EASY PEASY SWEETIE PIE.
by Mary Contini.
Ebury Press, 12.99.
I liked this book a lot; it is well presented, colourful and inviting. The presentation is really good and clear, with explanations of all the different cookery methods we use in the kitchen. It is beautifully illustrated - the lovely luscious pictures make your mouth water, and would certainly encourage any children and carer to get cooking. The layout is simple and straightforward and seems easy to follow. The children's handwriting also adds an element of fun.
My only reservation is that it is a shame that the recipes are primarily sweet. I would love to see a more savoury version in the same format. But having said that, anything that encourages parents and carers to get back into the kitchen preparing and cooking with children will always gets my thumbs-up!
My favourite recipes are the ones that have fresh fruit, and less sugar, syrup and chocolate. I like the recipe for a smoothie - a combination of fruit and milk or yoghurt whizzed together until they are smooth. This recipe - a healthy option, packed with energy - can be easily adapted to any number of fruits.
EXPLORING CARIBBEAN FOOD IN BRITAIN.
by Floella Benjamin.
Mantra Publishing, 3.99.
This book is not your typical cookery book by any means. It is quite inspiring. At last we can get stuck into some Caribbean food and become familiar with all the wonderful and different ingredients they use in cooking. I read this book together with my daughter aged eight, who thought it was exciting. We liked the way the book is put together in a story form with the focus on the children's views, which gives the reader a real sense of understanding about the food and the culture. The illustrations and photography are bright, colourful, clear and appealing, and the map of the West Indies in the centre of the book allows you to identify all the different islands and their geographical placement.
The narrated story of the pending birthday party for Aston pulls the reader along, and it is a real pleasure, as well as an education, to meet all the different fruits, vegetables, meats and fish. I am not sure that I could just pick this book up and feel confident enough to cook directly from it, but I certainly would give it my best shot. My favourite recipe in this book would be Jerked Pork. The flavours and spices in the marinade sound great, and I like the idea of the barbecue, not forgetting that we don't have quite the weather for it as the Caribbean does - but the good old oven and grill will still do the trick.
I feel that the multicultural approach, having children from different backgrounds exploring food together, is a truly wonderful way to enjoy cooking.
THE WALKER BOOK OF CHILDREN'S COOKERY.
by Roz Denny and Caroline Waldegrave.
Walker Books, 5.99.
This book is well set out, with a picture for each step of its easy and straightforward methods. I think the red boxes depicting the element of danger there is for the child makes an important and sensible way to alert parents, carers and children to potential hazards when preparing and cooking in the kitchen. The pictures and illustrations are bright and appealing and there are good diagrams to show exactly what needs to be done. The selection of recipes is very wide, and I like the variety.
The kitchen information section at the front of the book gives the reader plenty of tips as well as pictures of a number of fruits and vegetables, so that children can familiarise themselves with these important fresh foods.
The book comes across as fun, simple and accessible. My favourite recipe is Fish Dippers with Tomato Sauce. This is actually a glorified fish finger recipe, but I like the idea that children can learn that fish fingers can be home-made and not just brought out of a packet. The tomato sauce, which is just mayonnaise and tomato ketchup mixed together, again sends the message that not everything has to come out of a bottle.
Fiona Hamilton-Fairley is principal and project co-ordinator at the Kids' Cookery School in Acton, west London. She writes a fortnightly cookery column for Nursery World and features for Professional Nanny.
