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Cookery book for nearly-8 year old

24 replies

EndoplasmicReticulum · 28/11/2012 20:23

My son has been inspired by Junior Masterchef and wants to start cooking meals for the family. He is not the sort to just experiment in the kitchen, he likes to follow instructions. I'm after a recipe book with good photos, clear instructions, and that makes stuff we all want to eat. Not kiddy meals or anything in the shape of teddy bears, proper food, if you see what I mean.

Any recommendations welcome!

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Nicknamegrief · 28/11/2012 20:27

Usbourne do a good range but I recently got Hungry out if the library (by innocent smoothies company) and that would be good.

I'd highly recommend the HFW family cookbook as well as it educates you a bit about food and cooking. Also every recipe I have cooked from there has become a family favourite. It is my most used book and I have cooked about 80% of the recipes (which is good as I'm a cookbook junkie).

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CheckpointCharlie · 28/11/2012 20:29

Oh, was going to recommend Revolting Recipes, but it might be a bit on the silly side. My dd loves it though!

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Jojoba1986 · 28/11/2012 20:30

I'd recommend Usborne too! Love their books! Smile

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ZZZenAgain · 28/11/2012 20:33

What does HFW stand for nicknamegrief?

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Leeds2 · 28/11/2012 21:16

Another vote for Usborne!

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EndoplasmicReticulum · 28/11/2012 22:24

Had a look at Usborne on Amazon, but the "cookbook for boys" and "cookbook for girls" thing has annoyed me - the boys one does look good, but if I had a girl she'd only eat pink biscuits!

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Takver · 29/11/2012 08:03

Can't help with a good answer, but yes, the girl's Usborne one is pretty crap (I didn't buy it for dd!) - even if what you want to do is bake the recipes aren't great. Looks like a marketing thing rather than a cookbook written by someone who cares.

There is a teenager who writes good cookbooks, annoyingly I can't remember his name, we've had them from the library. Sure someone will come along who knows him.

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LadyIsabellaWrotham · 29/11/2012 08:13

I've got Usborne Book of Baking which is good. If your DS really gets into it (maybe a couple of years older) then the Heston Blumenthal family food book is fascinating.

Our local library had a good selection.

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trockodile · 29/11/2012 08:20

www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cottage-Family-Cookbook/dp/0340826363/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354177130&sr=1-16&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
Agree about Hugh-really good book with proper cooking and lots of advice about why we do things-eg knead bread etc.

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ZZZenAgain · 29/11/2012 10:43

a couple of reviews on that RC family cookbook say that the times given are not correct. Things take a lot longer to cook than the recipes state. Is that your experience too?

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ZZZenAgain · 29/11/2012 10:43

dd has the DK Ultimate Cookbook for children which is good, I think, for a beginner.

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Takver · 29/11/2012 21:27

River Cottage book looks good, will look out for a copy for dd (and me) - thanks!

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EndoplasmicReticulum · 29/11/2012 21:27

Thanks for recommendations - the Usbourne ones do look good. My mum has the River Cottage book so might give that a borrow.

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EndoplasmicReticulum · 01/12/2012 17:30

I chose this one in the end, from Amazon:

[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Peasy-Real-Cooking-Kids/dp/0091868408/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354382985&sr=1-5&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21]

Didn't get a new one though, funny Amazon prices! It's just what I was after.

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EndoplasmicReticulum · 01/12/2012 17:31
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ZZZenAgain · 02/12/2012 09:29

have never come across that book before. Hope it is what you want. I think it is nice to have some pictures in a cookbook, dd likes to thumb through them getting ideas and I think it the picture more than the name of a particular recipe that catches her eye.

I liked the look of the Usborne ones too but what puts me off American cookbooks is the different measurements they use (non-metric and also things like a stick of butter etc). My dd has an American cookbook which has nice recipes but for this reason it just isn't straight-forward to use and I thought the Usborne ones are probably the same.

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Dancergirl · 03/12/2012 09:11

That book looks great, I might buy it for my dds (and dh lol!)

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Themumsnot · 03/12/2012 09:16

We have the Sam Stern books http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooking-Up-Storm-Survival-Cookbook/dp/1844287742/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354526157&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 was his first one. Aimed at teenagers but ideal for your son I should think. My DDs love them.

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Themumsnot · 03/12/2012 09:17

Sorry, rubbish link try again

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Themumsnot · 03/12/2012 09:18

Read whole thread now and see you have already got one, but Sam is worth checking out for next time.

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Dancergirl · 10/12/2012 13:14

I'm thinking about getting the River Cottage family cookbook for dh to cook with the kids. Good one to get? Amazon reviews are v good.

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Dancergirl · 10/12/2012 13:15

V expensive though, even the used copies.

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Dancergirl · 10/12/2012 13:50
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Dancergirl · 10/12/2012 13:51

Whoops - posted too soon! It's paperback, maybe it's better to splash out for the hardback - might stay open better...?

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