Kate Gosselin's Love Is in the Mix: Making Meals into Memories with Family-Friendly Recipes, Tips and Traditions
Reality star Gosselin readily admits to not being a chef; on the other hand, her kitchen skills are tested every day by her eight kids—and not having enough time. Shortcuts, obviously, prevail; a slow cooker, for instance, is one of her indispensable pieces of equipment, as are packaged foods. One of her “doable dinners,” in fact, consists of ready-to-use mixes and cans, combining boxed macaroni and cheese with tuna and frozen peas. Her more than 80 recipes do emphasize healthy meals. For instance, she pairs a somewhat starchy poppy-seed chicken with quinoa and green vegetables. Since her dishes are rather ordinary (how many different ways can you make a quick pizza?), readers will be drawn to her personal stories, traditions like apple picking and pumpkin carving to share with kids, and tips to stretch time and dollars. Color photographs of Kate plus her eight in all weathers, inside and out, cinch the deal. --Barbara Jacobs