This is a cookbook with a difference: the recipes were chosen by children, for children, children helped to test them, and it was the majority view that decided what should be included.
A chunky book (approx 20x25cm) with 188 pages of beautifully-photographed recipes, simple enough for children to make and original enough to give plenty of new ideas for the lunchbox or family meal. Think egg sandwiches, cheesy muffins, pizzas, but also fruit bubble bumps, beetroot dip, and stuffed tomato shells.
I’m liking
I love good photos in cookbooks, and this one provides a visual feast. Lovely to pore over with your children and let them choose something to make! I also appreciate a clear index (tick) and range of recipes from snacks to mains to the all-important baking (tick).
My favourite chapter is the one on mains, because there are some excellent presentation ideas – toast cut into shapes, a mashed potato field sown with peas, a log cabin-style stack of potato chips…… “Jack and the Bean Pork”, anyone? My 6 year old loved (and made) the Two Foot Pie, when I can’t imagine him otherwise being mad keen on lentil bake with a scone topping!
Things that made me go hmmmm
As it’s not a NZ book, some of the ingredient descriptions are unfamiliar to me, and I’m also not sure about the quantities in some of the recipes. Or maybe our family just eats a lot 😉
The book wouldn’t be great for a very experienced cook, as some of the recipes are rather basic.
The conclusion
A useful addition to the repertoire of ‘cook with your kids’ books. Recommended to anyone looking for new lunch ideas, parents wanting to get the children involved in dinner preparation, and my fellow aficionados of beautiful food photography.
