Knights and Castles

A few weeks ago, my kids and I had the chance to attempt to put together a paper castle, complete with knights and catapult.  Our attempt, was... well, unsuccessful.  I had high hopes starting in, but those hopes were quickly dashed when I realized how much patience it would take to put it all together.

The castle was a part of a book, Build! a Knight's Castle:  A Paper Toy Archaeology by Annalie Seamon, published by Storey Publishing.  Earlier in the fall, I reviewed Storey's book for children wanting to be a pet doctor.  That book was very easy for my kids to use and assemble.  But, a castle is obviously much more complicated...

The book is rated for ages 8 and up.  My 7 1/2 year old gave up very quickly.  My 10 year old successfully pushed in the tabs on several pieces--and I actually learned a thing or two from her.  But, she didn't have the patience to see it through.  So, I helped my 7 1/2 year old to put together parts of it.  I think the book would be best for a 9 or 10 year old with help as needed.

For the boy who loves David Macaulay's book Castle and other detailed books about medieval times, this would be a fun book.  The book comes from a different point of view since it is looking at the castle from an archaeologist's perspective.  My son read the information about the castle with great interest.  I liked that the author explains the conclusions and gives the support for the archaelogical conclusions you can make about the past based on what remains.

The pieces of the castle all punch out very easily.  With this, I was very pleased.  What I wished for, though was a clearer list of how to fit the pieces together.  I think it was the author's intention that kids would work as an archaeologist might and figure out how the pieces fit together.  But, it would have been nice to have a cheat sheet for parents to give the child clues or an inserted sheet in the back with a decoder or something like that for when the child needs help.

If you have a child who regularly likes to put together paper projects like this or loves castles, then I can imagine he/she would enjoy this book.  My children are unfortunately not as patient as I thought they were.  My son can build enormous lego sets, but paper is a different matter.  I learned that from this book.

Please note that I did receive a complimentary copy of this book for review from Storey Publishing.

All-in-One Cookbook Book!

I love cookbooks.  They make me want to cook!  I have many friends who love to look for recipes on the internet.  But, I'm a print person.  I love the feel of a book in my hands.  Somehow, it's easier for my eyes to focus on a page in front of me than on a computer screen without all the ads surrounding what I'm trying to look at.

But, there is only so much room on my shelf. So, new additions to my cookbook shelves are few and far between.  Every once in a while, though, I come across a book that I'm really excited about!  This is the case of the cookbook that's sitting in front of me on my desk right now.

This is a new cookbook, of sorts, by Andrea Chesman (published by Storey Publishing).  Ms. Chesman has been writing cookbooks for over 30 years.  This book seems to be an updated version of a book that was published five years ago called Back to Basics Traditional Kitchen Wisdom, which Ms. Chesman wrote, and covered similar topics.  But, that book was half the length of this one.  

I love the way Storey formats books.  The font, pictures, columns, bold type--all make it easier to read their books.  This book is divided into 3 sections:  1. Harvesting and storing fresh foods, 2. Food Preservation, and 3. Homestead Cooking.  

This is an all-in-one kind of book.  I love books like this that help me conserve space on my shelves!  The first section is exactly what I want.  It goes through a list of vegetables and lists when to harvest, how to fix (cooking times) and preserve them.  Then, it goes through the fruits (in alphabetical order which is very helpful) as well.  She follows that up with a recipe for sourdough starter and no-knead sourdough bread.  I can't wait to try this!  I need to get a baguette pan first, though, and a big jar for the starter.  I've been very disappointed in the baguettes we've bought over the past few months so I have wanted to make my own.  This book makes it sound very doable to make my own sourdough starter and make the baguettes.  I've read many directions on how to make baguettes over the years and I haven't found any of them that sounded as doable to me as the ones in this book!

In general, I found her directions on making cheese, veggie chips, and other dishes very understandable.  What I think I was most surprised by was the dishes she chose to include.  She included interesting and simple ethnic dishes like tzatiziki and Mujaddara.  I look forward to trying the lentil dishes she included and her recipe for Saag Paneer.  I regret that my school year is in full swing now and it is going to be some time before I get to sit down and make these recipes.  But, I have worked a few of them into my menu for next month.  So, I can't personally vouch for how good the recipes are---yet.  I will update this review once I've made the starter and baguettes and other recipes that I am intending to try.  But, I've never cooked from a Storey cookbook yet that I haven't liked.  

One thing that was very interesting to me was how Ms. Chesman expressed her opinions.  She did share her opinions about things such as raw milk, but I felt that she made it clear that they are her opinions.  I read one review of the book which remarked about her tone in another passage of the book.  I guess she just sounded to me like many women I've met in my life--opinionated, a bit outspoken, weathered, aware that everyone isn't the same and that life isn't as cut and dried as many think it is.  

If you're in the market for an all in one food preserving/storing/recipe type of cookbook, this one is definitely worth looking into (especially if you have a large garden and are mini-homesteading of sorts and keep chickens!)  

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Storey Publishing.

Quilting Beyond...

Years ago when I was first married, I learned on my own how to quilt.  (This was in pre-Youtube days.)  I remember looking at a few websites and books--and then I began experimenting.  But, I felt like I was cheating somehow when I would applique designs on instead of piecing them into the quilt.  I could piece in designs, but I often chose to applique.  I've always wondered how I could improve my quilting skills and stop my "sort of" cheating!

Well, I came across a really neat quality book, all points patchwork, by Diane Gilleland.  This book

explains a style, or method, of paper piecing that can be used to make complicated polygon shaped quilts and quilting projects.  The pictures and directions are extremely clear and well written.  the projects included as examples are appealing and are somehow both modern and old fashioned at the same time.  The patterns of the material in the examples seem timeless.

I was impressed with how clear the author was able to explain how to quilt using the method of paper piecing.  I've never done this before, but the directions are so clear, I feel fully confident that I can now begin a project!  

When I showed this book to a few other moms, who aren't actually even quilters, they loved the projects and expressed how much they would like to have them in their own homes.  Quilters naturally love quilts, but it's always interesting to see how people who don't quilt react to them.  

If you're interested in beginning to make more complicated designs in your quilts and projects, this book would give you much food for thought and a great place to begin!

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Storey Publishing.

Crafting Cookies

When I walk into high end bakeries, I am often amazed at the beauty of the foods.  I didn't always notice such things, but I married someone who pays a lot of attention to the "look of food".  I, on the other hand, am a person who tends to cook for flavor rather than looks.

Part of it is because I am often disappointed by the "look" of foods in bakeries because they don't match the taste I'm hoping for.  Usually, they're drier.  So, my solution when I really want to try and bake something is just to find a recipe and make it at home...  which brings me to a fun cookbook I received in the mail recently.  It's titled Cookie Craft by Valerie Peterson and Janice Fryer.

This book tackles and completely explains how to make those beautifully decorated sugar cookies you've seen in fancy bakeries.

What I love in this book:
--The recipes are clear
--All the vocabulary of cookie crafting is clearly explained
--Tons and tons of ideas for both shapes and potential detailing
--It makes sense.  Above all else, this is important when tackling a new and complicated craft!

Why I love this book more than a Youtube video...
--You can flip back and forth to the info and directions you need
--It would take hours to watch enough Youtube videos that would give you all the info in this book
--I need ingredients written down--not on a screen--so I dont' forget what I've added!

Cookie Crafting is definitely a craft.  I don't usually think of cooking and baking as a craft, but these cookies are not for the faint of heart.  I would compare this craft to scrapbooking--it's time intensive, but you'll have a beautiful end product when you're done!

If you've ever wanted a book on cookie crafting or have wanted to know how to make those fancy, decorated sugar cookies, I'd definitely check this book out!!

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Storey Publishing.

Not as simple as it might seem...

I have taught myself how to do many craft projects.  Scrapbooking, quilting, calligraphy...  But, I have always struggled with helping my children make beaded necklaces.  My knots never seem to stay!  

Needless to say, I was thrilled when I opened up an envelope a few days ago and I found 3 helpful books inside.  #1  Beaded Jewelry:  Wirework Techniques, #2 Beaded Jewelry:  Knotting Techniques, and #3 Beaded Jewelry:  Stringing Techniques.  These are fairly small books (probably 5 x 7 inches) and thin (about 1/4").  But, they are packed with great information!  Sometimes it is true that great things come in small packages...

Storey published these three books by Carson Eddy, Rachael Evans, and Kate Feld.  They answered so many questions I've had over the years, but have felt silly for wanting to ask!  I know many people like websites and youtube, but I'm still partial to books.  There are a few reasons why.  

#1  All the information is in one place--ONE place.  I don't have to click around searching for what I can't figure out.  It's all there.

#2  I don't have to sit in front of my computer.  I spend enough time in front of this thing as it is!

#3  I am less distractable...  Oh, what's that other page talking about?  Do I need to read that first?  Oh, that looks more interesting... you get the idea. There's always something else to look at on the interest and so it's easy to miss out on enjoying what's right in front of me.

Those are just a few of my reasons, but basically, I love books.  I prefer books.  And these three are great books that helped me understand how to make jewelry far better than the information I've found on the internet.  

But, back to these books.

Book #1 Wirework Techniques 
This book covers the basics about wire, basics about chain types you can use (not make yourself), findings (clasp, earrings, etc.), what you need to know about tools and then techniques.  Theses books are black and white so the pictures are drawings, but they are very clear and the directions/drawings are very easy to follow.

Book #2  Knotting Techniques
This book covers cords, clasps, tools, knotting techniques, and pearls.  When using this book (and the others for that matter), you'll want to use either a cookbook holder or a heavy object to keep the book propped open while you work.  The square knot directions were easy to follow and I was very thankful for the information about adjustable ways to end a necklace.  I had always wanted to know how to do this!

Book #3  Stringing Techniques
This was the book that surprised me the most of the three.  I had not realized how interesting it would be to learn about the different types of beads and how helpful it would be to understand them!  The other chapters explain the types of stringing materials and findings.  There is a chapter on beading tools as well as one about planning jewelry.  All of the chapters were easy to understand and full of information.  

If you're interested in beading, but don't have the time to take a class, these books would be a great place to start beyond making a simple string with beads and tying it in a knot.   I think these books are a great introduction for the crafty person who wants to start beading.  But, they will give you information and techniques that you can do an amazing amount with!

We're so focused on being entertained by what we see on the computer screen that we often miss the enjoyment of sitting and doing.  These beading books remind me of how valuable it is to get off this silly computer and do something (like my girls, who are making origami rabbits in the other room at the moment for our church's egg hunt this weekend).  

Please note that I received complimentary copies of these three books for review from Storey Publishing.

Making the Most of the Harvest

Every summer there's squash and cucumbers a plenty at our farmer's market.  I have to admit that every week when I go to the market my eyes are bigger than my stomach, or rather my family's stomachs.  Part of my problem is not knowing what to do with the squash and cucumbers.  

This summer I have started using a cookbook that I've mentioned in a few other entries on this blog, Put 'em Up by Sherri Brooks Vinton.  I've made some Asian Cucumber Pickles, Cumin and Coriander Beets, and Blueberry Vinegar.  I know that if I have extras this summer--there's something that I can do with them.  


I really was expecting this book to be mostly about jams and jellies.  After all, that's what most people think of when they think of "canning" or "preserving".  But, I'm so thankful that it's not!  Instead, this is a cookbook all about how you can preserve the varied fruits and vegetables of your harvest.


The explanations, illustrations, and general information in this cookbook about how to can are great.  They are easy to read, well formatted, and simple to follow.  For someone like me who has a lot of questions when I try something new, most of the answers are here.  


I did write a few weeks ago that I'd keep you posted about how my blueberry vinegar turned out.  It turned out just fine.  I used it in a salad dressing with tomatoes just the other day!


If you're looking for a canning cookbook that focuses on sauces, pickles, jams, jellies, and other toppings (there's even a lemon curd recipe!), I think this is a great cookbook.  One way that I know whether I really like a cookbook is whether I continually want to come back to it.  I've had this cookbook for two months now and it has been one that I've opened up numerous times--which says a lot to me!


Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Storey Publishing.

Another Chocolate Chip Cookie

I really like chocolate chip cookies.  


I have a recipe that I've made for 20 years from my mom.  It's my mom's version of Mrs. Field's Chocolate Chip cookies.  I have another recipe that has oat bran in it.  Another that you melt the butter for and chill the dough!  Another that has oatmeal in it....  Can you tell that I like good chocolate chip cookies?  Because I've made so many different cookie recipes over the years, I'm always surprised when I find another recipe that I like for a chocolate chip cookie.  


On Friday, I made one.  It was the Super Chip Cookies in Let's Get Together by DeeDee Stovel and Pam Wakefield.  This recipe is a little different because it has more rolled oats than flour and includes some whole wheat flour--though you'd never know!


I have been trying out a few recipes from this cookbook over the past two months.  My favorites so far are this chocolate chip cookie recipe and the recipe in the beginning of the cookbook for scones.  Both are hits with my kids.  


This cookbook was written by the authors as a collection of easy to fix recipes for when you're having company.  The recipes are written simply and are easy to follow.  The breakfast recipes are good standards.  I've actually been looking for a good scone recipe for a few years.  There's a wide variety of lunch, appetizer, and main dish recipes.  The ingredients are mostly basic, but there are a few recipes with unusual ingredients like fennel, radicchio, and arugula.  I did make one salad dressing that my family didn't like, but I should have realized that before I made it.  I've found that after cooking so many different dishes over the years, I can tell from reading a recipe whether we'll love it or not.  The salad dressing was iffy because of the proportions of the ingredients--it was too strong for us.  The dessert recipes are surprisingly varied.  The Super Chip cookie recipe is one of them.  

I have to admit, though, that I did do a bit of substituting with the super chip recipe.  I used semi-sweet (not bitter sweet) chocolate chips.  I also substituted extra chocolate chips for the grated chocolate and pecans for the walnuts.  That's me and the way I cook.  


If you enjoy entertaining and want flavorful, but pretty easy to make food, this is a great cookbook.  There aren't any pictures of what the dishes will look like, but the recipes are simple enough that you don't need pictures to successfully make the dishes.  The recipe I'm still looking forward to making sometime soon is the blue cheese stuffed flank steak.  I'm saving it for a special dinner with my husband the next time we have a reason to celebrate!


Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book from Storey Publishing for review.

 

Blueberry Vinegar

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I am going to attempt some canning this summer.  I am using a cookbook titled Put 'em Up by Sherri Brooks Vinton.  


This book has given me a lot of ideas for what to do with vegetables and fruits I normally have no idea what to do with.


The week before last I made some pickled beets with cumin and cloves.  I did not have cumin seed and cloves, so although the author encourages no substitution, I hoped my substitutions were okay.  I used cumin powder and ground cloves instead.  My husband was very pleased with the results and they stay in the fridge for 3 weeks.  


Yesterday I made two special errands.  The first was to pick fresh blueberries.  The second was to pick up canning supplies at a Mennonite store near the blueberry farm.  The blueberries were easy to pick and thankfully there were plenty left.  My luck at the other store was good, but I didn't find everything I needed.  Some of the recipes in this cookbook require Pomona Universal Pectin.  The store carried several types of pectin, but not Pomona.  I have found it online, but you have to buy a larger quantity at one time and pay for shipping.  I have read on several websites that it is a good pectin to work with.  But since it isn't readily accessible here, I've decided to stick with the recipes from this cookbook that do not require the pectin.  


Today I made some blueberry vinegar.  It was a very simple recipe.  I put the vinegar and blueberries in the blender and blended them until they seemed, well, blended.  I am supposed to shake the container once a day for the next 5 to 7 days, strain out the solids, and then it should keep for a year.  


I'll let you know how it turns out!  So far, I like this cookbook.  It has a wide variety of recipes and does include many jam recipes that don't require pectin--they are longer cooking recipes rather than quick cook jams and jellies.  

End of Day 2 and Gardening Books

Last year, I tried to put in some plastic edging in front of my deck and it did not work out.  It fell over constantly and wasn't very appealing.  So, I decided to go with bricks instead this year--something a bit more substantial...
Here is my result:

I think it looks better than it did before.  I also tried something new with the walkway.  Under the rocks, I put a layer of newspaper.  I read in The Vegetable Gardener's Bible that it's a good organic way to kill grass.  My husband doesn't like black paper so I thought it was a good solution.  Another tip I was given by my friend Jenny as a way to kill grass in walkways or areas you don't want them is to put black plastic (ie. trash bags) down for several days and let the sun kill the weeds.


Here's my new bed waiting for raspberries...

My plan is to plant them in there tomorrow. I put the Humus and top soil in, but haven't mixed it up very well yet.  This is not the perfect site (so don't do what I'm doing).  My side yard is pretty moist and raspberries prefer well draining soil.  I don't have another good option though so I'm going to hope for the best and hope that they will survive.  

I just looked again at these pictures and realized that they probably don't look like much.  They involved a lot of work!  I had no idea how much before I did it.  I have a new and deep appreciation for how hard landscapers work!  I also have no idea how my parents were able to keep up the huge garden that we had at our house when I was growing up.  It must have been a lot of work.  Good work.  Satisfying work, but work nonetheless.

