FEATURED CONTENT
 

food

The Mom 100 Cookbook: 100 Recipes Every Mom Needs in Her Back Pocket

Reviewed by Melanie Haupt, Fri., June 1, 2012

Food for Thought: Summer Reading

The Mom 100 Cookbook: 100 Recipes Every Mom Needs in Her Back Pocket

By Katie Workman (Workman, $16.95, 352 pp)

One of my goals for my nearly 7-year-old son this summer, in addition to finally ditching the training wheels on his bike, is for him to learn to cook simple, nutritious dishes for the family dinner (under vigilant supervision, of course). And, as a mom who cooks five or six nights per week, I am always looking for inspiration in the kitchen, particularly in the form of that one dish that every family member will eat without theatrics. Enter The Mom 100 Cookbook, authored by Katie Work­man, founding editor of Cookstr.com, an Internet clearinghouse of cookbooks and recipes from renowned chefs.

Rare is the cookbook that is flagged with dozens of colorful Post-it notes within minutes of my receiving it; this is one of them. Workman has compiled 100 recipes spanning breakfast through dinner, vegetables, brunches, potlucks, and desserts, as well as practical tips, like spraying your measuring utensils with cooking spray before measuring molasses or honey, or serving new or controversial foods to picky eaters in tiny tasting portions. The recipes are unfussy and easy to follow, and include suggestions for how kids can safely participate in assembling the dish. Our favorites so far have been the Fresh Mozza­rella Pasta Casserole and the Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas. I've got my eye on the Sesame Noodles and Aaron E.'s Favorite Apple Coffee Cake for my next plunge into this creative and encouraging collection. Workman's cookbook will definitely be a valuable tool in our family's summer projects. If only she could help out with those training wheels.

share
print
write a letter