Customer Reviews

Yum-o! The Family Cookbook

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Frankly, I was quite surprised at the negative reviews on this cookbook. I found it to be a very good one and my kids have liked every recipe I have tried. I think what people have to remember is that when you're making a recipe for the first time, it may take you a little longer than 30 minutes because it's new. As with any of the recipes I've tried by Rachael Ray, it takes me a little longer the first time around. Once I've made it a few times, I'm right at the 30 minute mark. Also, cookbooks are designed to appeal to a wide variety of people - I think everyone will agree that there are recipes in ANY cookbook that you may not like, but someone else will. As far as the ingredients go, I agree that she uses quite a few (maybe even ones people have never used before) but they are used to add to the flavor of a dish. She puts together ingredients that most people may not have thought to put together before and, while one person might say "Gross!!", another will be saying "Yum-O"!!! I think the majority of her recipes are easy to execute - can anyone really say that about Martha Stewart (as referenced in another review)? In any case, I think it's a great cookbook, along with her others that I own (I especially like 365 No Repeats), and would recommend it to anyone.

In the introduction, Rachael Ray writes: "The goal of Yum-o! The Family Cookbook is to make eating healthier as a family easier, more affordable, and fun."

And it IS a fun and colorful cookbook that is also loaded with practical advice. Full color photographs abound, with kids and food as the centerpiece. The cookbook is designed to get young kids to look at it and get into healthy eating. Very well done.

The book is divided into three parts: healthy breakfasts, lunches & snacks, and dinners. Many of the recipes are classics that have been embellished to make them more nutritious. For example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich adds banana, honey and turkey bacon slices on whole wheat.

There are sections called Great Ideas. One is to designate a shelf in the kitchen and a shelf or drawer in the refrigerator for easy to grab snacks. Ray provides a list of healthy snacks, too.

There is a list showing how greens differ in nutrition.

Dinners look great and are appealing to both kids and adults. For example, cornflake-crusted tilapia with sweet and spicy watermelon salsa and mega turkey nacho dinner.

This is a terrific cookbook for families with young kids who want to eat nutritional, tasty and easy to make meals.

From the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet.

My wife and I bought this cookbook to help teach our eight-year-old son how to cook and to encourage him to eat better. He might not be your average kid because he loves Rachael Ray and enjoys watching the Food Network, but so far we are pleased with the book.

Within the first week of getting Yum-O, he picked out two recipes (Sukiyaki Stir-Fry and That's Shallota Flavor Spaghetti) and insisted on doing all of the steps himself. We did slice the beef for him for the sukiyaki, lifted some heavy pots and pans, and stood over his shoulder as he cooked, but otherwise he needed little help.

I agree with other reviewers that some of the recipes do have a large number of ingredients, but if your family enjoys spending time in the kitchen together, I recommend this book. The fact that most of the recipes seem to be fairly healthy is just an added bonus.

The only reason I am not giving Yum-O five stars is that, frankly, I don't see my son eating many of the recipes here. Though he loves watching cooking shows, he is a very picky eater. Anything with tomatoes, green beans, or peas is going to be a total non-starter with him.

If we can get another dozen or so recipes out of this book and get our son to complain a little less about what's for dinner, the money spent will have been well worth it.

This is a great cookbook to use when teaching your children how to cook. The recipes are fun and easy, and it's food that the whole family will enjoy. It makes cooking more of a joy than a chore.

I bought this for my daughter but kept it for myself when I saw the great ideas for breakfast and lunch in particular. The food is healthy and very simple to prepare. My six and eight year olds love to select a recipe, and with a little help from me (or sometimes none!) they can prepare a healthy meal that they want to eat. There are lots of great pictures and little sidebars that tell you how to involve even the smallest kids in the cooking. There are great ideas for packing lunches which helped to get us all out of the rut of the same boring PB&J. We all give this a big thumbs up.

I bought this cookbook for my daughter-in-law for Christmas because she loves Rachel Ray. I get a call every couple days from my son or grand kids telling me how great the food is that she is cooking out of this cookbook. How much better recommendation could you give?
Shirley

I haven't tried the recipes yet but, they seem very budget and family friendly. I'm excited about trying them out.

This book is another win for Rachael Ray. The recipes are well thought out and very kid-friendly. I am a teacher who cooks with 12-13 year olds each week, and although I just got the book, we have already used it more than once. The ingredients are simple, flavorful and colorful and the kids have been loving their finished successes. And--it's all for a very worthy cause!

The rachael ray yum-o cookbook is just amazing! !! It has recipies for every member of the family and they are really easy to cook. I already tried some and my family is very pleased.

This is like cooking for dummies. It has photos of each step of a recipe. Not too many recipes as the book is filled with photos. Price was really good vs going to a bookstore. I bought this book for my single son.