I don't want to give anyone the impression that I know more than I do about gardening.  The truth is that I've been reading a lot and talking to people and now I'm taking the things I've been reading about and doing them.  Here's the books that have been helping me:

Dirt Cheap Green Thumb by Rhonda Massingham Hart

This book is great for sticking in your purse and taking with you where ever you go.  Read a few pages when you are waiting for a doctor's appointment or waiting to pick up your child from school.  The formatting is wonderful and makes it so easy to glean information.  It's concise and straightforward.  The first section is all about the absolutes (which I'm trying to follow as much as I can, but am doing imperfectly).  

I also like that this book has lots of handy charts.  Since it is small, it's easy to store and find room for on your bookshelf.

The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C. Smith

Last year for Mother's Day, my husband gave me.  It was kind of him, but the book completely overwhelmed me.  I wanted to dip my toes in the water and with that book you have to jump right in up to your shoulders.  Lots of reading and lots of information--though not everything you need.  It is a wonderful resource and covers lots of topics (it gave me the idea for the newspaper under the rocks).  It talks about mulching and sun.  But, because it is specifically for vegetables, there isn't a lot of information on herbs or flowers in it. So, I used it only a little last year.  I'm glad to have it and I've been opening it back up this year.  

Starter Vegetable Gardens by Barbara Pleasant

This book is a good place to start.  It has some great ideas of how to transition a garden and add on to it each year.  It has some wonderful information in it.  I especially like the first garden (the bag garden) because it avoids all the work of building raised beds from the beginning.  You make use of the dirt in the bags and develop your garden over a 3 year period.  I am realizing how wise this is after the 2nd day constructing my garden.  It is not as much work to maintain and plant in your garden as it is to build it!  The other plans are fun to look through and give lots of helpful information.  Each plan comes with a list of what you need (super helpful) and directions of how to build it.  The pictures of how to put in a tomato cage are very helpful!  This book is not as overwhelming as The Vegetable Gardener's Bible.  I also love the section on storing seeds.

  

The last book I have is one that I do recommend purchasing because you'll likely go back to it over and over if you have kids and pets.   But, it isn't a gardening book that covers everything.  It's called Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte.  Just like people, some plants like each other better than others.  There is a wealth of information in here about what you should plant with what.  The helpful chapter for gardeners with kids and pets is the list of plants that are poisonous or cause dermatitis.  I happen to have contact dermatitis and wear gloves whenever I garden.  There are quite a few plants that you shouldn't plant within the read of toddlers who put everything in their mouths or pets who won't leave your garden alone.  If you're interested in  companion gardening, this is a great book to look into.  

Back in March, I looked at a lot of gardening books.  I found several books written by authors in the UK and at the back of the book there was a note that you had to adjust the planting season by several months.  All of these books are written for the U.S. and so it is much easier to use the information that is area specific in them.  Storey books are a wonderful resource for gardening.  I have always been impressed by how they're written and the information in them.  The formatting is easy to navigate (some books even easier than others).  The font is clear and the headings make it easy to find what I'm looking for.  

If you're a new gardener like me, check these books out.  I hope they'll be helpful to you too!  I do have one more book that I ordered that I've been looking forward to.  It's called Tips for the Lazy Gardener, which also happens to be published by Storey.  I bought it based on the preview I saw and the realization that it is a lot of work to garden, so if there's anything I can do to make it easier, that would be great!  I'll post a note about it soon hopefully!

Please note that I did receive complimentary copies of Starter Vegetable Gardens and Dirt Cheap Green Thumb from Storey Publishing for review.  They have been very valuable resources.  

A New Guide for Healthy Family Eating

Partially hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, food coloring...  There are so many things that we have to watch out for in our food today.  Sometimes it's hard for me to keep all the information straight in my head.  My husband and I strive to feed our kids a healthy diet of fresh, prepared from scratch meals rather than frozen and prepackaged meals.  In our efforts, we have hit a snag.  Actually, it is a big snag.  We have one very picky eater.

Our first daughter was such a good eater--she even ate mushrooms when she was two years old!  Then, along came our second daughter who's refusal to eat most fruits and vegetables became more pronounced as she has grown older.  Did we do anything different?  No, not really.  Did I introduce the veggie baby foods first?  Yes!  Then our third child came along and thankfully he has turned out to be a good eater so far.

I thought maybe my picky eating daughter would grow out of her picky habits.  I have deep fears that she will become an adult who doesn't enjoy the wonderful world of food because she doesn't like the name of things.  In my quest for help, I began a search for helpful advice.  One of the books I discovered is a book titled The Cleaner Plate Club, by Beth Bader and Ali Benjamin. I read the description of the book and it sounded like it would be right up our alley...

