Eat Your U.S. History Homework

Eat Your U.S. History Homework. Ann McCallum. 2015. Charlesbridge. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I love the premise behind Ann McCallum's Eat Your U.S. History Homework. I think it is a clever idea to write a cookbook with American History in mind.

The book only covers early American history. The first recipe--around the times of the Pilgrims settling America--is "Thanksgiving Succotash." The last recipe--around the time of the American Revolution--is for "Independence Ice Cream." There are six recipes in all.

The topics or subjects these recipes are supposed to supplement: Pilgrims at Plymoth, 1620; The Thirteen Original Colonies, 1607-1776; The French and Indian War, 1754-1763; Slaves and the Southern Planation, 1619-1863; The American Revolution, 1775-1783; The Declaration of Independence, 1776.

Some recipes you might recognize under another name. For example: "Revolutionary Honey-Jumble Cookies" and "Lost Bread" are snickerdoodles and french toast.

I like the focus on food. I like the historical tidbits. I like everything but the illustrations.
© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Betty Crocker Kids Cook

Betty Crocker Kids Cook. 1999/2015 (spiral-bound) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 160 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I enjoyed skimming through Betty Crocker Kids Cook. I don't "review" cook books often, but, I do enjoy looking at ones specifically designed to appeal to children and teens. This one is written with kids of all ages in mind. It features recipes that kids can cook on their own with just a little guidance, and some more difficult recipes that may take more cooperation with an adult.

The recipes fall into five categories: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and desserts. The book includes simple instructions and guidelines for general cooking and baking. (The end papers illustrate the tools of the trade.) The "Just the Basics" section even includes the current nutritional guidelines, MyPlate.

The recipes themselves seem straightforward and reader-friendly. As an adult, I appreciate them listing the nutritional information for each recipe. (Serving size, number of calories, number of carbohydrates, amount of fat, amount of fiber, etc. It also includes the number of carbohydrate exchanges (choices) a serving is. Most of the recipes, though certainly not all, are carbohydrate heavy I noticed. Some recipes look delicious, very delicious, but are certainly not healthy enough to be eaten all that often, in my opinion.

The recipes that looked most appealing to me include:

• Super-Tasty Sweet Potato Bacon Biscuits (p. 23)
• Surprise! Confetti Pasta Salad (p. 60)
• Impossibly Easy Mini Chicken Pot Pies (p. 98)
• Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Spaghetti (p. 112)
• Bottom of the Cereal Box Cookies (p. 140)

Do you have a favorite cookbook for children or teens?

© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Nonfiction Monday: Paula Deen's Cookbook for the Lunch-box Set

Deen, Paula. 2009. Paula Deen's Cookbook for the Lunch-Box Set. With Martha Nesbit. Illustrated by Susan Mitchell. Simon & Schuster.

As far as I know, this is the second Paula Deen cookbook written with children in mind. (That is a cookbook for parents and children to use together in the kitchen.) I reviewed her first children's cookbook last October, and said, "A cookbook written to introduce kids to the wonders of cooking? A cookbook that emphasizes cooking as a family event--parents and kids working side by side? Gotta love that!" Essentially, my reaction is similar for the second.

What does this one offer readers? It's divided into nine sections. Each section is compiled around a theme. We've got: "Morning Muffins," "The Bake Sale," "Pool Party," "What's New For Lunch", "A Sleepover," "The Family Cooking Night," "Christmas Cooking Party," "The Family Picnic Menu," and "Mother's Day and Father's Day."

Each recipe is illustrated in bright colors. While illustrations are not photographs, I do like the fact that this is a cook book that breaks things down step by step.

Which recipes sound so very, very good to me? Chocolate-Covered Pretzels (44-45), German Chocolate Pie (54-55), and Oreo Truffles (140-141). Of course, the book offers more than just desserts. It has recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time. But which would you whether drool over? Bacon-Cheddar Meat Loaf? Ham Strata? Chicken Caesar Wrap? Or one of the dozens of desserts. Actually, most of the recipes look tasty.

I like this one because it is simple and thorough and reader-friendly.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Nonfiction Monday: Paula Deen's My First Cookbook

Deen, Paula. 2008. Paula Deen's My First Cookbook. (With Martha Nesbit. Illustrated by Susan Mitchell.)

I must admit to doing a little happy dance when this one arrived at my house. A cookbook written to introduce kids to the wonders of cooking? A cookbook that emphasizes cooking as a family event--parents and kids working side by side? Gotta love that!

After the necessary safety warnings, she opens with several pages of glossary--and an illustrated one at that. In simple--but correct--terms, the basics are explained. From baking to whisking, everything you'd need to know to make these recipes (and others as well.)

We then get explanations for how to measure, how to set the table, and how to behave with good manners.

Then comes the fun stuff. The recipes themselves. Arranged into sections for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, desserts etc. The recipes range from simple to complex. Some require more adult supervision than others. But many are kid-friendly.

Each recipe is presented with text and illustrations. Each is divided into "what you'll need" and "what you'll do" sections. I thought the presentation was clear and concise.

If I were to have any reservations with this one, it is that a good many of the recipes aren't particularly written with good, healthy habits in mind. The recipes look great. Really great. And I'm sure they taste great too...but though probably less appealing for kids (and some adults) a few healthier options would have been great. (I'm not saying all the recipes are bad for you. And in moderation, most would be okay for most people. But the ones that jump out at me and say "try me, try me" are the ones that I don't need to be making in the first place.)

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews