Christmas Cooking with Kids [Hardcover]

This is a well thought out book with fun ideas for cooking with kids of all ages. Most of the recipes are easily found in other cookbooks, but the book is designed in a clear step-by-step manner that makes it kid friendly. Some of the recipes are suitable to make with small children, saving the adults trying to dream-up projects for the family during the holidays. Additionally, photographs are a big part of the book with every recipe illustrated which both helps with preparation and seeing the end result entices participants into the project.
Recipes include:

Basic yellow cake, Chocolate Glaze, Chocolate Frosting, Glace' Icing, Buttercream frosting

Little Treats & Gifts
Frosted Brownie Squares
Swedish Saffron Buns
Lebkuehen cookies
Peppermint Creams (candy)
Marshmallow Pops (candy
Ricciarelli cookies
Marshmallow Snowmen
Coconut Ice Candy
Cranberry Streusel Muffins
Toffee Apples
Chocolate Truffles
Fudge (Chocolate and Vanilla)
Cranberry & Pear Relish
Almond Crescents cookies
Iced Christmas Tree cookies
Shortbread
Pecan, Toffee & Chocolate Squares
Madeleines cookies
Biscotti with Pistachios & Cranberries cookies
Cinnamon Sticky Buns (made from scratch)
Rocky Road Fridge Cake
Meringue Snowflakes
Apple & Cranberry Pies

Edible Decorations
Marzipan Christmas Figures
Sugar Mice
Advent Numbered Cookies
Popcorn Garland
Popcorn Marshmallow Clusters
Gingerbread Shooting Stars cookies
Candy Trees
Frosted Fruit
Snowflake Cookies

Cakes and Desserts
Buche de Noel
Pain d' epics (French gingerbread cake)
Gingerbread House
Mini Baked Alaska
Fruity Treats (gelatin dessert)
Coconut Cake
Pumpkin Pie
Easy Fruitcake
Frosty the Snowman cake
Marble Cake

Party Food
Hot Chocolate & Mulled Apple Juice
Pigs in Blankets
Cheesy Grissini
Butternut Squash Soup with Cheesy Croutons
French Toast
Buttermilk Pancakes
Cheese & Ham Scones
Scotch Pancakes with Smoked Salmon
Bagel Chips
Savory Dips - Red Pepper & Chickpea Dip, Avocado Dip, Cream Cheese & Herb dip
Pesto Palmiers
Spiced Mixed Nuts
Cheese Straws
Pretzels

One of the things I liked best about this book is that every photograph doesn't reflect perfection. The picture of the shortbread includes one cracked piece. The fudge isn't all cut into perfect squares. I also like that the recipes are for the most part from scratch so the child is learning some actual cooking skills.

There is a solid index in the back of the book to help locate any recipe, along with a conversion chart for weights and measures so translation from American into Metric or Imperial is handy. I prepared the Coconut Ice candy and it was both easy and delicious. This book would make a great gift for a family, or any child that expressed an interest in cooking or baking.

My oldest grand daughter is starting to help her mother in the kitchen, so I decided to accelerate her learning experience by gifting her with this delightful book. I thought it would put more pressure on my daughter, her mommy, but she welcomes her children being creative. The book is a delight to look at for kids and adults because the graphics very appealing and will certainly motivate any child. If you kid doesn't respond positively to this book, better rush them of to a child psychiatrist to see what traumatic experiences they've had in your kitchen. Perhaps you asked them to help you with the dishes or something else as terrifying! Get this book; your kid will have to cook for him or herself someday anyway! Just make sure they help you clean up afterwards. I was pleased to see that the text is aimed at children in that it directs them to seek the help of an adult when the directions ask for a dangerous (for children) procedure is to be engaged (using an appliance where a child might get hurt if not trained properly by a parent in its safe use). I've always encouraged my wife & daughters to excel in the kitchen, preparing wholesome, delicious dishes and this book is a good place for the beginning cooks to get started.

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