When you open up this book, you'll find a large section with all the nutrition information you've been looking up on the internet and haven't been able to easily find--at least I haven't.  I love books because they save me so much time!  They have all the information I want in one place.  And that is definitely the case with this book.  I can't count how many times I've looked up the ratios for sugar substitutes and definitions of kind of fats--and how many times I've looked up the different types of cooking oils.  Among the chapters in this book, you'll find a list of all the types of oils and fats, a list (with descriptions) of the sugar substitutes...  But, wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Beth Bader and Ali Benjamin wrote The Cleaner Plate Club out of a desire to share what they've learned as they've sought to feed their own families healthy meals and raise healthy children.  The first part of the book is about nutrition.  Included in this section is a discussion of how to cope when they don't eat and how to feel about it.  The authors are not psychologists and wisely don't try to deal with the nonfood aspects of this--they don't deal with the aspects of obedience and discipline.  Instead, they focus these two pages on the nutritional aspects and how to view it.  The next chapter is about shopping for food.  I thought their list of ingredients for a well-stocked pantry was really pretty good.  There's a few that I might substitute or say are optional, but for the most part, I think it's a very affordable, well rounded list.  The next section explains CSAs and farmer's markets.  If you've wondered how a CSA works or what the benefits are, the authors do a good job of explaining them.  The remainder (and bulk) of the cookbook is about vegetables with recipes for your family.  The recipes I've made have all come out except for one.  My husband (and two of my children) loved the chicken chili, the fig balsamic salad dressing (which is about as simple as you can get), and the kale salt and vinegar chips.  The kale chips were truly one of the most surprising recipes in the book.  I made them on a whim not thinking anyone in my family but my husband would eat them--and all but one of my family loved them!  I did also make the tomato and bread soup, which did not turn out to be a hit with my children because  they love their Trader Joe's tomato soup and couldn't quite get used to the new texture of this soup.

So, here's my very honest opinion, I do love this cookbook.  But, though these recipes are family friendly, they may not be eaten by your picky eaters.  I think children who normally eat vegetables will love the recipes in this cookbook.  I was pretty shocked when my oldest daughter, a non picky eater, gobbled up the kale chips.  I hadn't even tried to get her to eat kale.  And some picky eaters may grow to love these recipes.  At the very least, the recipes in this cookbook are a great place to start.  They aren't too spicy, but they are flavorful dishes (just go light on the salt the first time you make the kale chips).  I don't have especially high hopes for my middle daughter, but I hope that she will eventually grow to love other foods.  She has been more willing of late at least to take a few bites and has been able to swallow them--I know that sounds extreme, but I am sincere when I say that I really do have a picky eater.  I think it's a trap that we as parents can begin to fall into when we cater to our picky children and stop cooking dishes that we enjoy.  I've heard from several moms that they just can't do it anymore so they just start feeding their kids nuggets and mac and cheese every night.  I don't want to go down that road.  I love food.  I especially love good food!  If 2 of my 3 children will eat a dish, then I consider it a successful meal.  So, if majority rules, this cookbook is a winner in our house.  It doesn't have all the answers for your picky eaters, nor does it pretend to.  But, it will be a good guide to help you know what to feed your children, how to shop, and give you some yummy recipes to cook for your family.

As I was reading this book, I kept thinking of Simply in Season and I was so pleased to find that it is listed as one of the authors' favorite cookbooks at the back of the book.  Simply in Season is probably one of my most favorite cookbooks and I've written about it several times on this blog. Many of the recipes in Simply in Season are simpler than in this cookbook, but I think the two would compliment each other well if you are looking for cookbooks that will help you bring more vegetables and healthy dishes into your family's diet.

As I've reread this review, I've realized that I've really put this book in a box.  I have made it sound as if this is a cookbook that is best suited only to families.  I didn't mean to box it in that way.  So, who would I recommend this cookbook to?
1. Anyone who wants a cookbook with good, solid information about nutrition (but isn't ready to wade through a thick book devoted solely to nutrition).
2. Anyone who wants to cook more vegetables and eat healthier dishes at home, but isn't sure where to start and doesn't want to make any more casseroles.
3. And finally-- Anyone who loves yummy, healthy, food that doesn't include canned soup, ranch dressing, or another prepared food item as an ingredient!

Please note that I did receive a complimentary copy of The Cleaner Plate Club for review from Storey Publishing.