5 Minutes For Books

Kids in the Kitchen

by

Recently I attended a luncheon sponsored by Stop and Shop/Giant. It was at Sarabeth’s restaurant in New York City, where my husband and I had eaten brunch several times (and enjoyed her delicious homemade scones and jam). The decision to attend a delicious lunch in one of my favorite cities with the chef/owner of a restaurant I loved was a no-brainer (I posted details about the luncheon on my blog along with a picture of Amanda and me with Chef Sarabeth).

After the Stop and Shop executives talked with us, chef Sarabeth Levine chatted with us while she made us chocolate chip cookies. She wanted to encourage us to cook and bake. She wanted to remove the fear from baking. “It’s not hard, you just have to measure,” she told us.

She also wanted to make sure that we were inviting our children into the kitchen with us. She said that otherwise a whole generation will grow up not knowing how to cook.

Both of my children have been stirring brownies since they were old enough to sit on the kitchen counter. This summer, Amanda (who will be 10 next month) has prepared several meals for us. Throughout the process she beams with pride as her brow furrows in concentration.

I recently received a copy of Real Food for Healthy Kids: 200+ Easy, Wholesome Recipes. I handed it over to Amanda, thinking that I would get the opinion of my “real kid.” I told her to select some recipes that looked good, and she did.

This week she prepared two recipes from this cookbook — “Quick Chick Parm” and “Chicken Enchilada Casserole” — by herself from start to finish. They were both good, and I would make them again. I mean, I would have her make either of them again. It probably tasted better because I didn’t cook it, right?

This is not a children’s cookbook, but the recipes are designed to appeal to adults and children alike. I was impressed that Amanda saw the recipes as accessible, even though there are no pictures. The short ingredient list contributed to this, and she also liked the sidebar that lets the chef know how much prep time and cook time the recipe takes.

If this book lacks pictures, it excels in information. The two recipes my daughter selected came from the “What’s for Dinner” chapter. There are also chapters devoted to breakfast, lunch, and snacks. The sweet stuff is not neglected either. Sweet drinks (hot and cold) get a chapter, as do “divine desserts” and the cookie jar. The final two chapters are devoted to special groups: an introduction to food sensitivities featuring gluten-casein-soy-free recipes, and “first foods,” which features recipes for 6- to 36-month old children.

If you’d like to win one of 2 of these cookbooks, please leave a comment here. I’ll announce the winners on Wednesday, August 27.

Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan is a contributing editor at 5 Minutes for Mom. She has been blogging at Snapshot for over two years. You’ll almost always find her holding either a book, a fork, a child’s hand, her laptop, or some combination therein.

Read all of the other posts in this series on food for your family and grocery shopping featured on our sister sites today:

Save Money (and enter to win) at 5 Minutes for Mom
Save Money and the Earth at 5 Minutes for Going Green
Stay Sane at the Supermarket at 5 Minutes for Parenting
Shop with Special Diets in Mind at 5 Minutes for Special Needs

Comments

  2. That sounds like an AWESOME cookbook! I’m really glad to know of it. (Don’t count me, of course. Just really liking the sound of this cookbook. It’s hard to figure out which cookbooks are worth owning so thanks for the tip!)

  5. I’d love a copy of this book. Maybe it would inspire my oldest to eat more than just chicken nuggets occasionally. (Which she does. Under much protest. But I’d like to widen her options a bit more). 🙂

  6. This book sounds fantastic. Count us in! I love cooking with my little buddies. 🙂
    Megret
    musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

  9. What a great cookbook! I collect them and I love to cook with children. I will definitely have a look at this one.

  10. OOOH…hate that I can’t win this! It’s the only time I’ve regretted being a member of the team ;D

    Looks like a great book. I’ll have to check it out.

  11. I’ve been wanting to get my kids in the kitchen. I think the older two are getting old enough to start learning to cook.

    I would love to win this book and if I don’t I guess I’ll have to buy it. Either way I want it.

  14. We’re grooming my 5 yo to be a good cook as well, he loves to help daddy cook, which can be a challenge! I’d love to win a copy of this cookbook.

  18. Yea, I think food is better when someone else cooks it. LOL… my teenager loves to cook and she’s really good. She would love this cookbook. I am hoping my younger kids will pick up her habit – in a few years I expect not to have to lift a finger in the kitchen. 🙂

  28. OK, I’m back again! I just got my Rachel Ray magazine yesterday and she did an article on this book! You beat her to the punch! (she liked it too)

  32. I’d love to win this cookbook. My son and husband are both so picky! Me I’ll eat anything. (oh well that’s another story). Thanks for the contest.

  38. Sounds like a winner! Would love to try these recipes with/on my little ones. Thanks for the chance.

  42. I would love to have a copy of this cook book. I babysit 5 grandkids for my working kids and I am always looking for new foods to tempt them. I have a couple of picky eaters to please.

  43. I would love to have this- I love cooking and love teaching the kiddos but would love simpkier tips and to see if they really are more kid friendly

  45. Over the last few years we have really healthized our eating habits and having some fun new recipes for our family would be wonderful!

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