Clueless in the Kitchen: A Cookbook for Teens and other Beginners (The Clueless series)
Grade 7 Up-Take a large measure of good recipes, toss with a healthy dose of humor, and you'll have this accessible cookbook. Newly independent cooks will get all the basics, from buying equipment and groceries, to food-preparation techniques, cooking meals, and defrosting the refrigerator. Recipes are grouped by food type such as "Breakfast-A Cruel Joke" and "Primarily Pasta." Icons further identify each recipe as "Cheap Eats," "Vegetarian Stuff," "Couch Potato Food," "Dinner for the Family," or "Cooking to Impress." There's something for every taste, from hamburgers and pizza to shrimp scampi and almond torte. Both English and metric measurements are given. A conversion chart, glossary, menu ideas, and a good index are included. Raab's informal and chatty style will appeal to teens, but the lack of nutritional information and the liberal use of butter will disappoint health-conscious readers. Joan Scobey's The Fannie Farmer Junior Cookbook (Little, Brown, 1993) has fewer recipes with less variety, but is somewhat easier to follow and aimed at a slightly younger audience. A welcome and useful addition for cooking collections.Paula A. Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library, WICopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.