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Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Jessica Seinfeld

September 20, 2007
This book was very disappointing. I LOVE to cook, and found the recipes were very labour intensive (all that puree-ing, even for someone who loves to be in the kitchen...give me a break!). The foods I prepared were ixnayed by my kids, and my husband who eats almost anything wasn't so impressed either. I wish I could return it, but I've thrown out my receipt. Anyway, what I've learned from this is that yes, we all want our families to eat healthier foods. How do we accomplish this? Set the example by eating it ourselves, keep serving it to them (not hiding it, just making it really yummy!), and eventually they will follow suit. And if they grow up and hate broccoli? No problem, as long as they eat their carrots : )

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The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Michael Pollan

August 28, 2007
This book could be broken down into three parts. The first few chapters document the shocking state of our current agricultural industry and in particular the ecological costs of our massive overproduction of corn and the consequences it is having on the beef we eat. The middle portion is a first hand description of one farm in particular that has bucked the trend and still remained viable. This is then expanded into a more comprehensive look at the organic food industry and how it is evolving. Finally the author takes us on his own personal journey as he attempts to become a hunter/gatherer and ultimately prepare a meal in keeping with the philosophy set forth by the slow food movement.
The author is a journalist who I feel really attempts to ... Read More:

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Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Gordon Ramsay

March 19, 2008
While I was very excited to get this cookbook, once I actually read it, I was very disappointed with the recipes. It's very heavily skewed towards seafood, so if you're allergic or simply don't like it (like me), don't bother with this book - there's not enough other recipes to make it worth purchasing. Some of the non-seafood recipes are very simple things that most people already know how to make anyway, like fajitas, again, not making it worth buying. There are also many ingredient items that must be native to the UK, as I couldn't figure out what they actually were... So, if you're British and like seafood, go for it, otherwise, don't bother... The pictures are beautiful...

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Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Jamie Oliver

March 04, 2008
Obviously, this is the book tie-in with the Jamie at Home series seen in the UK on Channel 4 and on the Food Network in North America. And for a tie-in, it's actually pretty good.

It's certainly a much better read than his previous Cook with Jamie, mainly because with this one he's made a better attempt at identifying his audience. Jamie, it's obvious, is enthusiastic about his cooking, and he expects his readers to have the same enthusiasm (and therefore the same knowledge) that he does. This is something that was missing from his previous effort.

The book is arranged in a seasonal theme, with recipes for spring, summer, fall and winter. This is good, because it encourages the type of varietal eating that keeps a diet from getting monotonous. ... Read More:

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Cook with Jamie: My Guide to Making You a Better Cook

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Jamie Oliver

September 20, 2007
Not only does this book have incredibly tasty and easy to make recipes, it has sparked a passion for cooking in my husband and I couldn't be a happier wife! ;)

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Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits and Vegetables

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Mike Bubel, Nancy Bubel

December 12, 1990
This is the best book on root cellaring that I have ever come across. If you had to buy one book on this topic this would be the one.

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The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook: Great-Tasting Recipes That Keep You Lean

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Tosca Reno

October 25, 2007
I was not impressed with Tosca Reno's diet book as it did not tell me anything I didn't know; clean eating is something we've always tried to practice, although our common sense practices didn't have a fancy name.

That said, this cookbook is great. I have a vast collection of cookbooks and still found new and simple ideas for good, wholesome meals. I just read thru' the entire book and marked page after page to plan into my meals.
Why not five stars, then? There are some misleading recipes... Thick yogurt mixed with melted chocolate does not make mousse, so give it a proper name. I also got tired of looking at glossy pictures of Tosca, Tosca, and Tosca. Although the author has achieved what many dream of (great weightloss, a career in the fitness industry) I found her ... Read More:

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Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Karen Tack

April 02, 2008
I LOVE this book! This book makes you look at the items in a Bulk Barn store in a different light. The ideas are simply fantastic and will blow away any child or adult alike. The authors are realistic and offer cupcake recipes using cake mix, and show quick and easy ways to decorate using beautiful pictures and simple instructions. Thanks for such a great book!

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Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Martha Stewart Living Magazine

March 11, 2008
This book is dessert for the eye and the mouth. The table of contents is creatively designed to show you a picture of the cookie and it organizes them into cookie type. So far I have tried 7 different cookie types to great success and I plan to do more very soon. The instructions are easy to follow. The back of the cookbook has examples of useful tools, decorating materials and packaging ideas. Some of the cookies I have tried are the Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies, the Chocolate Thumbprint and the Chocolate Pistachio cookies. Some of the cookies are easy and some are more difficult to prepare, but even if you only make a few (there are 175 recipes to try) it is well worth it.

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The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Cooking- Food and Wine
by: Missy Chase Lapine

March 26, 2007
I've heard some strong opinions about this book being about deceiving own children and that no matter what good intention a mother has, she should never deceive her own children. Although this could be a good ground for a longer discussion about ethics, here are some points that, in my opinion, make `Sneaky Chef' a good buy:

1. Children only eat what they find attractive to their eyes and their taste buds. Any reasoning about food nutritional value is blocked and absolutely ignored. So if you have a case of a child absolutely abhorring vegetables then the only way to make vegetables a part of daily meals, is to sneak them in to the dish under some disguise.
2. Any reasoning about nutrition is simply not possible in case of small children. It's better to feed them now with ... Read More: