that my family loves - must have stolen MY recipe - LOL)



Now, I must say that compared to other cookbooks I have reviewed this one has a photo for at least 75% of the recipes.  That is a huge plus for me.  I like to see what the dish is meant to look like as well as have the recipe on hand.  I am personally not a fan of a cookbook or recipe without a photo, so this book does cover that qualification for me.  I also expect to have recipes that are realistic for the average American family - not include half of the ingredients that must be found in specialty food stores.  Overall I like this cookbook and will be fixing a few of the recipes within it for myself and my family.

You can check it out for yourself here on Amazon.com (affiliate link)  *another plus: it is available for Kindle!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review through Blogging for Books. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

American Heart Association Go Fresh Cookbook with Tips ~ #review

The more you cook at home, with a focus on fresh ingredients, the easier it is to achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle.



Go Fresh.
The American Heart Association offers more than 250 recipes in this
cookbook, inspiring you to bring nutritious and wholesome ingredients
into your kitchen. Enjoy full-flavored favorites—all made from scratch,
made healthy, and made fresh—including:



· Cauliflower-Carrot Soup

· Blueberry-Walnut Chicken Salad

· Blackened Fish with Crisp Kale and Creamy Lemon Sauce

· Rosemary-Peach Chicken Kebabs with Orange Glaze

· Tomato-Basil Pork Tenderloin

· Butternut Squash Pasta

· Dark Cherry and Apple Crumble



In the book, you’ll also find Healthy Swaps for substituting seasonal fruits and vegetables in delicious new ways, Shop & Store tips for making the most of your trips to the market and what you buy, and Tips, Tricks & Timesavers for reducing prep time and getting meals on the table faster.

Making meals with fresh ingredients is not only healthy and flavorful but also fast and easy with





Review:



This cookbook is put out by the American Heart Association for heart healthy
cooking as well as shopping and storage tips. The cookbook was full of delicious
recipes such as: Chicken and red lentil soup or Triple citrus refreshers. My
main problem with the book is that with each recipe there was no picture to give
you an idea how the recipe was to look like. Yes there were pictures in the
book, but they were all together in the middle of the book and they were not a
complete showing of all the recipes. I also liked the idea of the nutritional
values per serving listed after each recipe as well as most of the ingredients
in the recipes were one that most people would have in their pantry/cabinets in
the kitchen or easily available at the grocery store.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review through Blogging for Books. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

American Heart Association Go Fresh: A Heart-Healthy Cookbook #review

The more you cook at home, with a focus on fresh ingredients, the easier it is to achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle.
 
Making meals with fresh ingredients is not only healthy and flavorful but also fast and easy withGo Fresh. The American Heart Association offers more than 250

recipes in this cookbook, inspiring you to bring nutritious and wholesome ingredients into your kitchen. Enjoy full-flavored favorites—all made from scratch, made healthy, and made fresh—including:
· Cauliflower-Carrot Soup
· Blueberry-Walnut Chicken Salad
· Blackened Fish with Crisp Kale and Creamy Lemon Sauce
· Rosemary-Peach Chicken Kebabs with Orange Glaze
· Tomato-Basil Pork Tenderloin
· Butternut Squash Pasta
· Dark Cherry and Apple Crumble
 
In the book, you’ll also find Healthy Swaps for substituting seasonal fruits and vegetables in delicious new ways, Shop & Store tips for making the most of your trips to the market and what you buy, and Tips, Tricks & Timesavers for reducing prep time and getting meals on the table faster.







My Review:

This cookbook is put out by the American Heart Association for heart healthy cooking as well as shopping and storage tips. The cookbook was full of delicious recipes such as: Chicken and red lentil soup or Triple citrus refreshers. My main problem with the book is that with each recipe there was no picture to give you an idea how the recipe was to look like. Yes there were pictures in the book, but they were all together in the middle of the book and they were not a complete showing of all the recipes. I also liked the idea of the nutritional values per serving listed after each recipe as well as most of the ingredients in the recipes were one that most people would have in their pantry/cabinets in the kitchen or easily available at the grocery store.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Cooking Like the Contestants on Chopped is easier than ever with the Chopped Cookbook ~ #Review

Never again let the question, “What's for dinner?” stump you. The Chopped Cookbook features secrets for combining pantry staples to make exciting meals.

