15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Healthy and Delicious Disney Fun!, December 31, 2007
This review is from: The Disney The Magic Kitchen Cookbook (Spiral-bound)
My 10-year-old daughter received the Disney Magic Kitchen Cookbook for Christmas. A picky eater by nature, she actually loves this book and is trying new and healthy recipes. Though the cover states these are "Great Recipes Just for Kids," the food will be enjoyed by the whole family, including parents! Disney characters appear on nearly every page and provide that added Disney-Magic appeal. The book offers a cooking basics section plus 49 recipes, such as Jungle French Toast Sticks, Lightning-Fast Wraps, Pit Stop Portable Pizza, Power Up Pasta and Meatballs, and Disappearing Chocolate Chip Cookies. There are a few recipes that my picky eater may not ever try (Body Shop Black Bean Salad, Pirate Island Tuna Boats), but I would say the vast majority she might try and that is saying something. Each recipe is spread out over two colorful pages and provides an ingredient list, a utensil list, detailed instructions (younger kids will need help reading), nutrition facts, a "Check This Out" fact, and a big picture of the food along with Disney characters. This is a great gift for kids!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What the kid picks out, the kid will eat, April 20, 2008
This review is from: The Disney The Magic Kitchen Cookbook (Spiral-bound)
My son wanted this book, but I have actually been amazed at the edibility of the recipes we've tried. Not that there is anything terribly unique, but when your kid chooses the recipe and stands next to you helping to cook it, he eats the final product. And maybe even learns something in the bargain. Lightning-Fast Wraps and Sloppy Dogs are two of his favorites. This book is a product of Disney's attempt to make itself over as a healthy influence rather than pushing junk food. Note that our copy has characters from Cars on the cover, I don't know if it is a different edition.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Cookbook for Young Chefs!, June 3, 2008
This review is from: The Disney The Magic Kitchen Cookbook (Spiral-bound)
I will admit up front that we are big Disney fans so this book has an immediate appeal to our family. If you want to get your kids excited about cooking, using characters they already know and love will keep their attention. A boring old book with nothing but text isn't going to encourage a young kid to want to cook. My son at age 9 can do most of the cooking on his own (though I still supervise all knife and oven use) and my 6 year old daughter can do most of the steps with help.
PART 1 - COOKING BASICS
Not only are there recipes, but also "Cooking Basics" taught by none other than Rattatouille himself. It tells kids what to do before, during and after cooking - to include cleaning up and taking out the trash if it is full! It teaches the proper way to measure dry and liquid ingredients, food and cooking safety, and basic cooking terms - all in a way that is fun and easy to understand. It also shows how to make a shopping list and then how to find foods in the supermarket. There is a section that explains portions and how to get the right amounts of each food based on the child's age, and WHY you need each of those types of food. Finally in this section are a couple of pages that talk about exercising your body.
PART 2 - INCREDIBLE BREAKFASTS
Genie's As You wish Muffins and Sully's Not Too Scary Berry Pancakes are our favorites!
PART 3 - SCHOOL LUNCH
Several recipes that are great for home or to pack in a lunch box! Our favorites include Chicken Little's The Sky is Falling Apple Wraps and Rex's Don't Be a Chicken Cups.
PART 4 - AFTER SCHOOL SNACKS
Cars' Pit Stop Portable Pizza is super easy and one of the kids' favorites. And we love making the Tinkerbell Magic Fairy Wands!
PART 5 - MISSION: DINNER
My 8 year old son was so proud when he made Pizza Planet Calzones! And one of my favorites is Buzz's Blast Off Burritos.
PART 6 - TO SCREAM FOR DESSERTS
Princess Pretzel Parfaits were very pretty and impressive looking - layers of pretzels, strawberries and creamed cheese. (Though we decided that whipped cream would taste better than the cream cheese!) My son made these especially for his little sister. Timon and Pumba's Chocolate Mud Pie is to die for!
PART 7 - SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS
This section has mostly desserts like Be Cool Peppermint Parfaits and Simba's Gooey, Sticky Caramel Sundaes but also a cucumber appetizer and pumpkin pancakes.
On the final pages is a fitness log and a Fruits and Veggies Log that you can copy and have your kids' fill out throughout the week, and a page where the kids can write notes about their favorite recipes.
In addition to all these recipes (each of which has complete nutrition info), scattered throughout the book are fun food facts, health and exercise tips, games and puzzles, and beautifully illustrated pictures.
I cannot recommend this cookbook highly enough. We just love it!
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