Total Pageviews

Monday, May 3, 2021

The No-Cook Cookbook, by Rebecca Woollard. DK Publishing, Penguin Random House. 2021. $21.99 all ages

 


"CAULIFLOWER RICE BOWL

Rice bowls are usually made with sticky
sushi rice. This version uses finely-chopped
cauliflower instead, which means you 
don't have to do any cooking!
"

Only recently did I ask to see a copy of this new cookbook for review. It arrived in the mail this morning, and I spent some time pouring over the more than 50 recipes collected to be included; none of them need heat. What a treasure trove for any young cook who wants to learn more! 

In talking with my 7-year-old granddaughter this morning, she was telling me about the 'huevos rancheros' the family had for breakfast. The idea came from watching an episode of Beat Bobby Flay last evening. Her dad loves to cook breakfast, and that's what they decided on for their first meal of the day. She loves to cook, too. She will be delighted to learn that I am saving this copy for when she can visit next. 

As I paged through it, I found recipes that I will try for myself to see what I think. Many will appeal for their healthy ingredients, their ease of preparation, and the anticipation of tasting them. DK does an exceptional job of publishing books that have much to teach young readers about nonfiction. Their books are designed to make using them successful. 

The table of contents provides a detailed look for each double-page spread that will help a reader find exactly the right recipe to try. Through it they can find out how the book works, rules and tools of the kitchen, an equipment guide for keen gardeners, and finally a more detailed look at basic techniques of cooking. 

The first section considers breakfast foods: granola, overnight oatmeal, smoothies. How about a muffuletta for lunch, or any number of salads, a baguette sandwich, even cold soups? The list goes on to include ideas for healthy snacks and sauces, then further to supper meals, desserts, and other welcome suggestions.  There is a great variety in the choices that can be made.  

The design for each recipe includes a time frame, how many people each will feed, a list of ingredients, tools needed, and a step-by-step method for preparation. The photographs are, as always, full color and very helpful while also making the reader drool in anticipation.  'Growing your own' entries include tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, spinach, and strawberries. 

You can't go wrong with this book, if you want to encourage your children to try their hand at meal preparation, independence in the kitchen, and a sense of real accomplishment without the worry of having to use heat.                                                                                     


No comments:

Post a Comment