EMERIL'S THERE'S A CHEF IN MY FAMILY! Recipes to Get Everybody Cooking
by Emeril Lagasse
illustrated by Charles Yuen
ISBN: 0060004398
All ages
224 pages

Chef Emeril Lagasse is bringing families together with his new cookbook, EMERIL'S THERE'S A CHEF IN MY FAMILY!

This is the perfect cookbook for parents to use as a teaching tool for their kids. The large, colorful pages feature a section on kitchen safety as well as pictures and descriptions of common kitchen tools. Every family will find a recipe to love with 75 delicious choices. Each recipe contains step-by-step instructions with a handy caution bar using icons (knife, electrical appliance, flames, etc.) to let families know which recipes require adult supervision.

All of the recipes in this book use fresh ingredients. Some of the recipes call for few ingredients and are easy to prepare, such as "My First Watermelon Granita" and "Minty Green Peas." Other recipes such as "Say Cheese Enchiladas" and "Very Veggie Lasagna" are more challenging to prepare. I am still working my way through the recipes, but I have found several that are a huge hit with my kids. "Miss Hilda's Popcorn Cake" is fun to make and even more fun to eat. "Candy-Bar-Stuffed Baked Apples" are sinfully delicious.

An Emeril cookbook wouldn't be complete without a few Emerilisms. You will feel like he is in the kitchen with you when you read phrases like, "kick it up a notch," "bam!" and "oh yeah, baby." Kids will enjoy seasoning their food with Baby Bam. This blend of seasonings is similar to Emeril's Original Essence used in his restaurants and on his cooking show. Rather than having traditional photographs of prepared meals, this cookbook has colorful illustrations by artist Charles Yuen.

If your family could use a little more together time in the kitchen, I would highly recommend this entertaining and educational cookbook. Bam!

   --- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner (renee.kirchner@usa.net)

Back to top.