Remarkable Reads: Young Chefs
RSSBy Dodie Ownes
LOCRICCHIO, Matthew. Teen Cuisine. photos by James Peterson. Marshall Cavendish. 2010. Tr $22.95. ISBN 978-0-7614-5715-2; ebook. $22.95. ISBN 978-0-7614-6039-8. RAU, Dana Meachen. A Teen Guide to Breakfast on the Go. (Teen Cookbooks).Compass Point Books. 2011. Tr $33.99. ISBN 978-0-7565-4407-2. Remarkable Reads is produced by the editors at NoveList, the leader in readers' advisory electronic resources. For more information, visit NoveList. This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.
When teenagers want more independence, a good place to point them to is the kitchen. Cooking requires organization, the ability to follow directions, and clean-up skills—all things that they need to be working on for success in life. Whether an aspiring chef just wants to create the perfect pancake or put out a full spread, these titles provide the basic information they need, from tools to presentation tips.
Gr 7-12—Teens who want to spread their culinary wings a bit will appreciate the range of recipes included here—from grilled cheese to glazed pork tenderloin to homemade ice cream sandwiches. Each creation includes a full list of ingredients, step by step instruction, and serving suggestion, along with stunning photographs of the finished product. Back matter includes an alphabetic list of kitchen essentials, a metric conversion chart, equipment and utensil list, and an index.MAYHEW, Maggie. How to Cook. DK. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-7214-0.
Gr 8-12—For the slightly more advanced teen cook, this cookbook and guide features wonderful photographs and culturally diverse recipes—everything from the Greek-inspired tzatziki sauce to tiramisu to carrot cake. The step by step illustrations are clear and easy to follow. Lots of variations on the basic recipes are offered, making this the cookbook that keeps on giving. Back matter includes basic kitchen advice, glossary and index.Gr 6-8—What to love more? The "Bad Breath Bagels" or "Apes and Grapes Salad?" This fun book skews more to the middle school level, and provides a great introduction to cooking (more than breakfast, really) with lots of pull-out tips, like how to measure flour or cut a mango. Terrific photography and well-written 'prep steps' are included to walk junior chefs through the process of preparing a wonderful meal. Each title in the series (Creative Delightful Dinners; Fast Delicious Lunches; Quick Healthy Snacks) includes a brief glossary and index.
