With summer starting toward the end of this week, I'm recommending THE UNOFFICIAL HARRY POTTER COOKBOOK
, by Dinah Bucholz. It has recipes that kids can make on their own and recipes that they should make with an adult.
If you've read the HP series, you can guess this book isn't chock full of healthy recipes. There are some healthy recipes, and some bizarre recipes, but everything we've tried so far has been delicious and very British. My family's favorite is Toad in the Hole (page 144). We've had it three times. I was disappointed not to find recipes for chocolate frogs and butterbeer, but since it does have recipes for things like peppermint humbugs and custard (canary) creams, I got over it. The internet has plenty of frog molds and recipes for butterbeer.
I like cookbooks that make me laugh out loud, and this one did its job. Each recipe (or sometimes section of recipes) has a snippet that relates it to the Harry Potter books and another that relates it to British history. Many of these snippets are funny. I'm sharing the historical one that goes with Hot Chocolate (page 74):
"Before Coenraad van Houten was born, people enjoyed hot chocolate with pools of grease floating on top. But then along came the Dutch chemist, who figured out how to press the cocoa butter from the cocoa beans in the early 1800's. Plus, he invented Dutch cocoa, which is leaps and bounds better than natural cocoa. We modern folk owe him a big debt of gratitude: every city should have a statue of this man, and every village and hamlet should have a Coenraad van Houten Street."
So, this cookbook has great recipes, random facts, funnies, and it will make you want to revisit your Harry Potter books. My only real gripe would be the lack of pictures. I like photos, especially in cookbooks for children, but cookbooks with photos tend to be pricier than those without.
Have you used this cookbook? What did you think?
If you'd like to read about more Marvelous Middle Grades, the following people would love to oblige you:
, by Dinah Bucholz. It has recipes that kids can make on their own and recipes that they should make with an adult.If you've read the HP series, you can guess this book isn't chock full of healthy recipes. There are some healthy recipes, and some bizarre recipes, but everything we've tried so far has been delicious and very British. My family's favorite is Toad in the Hole (page 144). We've had it three times. I was disappointed not to find recipes for chocolate frogs and butterbeer, but since it does have recipes for things like peppermint humbugs and custard (canary) creams, I got over it. The internet has plenty of frog molds and recipes for butterbeer.
I like cookbooks that make me laugh out loud, and this one did its job. Each recipe (or sometimes section of recipes) has a snippet that relates it to the Harry Potter books and another that relates it to British history. Many of these snippets are funny. I'm sharing the historical one that goes with Hot Chocolate (page 74):
"Before Coenraad van Houten was born, people enjoyed hot chocolate with pools of grease floating on top. But then along came the Dutch chemist, who figured out how to press the cocoa butter from the cocoa beans in the early 1800's. Plus, he invented Dutch cocoa, which is leaps and bounds better than natural cocoa. We modern folk owe him a big debt of gratitude: every city should have a statue of this man, and every village and hamlet should have a Coenraad van Houten Street."
So, this cookbook has great recipes, random facts, funnies, and it will make you want to revisit your Harry Potter books. My only real gripe would be the lack of pictures. I like photos, especially in cookbooks for children, but cookbooks with photos tend to be pricier than those without.
Have you used this cookbook? What did you think?
If you'd like to read about more Marvelous Middle Grades, the following people would love to oblige you:
Shannon Whitney Messenger (our founding mother)
Have a Marvelous Monday!
I don't tend to use cook books, but anything to encourage kids to cook is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI love this book. I read it cover to cover. and you're right, a lot of the stuff just cracks me up!
ReplyDeleteHow intriguing! Cooking is not my thing, so a link to HP and a laugh is just what I need.
ReplyDeleteShelley, so did I!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds fun. I think I need to get it for my grandkids and their mom.
ReplyDelete=)
I'd seen this but hadn't picked it up. Great idea for summer fun!
ReplyDeleteOoh, this sounds fun! I'll have to check it out from the library and give it a try. It would be even better if my kids were a little older and could already enjoy Harry Potter...
ReplyDeleteI've heard of it but haven't checked it out yet. I want to but was pretty disappointed to hear that there is no butterbeer recipe in there. I've been so curious about what that is ever since I started reading the books! Guess I'll have to google it now. :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like an awesome book. I don't cook, but I'm tempted to buy this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea for a cookbook. Thanks for posting about it. I'll have to get this one.
ReplyDeleteNo chocolate frogs or butterbeer? Ha!
ReplyDeleteGreat choice for MMGM, Myrna. We sell this book but I've never had a chance to open it and read the funny stuff. Thanks for the heads-up.