"Feeding Baby: everyday recipes for healthy infants and toddlers"
Author: Joachim Spilchal & Christine Splichal
Publisher/Price: Celestial Arts [$15]
Perfect For: Those new to food (or those who cook for them)
Of course it's simple to travel down that aisle in the middle of the supermarket load up on jars and call the task of infant meal planning complete, but come on Mama, BORING! If you've been dreaming of feeding your baby or toddler real food but don't know where to begin "Feeding Baby" should be your first stop. Packed with 65 gourmet recipes that are not only delicious and healthy but easy to make you'll set your new eater up for a lifetime of culinary adventure. These recipes are surefire hits for any petite palate and might just impress yours as well.
Must Try: Brown Rice with Hazelnut and Apple Puree
Author: Mollie Katzen
Publisher/Price: Tricycle Press [$18 each]
Perfect For: Picky preschoolers and future chefs.
Whether you have a less than adventurous eater or a kid who can't get enough of the kitchen, cooking together will give you the opportunity to bond and expand those tastebuds. Mollie Katzen's Pretend Soup (and Other Real Recipes) and it's follow up Salad People (and More Real Recipes) are the perfect cookbooks for preeschoolers on up. Featuring healthy, simple recipes, which are illustrated step by step; your little one can lead the way through the entire process. (Don't worry, there are notes and suggestions just for the grown-ups) There's no better way to get a kid to eat than to involve them in the process and with these reads they'll be more than ready.
Must Try: Number Salad
"Teens Cook: How to Cook What you Want to Eat"
Author: Megan & Jill Carle
Publisher/Price: Ten Speed Press [$20]
Perfect For: That almost grown child of yours who is constantly complaining, "There is nothing to eaaaaat!", or that grown up who never learned to cook.
The Carle sisters are like any other teens, ok so maybe not, but they totally understand how teenage hunger pangs lead to endless staring into the fridge only to devour an entire bag of potato chips. They want that madness to stop and have just the motivation your teen might need. Teens Cook" features 75 classic recipes spanning from breakfast to dessert. While we didn't find anything that stopped us in our tracks on the healthy or adventurous front, that's a good thing. These are the kind of staple foods your teen will want to eat over and over again.
Must Try: Vegetable Maki Rolls
"You Won't Believe it's Vegan"
Author: Lacey Sher & Gail Doherty
Publisher/Price: Da Capo Press [$18]
Perfect For: The newly veg and food allergy set
With the rise in food allergies and heightened awareness that many of us are facing about what we eat, people are cutting out certain foods and running to the health food aisles in droves. But for those who have been raised on traditional American, meat based diets it can be hard to figure out what exactly one should eat. "You Won't Believe it's Vegan" is jam packed with 200 recipes that are simple, delicious and animal free. The introduction gives a great overview of foods that may be new to you along with where to find them and while there are many choice that will take your taste buds to task (in the best of ways!) you'll also find some veg takes on comfort foods that will make the transition a breeze.
Must Try: Baked Samosas
Win it!
You'll be set for life with the set of cookbooks featured here. One reader will get a copy of them all! To enter, email giveaways[at]mamaspeaks.com with Cook as your subject and let us know your favorite food. Giveaway ends 08.25.08