 

If you’ve ever looked into your fridge, hoping for inspiration to strike, let The Chopped Cookbook help you shake up

weeknight dinners. Just as each basket on Chopped has
many tasty possibilities, so, too, do the contents of your
refrigerator.



By showing you how to spin your favorite ingredients into
188 fun, doable, and delicious recipes—including go-to guides for making
salad dressings and pan sauces, four-ingredient market baskets that can
go in many tasty directions, and ideas for ways to reinvent pasta
dinners—the culinary masterminds at Food Network set you up for mealtime
victory every night.





My Review:

I have watched the show "Chopped" on Food Network several times and loved it.  I enjoy watching many Food Network shows, but often don't think that I could realistically make most of the food presented there because many of the ingredients are not ones I usually have on hand or even choose to purchase.  So, when I found The Chopped Cookbook I was intrigued and thought it would be a fun book to review.  I do not usually make foods in cookbooks that have strange or hard to find ingredients, but hoped that there would be some "normal" recipes within that I could make and my family would enjoy.



I was pleasantly surprised to find some great tips and recipes that use many of the ingredients I have on hand in my pantry and cabinets, and especially new and different ways to utilize those ingredients.  A few of my favorites so far are: Pretzel-Mustard Crusted Pork Tenderloin Sliders (altered a bit from the original recipe to fit my family's tastes), maple glazed carrots, Connecticut Cajun Shrimp Rolls, Roasted shrimp cocktail salad, and a few more.  Though I must say that most of the recipes are ones that will need quite a bit of altering for me to cook them because of course they call for ingredients that I do not eat or keep on hand, but many did give me good ideas for new ways to cook favorite meals.



So, overall there are some good recipes I like, many that are ok and need a few changes for my family to enjoy but still most of them are ones with ingredients that are not common in our home or diet and will be ignored or used as ideas for my own recipes. 

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review through Blogging for Books. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

How Cooking Works - Book Review

I don't know if it's a "homeschooler thing" or just my love of learning, but I especially enjoy the opportunity to turn something into a learning experience - and that's just what "How Cooking Works" does. It takes a children's cookbook with basic yet appealing recipes and mixes in modest nuggets of science - a lovely little cooking / science fusion book to feed your mind and your belly at the same time.

The book has some incredibly easy, but oh so important to start with recipes, like how to boil an egg or basic muffins. These are the foundations upon which we all build our cooking skills and it is nice to see them included.

The layout takes you through the day starting with items such as pancakes, granola breakfast bars and fruit smoothies. On the way we are asked questions such as "Why are thick pancakes full of air bubbles?" and "Why does granola turn golden brown when it is baked?". Then there is a section for snack time (pea & mint soup anyone? or maybe the delicious rice balls we made

and ate before I could take photos?)  followed by main meals and ending up with 'sweet stuff'.

However! don't be fooled by my basic label! For instance the page for cookie dough takes you through the steps to make & bake simple cookies but also gives you instructions for exciting variations like apricots and cinnamon or cheddar cheese and rosemary.

We used the muffin recipe but instead of adding the blueberries we used food coloring and made this.



 

The science nugget on the page was about why muffins rise in the oven. We cut open the cake so we could see the bubbles caused by the baking powders reaction with the other ingredients. "The carbon dioxide bubbles expanding in the mix as the muffins cooked are what makes the cake rise." - So Evey told her dad when she shared the cake!

How Cooking Works is available from Dorling Kindersley and for a limited time it is 30% off - only $9.79!

