Fannie in the Kitchen: The Whole Story from Soup to Nuts of How Fannie Farmer Invented Recipes with Precise Measurements

I am an educator who likes to use historical fiction with elementary students. Students love the story of FANNIE IN THE KITCHEN, and we have also used the book to talk about how cooking has changed over the years. I bring in old kitchen utensils from antique stores to show them. (Many kids can't identify a sifter, to say nothing of a butter mold! And when was the last time you saw a doughnut cutter??) We also use the book as a jumping off point to talk about math and measurements. Although this is clearly a humourous, fictionalized take-off on a footnote to history, students and I also enjoy talking about how young Marcia must adjust to change, as her mother has a new baby. The way the illustrator depicts the developing relationship between Marcia and Fannie is delightful.As the author note states, Fannie Farmer was one of the first to recommend precise measurements in cooking. What a fun way for kids to be introduced to this 19th century figure

Marcia is trying to help her mother cook, but is doing a terrible job until Fannie Farmer steps in and teaches her about cooking. Nancy Carpenter's whimsical drawings accompany Fannie's lessons in this inviting beginner's guide to both cooking and how Fannie Farmer invented the recipe.

Little Marcia was not very happy the day her mother announced that before the new baby's born, a woman named Fannie Farmer was coming to live with them to cook and be a mother's helper. Marcia didn't think her mother needed any more helpers. She could already wash the clothes until they were spotless, polish the oil lamps until they shined and even make candles. Though she tried to discourage this mother's helper idea, Fannie Farmer arrived right on schedule. Marcia tried to dislike her, but Fannie's easy manner and engaging ways made them fast friends in no time. In fact, Fannie was an excellent cook and willing to teach and share her culinary knowledge and pretty soon, Marcia was cooking perfect biscuits and pancakes, choosing the ripest melons at market and even testing the freshness of eggs. There was only one big problem. Fannie had all that information in her head and it was way too much for Marcia to remember. "...what if I wrote out precise instructions for you? Then you could cook exactly as I do." And just like that, the Fannie Farmer Cookbook was born..... Deborah Hopkinson has taken some historical facts, mixed in a little fiction and written a delightful picture book about Fannie Farmer and her creation of the modern recipe and cookbook. Her clever story, divided into "courses" instead of chapters, is charming, witty and includes some of Fannie's helpful cooking hints. Nancy Carpenter's wonderfully inventive artwork combines period engravings with pen and ink watercolor illustrations, which complement the story beautifully and give the book a real turn of the century look and feel. With "Fannie Farmer's Famous Griddle Cakes" recipe included, as well as a short biography at the end of the story to fill in more detail, Fannie in the Kitchen is just perfect for youngsters 4-8 and it's a safe bet to assume that you'll be eating delicious, made from scratch pancakes, in the very near future.

The illustrations in this book are hilarious! My kids just love the pictures and they want to cook "Fannie Fanner Griddle Cakes" all the time!

This story, loosely based on an incident in the life of the real Fannie Farmer, is just delightful. Children will love the illustrations of Marcia's struggles with cooking. But it's also neat to see the warm friendship that grows between her and Fannie. Highly recommended for cooks of all ages!