Customer Reviews

Around The World Cookbook

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This sturdy cookbook is a geography-and-cooking compendium that most kid cooks will find challenging, to say the least. After an introductory Basics: Getting Started chapter in which kids learn how to perform cooking steps, understand specialized words, respect sharp tools and power tools, and perform clean up, the text is divided into six geographic sections with recipes: Asia (Salmon teriyaki, Miso soup, Bok choy stir fry, Vegetable fried rice, Shrimp pad Thai, Vietnamese lettuce rolls) ; India-Indonesia-Australasia (Lemony lamb skewers, ANZAC biscuits, Pavlova, Tandoori chicken legs, Cauliflower and pea curry); Middle East-Africa-Mediterranean (Flourless chocolate cakes, Tabbouleh, Greek pork kebabs, Marinara sauce, Caprese salad, Vanilla panna cotta, Leb Lebi, Bobotie, Gazpacho, Ratatouille, Croque monsieur); Russia-Northern Europe (Apple nut Brussels sprouts, Warm German potato salad, Pfeffernusse, Instant Swiss hot chocolate, Chicken paprikash, Roasted beets, Swedish meatballs, Mashed potatoes, Shepherd's pie, Yorkshire pudding, Scones) ; South America-Mexico-Caribbean (Burgers with chimichurri, Roasted sweet potato fries, Fresh tomato salsa, Classic cheese quesadillas, Jicama slaw, Mexican chocolate pudding, Jamaican jerk chicken, Tostones, Cuban black bean soup) ; United States and Canada (Jambalaya, Southern-style cornbread, Apple oatmeal crumble, Crispy parmesan baked cod, Summer succotash, Canadian butter tarts). Three additional sections include: Pocket Food Around the World; Cheese Around the World; Flatbreads Around the World. An index and acknowledgements wrap things up. Most recipes are a handsome double-page spread with a photo of the finished food; every recipe lists ingredients, equipment, directions (including a cautionary symbol for "hot" or "electric" or "sharp"); some recipes include variations and others include tips on cooking. This is a stunningly visual cookbook, and the introductory geography pages are concise but chock full of information. While there are other similar titles (Kids' Cookbook: Recipes from Around the World by Rosalba Gioffre, Frances Lee and Karen Ward; The Kids Multicultural Cookbook by Deanna Cook, for example) this one is most comparable to Emeril's There's A Chef in my World: Recipes That Take You Places with good old Mr. Bam on every page. The only criticism that could be lowered at this lovely volume is that shopping might be a challenge; even after half a century of shopping, I'd be mystified where to find some of the ingredients for some of these recipes, quite frankly. This cookbook would well serve elementary through high school, but special needs kids will find the print lists of ingredients challenging because of small print. Interior spiral wire-binding with hardcovers and heavy duty pages will stand up to lots of use. Abigail Johnson Dodge is a contributing editor at Fine Cooking Magazine and the author of five cookbooks including The Kid's Cookbook, Kids Baking and Weekend Baker. She makes frequent TV and radio appearances and teaches at cooking schools around the country.

My family has been a BIG fan of Abigail Dodge's Childrens' cookbooks and we were not dissapointed with her new book. My 7 year old and I have been working through the book and we have enjoyed every recipe and my husband has REALLY enjoyed the fruits of our labor. The recipes are very easy, but are very tasty. My 7 year old definitely needs my help, but for an older child it would be smooth sailing. What I like about the recipes is that altho they are Kid Friendly, you certainly would not be shy to serve these recipes to adults.Some of our favorite recipes are the Tandori Chicken Legs, The Shrimp Pad Thai, and the TO-Die-For Flourless Chocolate Cake.
Also, besides the great recipes, it has been fun for my daughter to read about the different countries that the recipes are based on. All in all it is a fun, beautifully illustrated, and yummy cookbook. I would reccomend it to any aspiring young chef!!!! or an old seasoned cook like me!!!!!

Perfect not only for kids wanting to make something to eat that's interesting, not too difficult, and delicious, but we have found it just right for those nights when we want to eat well but don't want to work too hard to do so. My three kids from 16-20 have made this their Go-To book when they need to cook for themselves as well.

This is a cook book for everyone - busy adults as well as children can learn simple receipes along with a geography refresher. Some receipes do offer more challenges, a great starter to learn terms and techniques. Easy and fun to read and cook. Inspires culinary and cultural exploration. A great book to share in the kitchen.

The first word that comes to my mind is 'fun'. It was fun not only for the kids to make, but unlike the recipes in a lot of kid's cook books, we found the results to be completely delicious. It is refreshing to see a cook book that introduces youngsters to dishes from other countries and cultures.

I started to cook with Brad when he was 3, teaching him to break eggs for cookies.It was messy but lots of fun. He cooks at home with his Mom & has taken a cooking class at school. He loves to cook! This book will ignite his imagination & inspire him to create his own recipes as he learns new skills.

I purchased this cookbook for my grandchildren. As they study a country in school, they can prepare a traditional dish as well as gain extra interesting information pertaining to that country. I was very pleased with this book and know my grandchildren will have fun using it!

I heard about this cookbook on Martha Stewart Radio. The simple but impressive recipes make it a great choice if you are an adult beginner cook. The Chimichurri Burger is delicious. I teach 6th grade Contemporary World Cultures. I have asked our school librarian to purchase this very useful resource for my class.

What I like most about AROUND THE WORLD COOKBOOK is not that my kids love the marinara, or that my husband raves over the flourless chocolate cakes, but that every recipe I've tried has gone well and tasted great. I know I can trust this cookbook to have more than a couple of hits; the writer has done her homework and ensured that each recipe is a winner, though of course people have varying tastes.

An important factor at work here is the WORLD aspect, of course; the writer adapts ethnic recipes to the tastes of children while still pleasing adult palates, and she does it well. Tandoori chicken somehow retains its zing without being too spicy, for example. The chimchurri on the burger is pleasant and fresh.

I often search the library for books precisely like this one, as I don't want to "dumb down" my tastes in order to get my kids eating. This cookbook is the best ethnic kids' cookbook I've found.

Wonderful cookbook for elementary school age kids and possibly interesting for older kids too. The recipes are tasty and easy to make, with clear instructions. Full of great information about the country the recipes represent. The spiral binding is great for keeping the book open to the page needed while cooking and protected to keep it from falling apart. I bought it as a gift for my grandkids but am having second thoughts because I want to keep it for myself!