 

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

The Dinner Creations Cookbook - Some Great Recipes from a Southern Cook & a Giveaway too!

Author Bio:

Diane
Krause is a Southern girl who began cooking and baking at a very
young age. She’s the former owner-operator of Dinner Creations, and
still enjoys sharing Jalapeno-Stuffed Chicken and King Ranch Chicken
with those she loves. Diane currently works as a freelance writer and
editor. She’s the author of a short inspirational book for writers,
25 Ways to Create
Classic Characters Readers Will Love,
and is currently at work on her second cookbook.

Author and book links:

http://www.thedianekrause.com

http://www.dinnercreationscookbook.com

Twitter: @DianeKrause2

Genre:
Cookbooks

Publisher:
Southern Road Press

Release
Date: 2^nd
edition released 7/14/13; Original release September 2009

Purchase
link (Amazon): http://tinyurl.com/nxhuco6

Book
Description:

The
Dinner Creations Cookbook is a collection of more than 130 delicious
freezer-friendly recipes.

Dinner
Creations was a meal assembly business that operated in Friendswood,
Texas from 2004 to 2008. With this cookbook, you can enjoy the Dinner
Creations favorites in your own home. Among those favorites are:

• 
  King Ranch Chicken
  
  


• 
  and Dumplings
  
  


• 
  Jalapeno-Stuffed Chicken
  
  


• 
  Baked Salmon in Puff Pastry
  
  


• 
  Herb Crusted Flank Steak
  
  


• 
  Guiltless Brownies
  
  


• 
  ....and many more!
  
  

Each recipe includes
freezer preparation instructions, and as an added bonus, printable
freezer labels – complete with thawing and cooking instructions –
are available at www.dinnercreationscookbook.com. 

INTRODUCTION

Dinner Creations
operated in Friendswood, Texas, from 2004 to 2008 and was one of the
first meal assembly businesses in the Houston area.

Through the business of
Dinner Creations, we gained a whole new family. We shared life
stories, celebrated weddings, and rejoiced over the addition of new
little ones to families. We watched people provide care and comfort
to others through the gift of food and considered it a blessing to be
a part of that caring. We made new friends, and we had a very good
time doing the business of Dinner Creations.

This book is a
collection of the recipes from Dinner Creations. Perhaps these
recipes will enrich your family, and maybe even help you extend a bit
of care to those around you.

From all of us who have
been a part of Dinner Creations, thank you for letting us have a
place around your dinner table.

---Diane Krause

Owner, Dinner Creations

Recipe:

BAKED SPAGHETTI
BOLOGNESE

Serves 6-8

1 lb. ground beef

1 1/4 cups prepared
marinara sauce

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

9 ounces angel hair
pasta (cappellini)

1 1/4 cups shredded
cheddar cheese

1 1/4 cups shredded
Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 375°
F. Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook ground beef in a
large skillet until beef is cooked through and no longer pink,
breaking up any large pieces. Drain the meat, then return it to the
skillet and stir in the marinara sauce and sugar. Set aside.

Cook angel hair pasta
according to package directions; drain pasta and rinse with cool
water.

To assemble, spread 2
cups meat sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with
half of the cooked pasta, then sprinkle over 1/2 cup cheddar and 1/2
cup Monterey Jack cheese. Top with 2 cups meat sauce, the remaining
pasta, and another 1/2 cup cheddar and 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese.
Cover with the remaining 2 cups meat sauce, then sprinkle over the
remaining cheese.

Bake uncovered for
30-40 minutes.

FREEZER PREPARATION:
Prepare casserole as directed, omitting the cheese topping. Measure
last 1/4 cup of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses into a plastic
sandwich bag; seal. Lay a sheet of deli paper or waxed paper over
casserole, then place bag of cheese on top. Seal entire pan well and
label.

Follow The Tour Here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I may have received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion and are not influenced nor reviewed by the sponsor prior to posting.For more info, see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.