Batter Up Kids: Delicious Desserts

Batter Up Kids: Delicious Desserts
Barbara Beery
Gibbs Smith
ISBN: 1-58685-365-1
Children’s Cookbook
Reviewed by Tanya Boudreau

I remember my mom making me Ants A Log; and Turtles. Celery smeared with peanut butter- that made the log. The ants were raisins. And for turtles, she used apples. An apple was cut in half. Half was the turtle shell, and the other half was cut up into a tail, a head and four legs. Again with the peanut butter- this time spread on his shell. Raisins were his eyes and the designs on the shell. Barbara Beery’s children’s cookbook Batter Up Kids: Delicious Desserts reminds me of my mom’s fun food.

There is nothing quite as fun as having a good time in the kitchen! The author, who started a culinary center for children ages 2 ½- teens, believes children should have the freedom to create in the kitchen; be imaginative, carefree, and adventurous with food. The book is filled with delicious looking food that parents and children can make together.

Be forewarned. It’s going to take a long time for your child to pick out a recipe. Ask them to narrow it down to a category at least. Cakes, cookies, pudding, an ice cream dessert; or maybe something using fruit like Stack’Em High Strawberry Shortcakes. There are some very original recipes in here. Volcano Cupcakes with Buttercream Lava, and Cripsy Creamy Ice Cream Sandwiches are just two. Learn how to make lava in cupcakes; and learn how you can combine crispy rice cereal and ice cream to look irresistible! For the child who seeks a familiar looking dessert with a twist, they can prepare Flying Frog Pudding- which uses lettuce ingeniously as a lily pad. Or perhaps they are in the mood for something chocolate chip cookie-ish. Made in a skillet and then sliced.

There are measurement tips in the front of the book, and cooking and baking terms in the back of the book for children who need them or who want to know more about food preparation. For the child who wants to look like a real chef, this book comes with a white, cloth chef’s hat. Serving sizes average 4-6 serving; 24 cupcakes; or 10-15 of the item (Igloo Ice Pops, Apes for Crepes, Chocolate-Covered Unicorn Horns). Enough dessert to share with a family, or with friends.

The directions to make the recipes are easy to follow, and concise. The colored photographs that accompany each recipe will make your mouth water. There are even photographs of some of the ingredients! All ingredients can be easily found in grocery stores. My only complaint of the cookbook is it needs more recipes! Luckily, the author has another recipe book called Batter Up Kids: Sensational Snacks. I bet if my mom had this book when I was young, she would have expanded on her ant-turtle theme and made me Ladybugs on a Stick, which cleverly uses grapes and strawberries. No peanut butter on these ladybugs, but with kids in the kitchen, and some free-reign, who knows what these little food entrepreneurs might invent!