Kids Cook! Fabulous Food for the Whole Family

Please welcome my guest blogger Judy Ferrill. She is an EZine article expert, connoisseur of healthy food and a full time freelance writer. It is important to instill good eating habits in children at a young age. When it comes to healthy food Judy knows what she is talking about. Enjoy her book review below and then go visit her at Local Food Connections. Thank you Judy for being my guest today.

Kids Cook – Fabulous Food for the Whole Family
Sarah Williamson & Zachary Williamson
ISBN 0-9135899-61-6
Copyright 1992

Notice the copyright date on this book.... 1992. I bought this book for my daughter the year it was published. It does not carry the endorsement of any celebrity chefs, but like any great cookbook – it is timeless in many respects. It was written with family recipes and traditions. I don't think you can beat that combination.

What I like about this book is the kid-friendly foods, but there are also recipes to start them on a path to appreciating "more adult" foods. The book emphasizes healthy food choices and alternatives. Kitchen safety and rules are discussed and recipes are labeled with a degree of difficulty by the number of spoons. Safety notes are included and there is a section on cooking terms, substitutes and equivalents, as well as kitchen appliances and tools.

If the book has one drawback, it does not have illustrations, but does have great black and white pen drawings that are fun and add to the personality of the book. The book is appropriate for ages 8 and up, but can work with younger children with adult supervision.

The recipes run the gamut – simple french toast breakfast, a fresh cucumber salad, an antipasto plate, to faux lasagna, chicken cordon bleu, and creamy asparagus. There is a variety of kid's favorites – desserts.

Here is an example where older children can easily manage the preparation and a younger child can participate with adult supervision.
Recipe from Kids Cook! Fabulous Food for the Whole Family.
No-Bake Chocolate Graham Cracker Cake
Serves 6 – 8

28 graham crackers
½ cup chocolate syrup
Homemade Whipped Cream

1. Make homemade whipped cream (In chilled metal bowl, beat 1 pint whipping cream, 3 Tablespoons confectioners' sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until soft peaks form.)
2. Whip the chocolate syrup into the cream mixture.
3. On a serving plate, make a square with four graham crackers.
4. Cover with a layer of whipped chocolate cream.
5. Repeat the layers – graham crackers and then whipped cream until you have 7 layers.
6. Cover the entire outside of the cake with the remaining whipped cream.
7. Decorate with chocolate chips or shaved chocolate (rub a chocolate bar over a grater).
8. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Best served the same day.

The book is available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble with an average price of $11.00