Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cool Kids Cooking

We purchased a series of young cookbooks so that my granddaughter would have fun learning to cook. All of the books were great

[[My 8 year old granddaughter loves to help me cook. On her recent 8th birthday I got her this cook book and some measuring things and an apron and we found some very delicious and easy to prepare recipes that she fixed, with guidance from me of course. The entire family enjoyed her nights of cooking. Her mom works full time and goes to school 2 nights a week so it was great to have someone have dinner ready when she got home from work. Her 11 year old sister has even started to show an interest in cookingASIN:0696220008 New Junior Cookbook (Better Homes & Gardens Cooking)]].

I was surprised that some people were so vehement about their distaste for this cookbook. Sandra makes no bones about what she does - mixes premade ingredients with fresh ingredients for quick, delicious recipes. She doesn't claim to be a master chef (although she does state on her television program that she learned how to do things traditionally from her grandmother), or a nutritionist. Her recipes are quick and easy for busy mothers and kids who don't have time to cook everything from scratch. If you are looking for recipes that take forever (measuring, etc.) and are written by a professionally trained chef, don't buy Sandra Lee. But if you are looking for quick, easy, and delicious recipes that utilize many of the foods that most of us have in our pantries (without forking out a fortune for specialized ingredients), Sandra's your gal.

To the people that don't agree with the method's used in the book they have obviously not see Sandra Lee's show on Food Network. This is her own personal style of doing things. Thus the term "semi" homemade. Indeed this method does use canned and pre-made things [which is the whole idea.] I personally love her recipes and love this book. It is true that this book is not necessarily full of HEALTHY snacks yet you have the option of not buying this book. For those parents more interested in giving their kids a boost in the kitchen then this is the book for them. The recipes are very easy and fun to do. My sister uses this book all the time to play restaurant and it's a pleasure to see how happy she is to feel useful and loves helping us out with the meals.

My three-year old daughter just loves this book. She grabs it when we are in the kithchen and wants to cook something out of it. It is easy enough for kids to help prepare the meal and gets them involved. I just love it!