My Little Sous-Chef

  

I was recently asked if I would like to review a new concept in cookery books. Having been a cookbook collector for many years, and as a cookbook author myself, I am always happy to have a look at new cookbooks and write about them. This set is very unique in the world of cookery books in that it is the first tandem cookbook for parents and children to cook beautiful meals together.  My Little Sous Chef introduces kids to the magic of cooking, while teaching teamwork, numeracy and healthy eating habits.  I sure wish there had been something like this available when I was bringing up my own children.  Two books in one, it is cleverly designed to enable parents and children to cook together and create delicious, healthy meals that the whole family can enjoy. 

 

Both the adult and the children's cookbook include the same delicious recipes and are designed to work seamlessly together.  The "adult" one contains all the detailed ingredients, instructions and photography that you might expect from a great recipe book, whereas the "children's" version contains fun, illustrated simplified steps that children can do to help make eac dish.  In addition, the children's version is laminated and easy to wipe clean so that it is perfect for sticky little hands and fingers.

 

The tasks for children are designed to be simple and hazard free, but also as varied as possible, so they can enjoy different tasks and learn important food preparation skills and principles along the way.  This is perfect for primary school age children, but because there is ample scope for confident children to take on more complex and intricate tasks from the adult books as they learn and master new cooking skills. 

  

What a wonderful way for a whole family to create new and valuable experiences and memories together.  Its also a fabulous way to help introduce children to different tastes, textures and ingredients in food.  My youngest son was a very picky eater, having taken on not only his own personal dislikes, but also those of his four older siblings.  A book like this where he could have actually gotten stuck in and helped to cook supper would have gone a long way towards getting him to eat and try new things.  Children always love tasting things they have created themselves!

 

This unique book is written by three London-based Italian women, who when reminiscing about their fond memories of learning to cook with their mothers and grandmothers in Italy, realised that there weren't any cookbooks out there that fully supported this idea.  They crowdfunded and set about dreating a tandem cookcook, that not only encourages parents and children having fun with food together, but also supporte great lessons like numeracy, instruction following, and proper nutrition, all the while making healthy and extremely tasty family meals that everyone will enjoy!

Some recipes included are:

• Aubergine Sarnies
• Bean Tacos
• Spinach Ravioli
• Stuffed Tomatoes
• Vegetarian Lasagne
• Chocolate Brownies

  

  

*Cheescake*

serves 6

Printable Recipe 

tips - use a springform cake tin, if you own one, as it will be easier to remove the cheesecake without ruining the cheese filling.  Try adding a pinch of lemon zest and the juice of one lemon to the cheese filling, for a fresher taste.

300g digestive biscuits (3 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs)

150g butter (10 1/2 TBS)

250 cream cheese (1 cup)

500g ricotta cheese (5 cups, 15 ounces)

5 TBS caster sugar

200ml milk (7 1/4 fluid ounces)

4 leaves of gelatin

blueberry jam

fresh blueberries

For the base:

Put the biscuits into a strong plastic ba and crush with a rolling pin. Melt the butter in the microwave. Pour the melted butter over the crushed biscuits and mix well. Pour the biscuits into a cke tin and spread evenly. Press with you rfingers to make sure the base is solid and evenly thick. (I find the back of a metal measuring cup works well here.)

Let the base sit in the refrigerator for one hour.

For the cream:

Place the gelatin leaves in a bowl full of cold water and leave it for 5 minutes.

Heat the milk on the stove.  Add the softened gelatin leaves into the warm milk and sir until it has dissolved completely.  Mix the two cheeses in a large bowl with the sugar. Pour the milk into the bowl and stir thoroughly. then pour the mixure over the chilled biscuit base.  Leave in the refrigerator to set for about 2 hours.

Decorate the top with jam and fresh berries and dust with icing sugar to serve. 

Tasks for your little sous chef:

1. Put the biscuits into a bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

2. Mix the melted butter and crumbled biscuits.

3. Tip the mixture into the cake tin and smooth.

4. Mix the gelatin, cheese, milk and sugar together in a bowl.

5. Pour the cheese mix onto the biscuit base.

6. Decorate with jam and berries.

 

I have 7 grandchildren and 3 mum & dad children who

all love to cook and would really enjoy this lovely

set of books! 

About the Authors:

Caterina Falqui - studied foreign languages in Milan and then moved to London to attend an MA in publishing.  Caterina now works in a publishing house in London and writes a  bilingual blog about her expereince in the UK called Bilinguismi.

Francesca Grassi - is an interior designer with experience in graphic design. She studied interior design at Politecnico University in Milan and after working in a multidisciplinary studio in Italy for five years moved to London. In London Franeesca set up the design company Ink Inch Design.

Laura Pantaleone - studied  Product  design at NABA in Milan and then moved to London where she gained experience in graphic and product design. Laura collatorated with 3D printing company MyMiniFactory and worked as a freelancer on various projects. She now works full time for Ink Inch Designed which she co-founded with Francesca. 

You can purchase a copy of the book for your family, or as a gift for someone else, directly from the authors here. 

Do check out the other reviews which you can find clearly outlined on the Blog Tour above!

Many thanks to The Book Publicist for sending me this review copy.  I think it is absolutely brilliant and can't wait to get stuck in with some of the children at my church.  I am also thinking of purchasing copies for some kids and grandkids this Christmas!  What a great family gift they will be!

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My Soulful Home - A Year in Flower Arranging

I have never been much of a flower arranger, just cut and drop, but I have always wanted to know the secrets and how to's of making beautiful arrangements. When I worked at the Manor down South, the Lady of the Manor always did all of her own flower arrangements for the dinner parties and luncheons.  Money was really no object, and she created really stunning arrangements every time. She whetted in me an appetite for and a desire to know more.  I was recently afforded the opportunity to review a  book on the subject of flower arranging entitled . . .  My Soulful Home, a year in flowers,  by blogger Kelly Wilkness.  I was really excited about this as I have been a fan of her beautiful blog for a few years now.  

Kelly writes a lovely blog about her Soulful Home, a beautiful Victorian she and her husband are renovating now.  You really need to check it out.  It is a feast for the eyes, as is this gorgeous book!!

 

If you are a novice flower arranger, or a well seasoned one this book holds something for every range of experience and aptitude.  It takes you through all the back ground information that you might need to know from the basic principles and rules of flower arranging to the whats, wheres and hows of purchasing flowers for your arrangements. . .  plus a whole lot more! "Key" concepts that can be applied whenever you want to add a little beauty to your day and your home!

 

A wealth of knowledge, it also includes 12 complete tutorials for beautiful arrangements to take you through every month of the year . . . complete with pictures and with step by step instructions which I think even I could handle. This book is for you if you are a novice flower arranger, if you love flowers, if you love stories woven in about gardening and flowers, if you love filling your life with beauty, and if you have a desire to make arrangements easily and inexpensively.

 

The photography in the book is simply breathtaking.  No surprise that Kelly took all of her own photographs of the book, and, I believe . . .  grows most if not all of the flowers herself!  All I can say is WOW!

 

There is a wealth of ideas and information in the book for so many styles, types, and colors of flowers, whether you buy them at the grocery store or if, like Kelly, you grow your own.

 

This book covers all aspects of cut flowers, such as when and how to cut, what to grow, where to buy, how to handle, etc. along with her fool proof formula for design, as well as her step by step tutorials. I can't wait for the coming growing season to see if I can't do something beautiful with what I already have in my own garden. It is somewhat limited, but I feel very confident I can do something with what is there with maybe only the purchase of a few others to make up the difference.

 

With tons of inspiration, beautiful photos and excellent tutorials, this book would make an excellent gift for any flower lover.  Mother's Day is only a week or so away here in the UK, and a few months away in North America and I highly recommend this book as a gift for your flower loving mum/daughter/friend, perhaps with an arrangement you have put together yourself!  What a lovely gift that would be!

In addition to writing this book, Kelly authors the blog My Soulful Home, is the creator of the app bHome & produces/co-hosts the popular podcast Decorating Tips & Tricks.

MY SOULFUL HOME, a year in flowers
by Kelly Wilkniss
Published by Passageway Press, 2017
ISBN 978-1-223-99908-6

Available via Amazon worldwide, and by order through your favourite book shops.

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