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Friends of the Truckee Library Cookbooks for Kids

Teri Andrews Rinne
Special to the Sun

TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212;-99 Steps French Toast? Marmalade on a Honeycomb? Samuel Whiskersand#8217; Roly-Poly Pancakes? Does this sound like a storybook breakfast of champions to you? Indeed, each of these recipes come from cookbooks found in the childrenand#8217;s wing of the Truckee Library: and#8220;The Nancy Drew Cookbook,and#8221; and#8220;The Pooh Cookbookand#8221; and and#8220;Peter Rabbitand#8217;s Natural Foods Cookbook,and#8221; respectively. For a more reality-based literary cookbook experience, thereand#8217;s always and#8220;The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilderand#8217;s Classic Stories,and#8221; with recipes for frontier delicacies such as fried cornmeal mush, bean porridge, and codfish balls. What better way to help literature come alive than by cooking the authentic foods to go along with it? Creative and culinary-blessed book clubs have been doing it for years.

In addition to cookbooks based on literature, the childrenand#8217;s wing has more conventional offerings as well. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagrasse has penned a delightful cookbook called and#8220;Thereand#8217;s a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone.and#8221; Molly Katzen has two offerings for slightly different age groups: and#8220;Pretend Soupand#8221; for the preschool set and up and and#8220;Honest Pretzelsand#8221; for ages 8 and up. Our newest addition to cookbook collection for kids is the lavishly designed and photographed and#8220;Little Kitchen: 40 Delicious and Simple Things Children Can Really Make.and#8221; There are also ethnic cookbooks, such as the Young Chefand#8217;s series on Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and French foods. If your child takes to cooking in a big way, he or she can also check out and#8220;I Want to Be a Chefand#8221; to find out about culinary training and careers.

Another new addition to our cookbook collection is geared specifically for teenagers, Matthew Locricchioand#8217;s and#8220;Teen Cuisine.and#8221; While I know that you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, the cover photograph of bruschetta makes your mouth water, as do most of the photos on the inside. These recipes are simple, yet sophisticated, such as New Gazpacho with Chipotle Almond Cream and Quinoa and Black Bean Salad with Fresh Orange Dressing. And of course there is an entire chapter devoted to pizza!



Finally, to put our love affair with fine food into perspective, there is one of my all-time favorites, and#8220;What the World Eats.and#8221; Faith Dand#8217;Aluisio and Peter Menzel roamed the globe to capture a snapshot of how 25 families in 21 countries share mealtimes together. The foods ranged from and#8220;hunted seal and spit-roasted guinea pig to U.N.-rationed grains and gallons of Coca-Cola.and#8221; The book offers a fascinating glimpse into the cultural similarities and differences served on dinner plates around the globe. Bon appetite!

Next time: Nutrition and Cooking for Kids



Truckee Library, 10031 Levon Ave., 530-582-7846, mynevadacounty.com/library-


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