Cookbook for 10 year old, old style food

crockpot

Hi

My son wants to learn to cook, which I think is great, but not too impressed with kiddy cookbooks.

He can be a fussey eater so I think this is a good idea. He loves most fruit and veg, but likes `plain` some would say `old fashioned` food.

So can anyone recomend anything?

Would also like to get him an apron or chef jacket or something, any idea where I can get 1?

Thanks

tattoed_bum

ebay have chef's jackets for £8 a small adults one would fit and the adult ones are a lot cheaper than the kids ones ,

would it be possible for you to write out his favourite recipes onto the computer and print them off to make his own special cookbook .
a lot cheaper than buying a book and he then gets to make his favourite foods

applestar

Usborne Beginners cookbook (sorry not allowed to post links! but i saw it on amazon just now for £5) isbn 978-0746033807

I'm a bit like your son, only really in to plain food (well i'm not a big fan of sauces!) and i love this book.
It's for kids - which i know you siad you weren't impressed with but the recipes are tasty, it's really well laid out and it's a compilation of their other cook books so has a cake section/pasta/basic meals etc and also explaination of techniques..
very good

rachbc

i got my 11 year old son Jamie's Ministry of Food and he loves it - plenty of plain food but a few more recipes that might stretch his taste buds too.

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

I've just bought "How to feed your whole family a healthy balanced..." by Gill Holcombe + think it would be great as the instructions are very clear + lots of basic meals are there.
She includes lots of useful tips about things like healthy eating or alternatives. As it's new to me I havn't road tested it yet but think it will become well used over the next 30 years! Has good reviews on Amazon and I found a thread about it on here too.

jordylass

I have 2 of Sam Stern books, very easy to read and we use quite a few of their recipes although the book is aimed at teens.

http://www.samstern.co.uk/books.html

blueberrypie

How about cookbooks aimed at students going off to university? There's no "talking down" in them (as there is in so many cookbooks for kids) and the recipes are usually economical, filling and tasty.

Mrs_Bones

Wee_Bargain_Hunter wrote: »

I've just bought "How to feed your whole family a healthy balanced..." by Gill Holcombe + think it would be great as the instructions are very clear + lots of basic meals are there.
She includes lots of useful tips about things like healthy eating or alternatives. As it's new to me I havn't road tested it yet but think it will become well used over the next 30 years! Has good reviews on Amazon and I found a thread about it on here too.

I second the above book, I got mine off Amazon but I saw it last week in the local Works book shop for £3.99 which is cheaper if you have one of the shops close to you. I've tried a few of the recipes in it and it is plain basic cooking but the only thing I'd say against it is that it's a paperback style book with no photos etc so not sure how much it would suite a 10 year old.

Another book I love is Recipes to know by heart by Xanthe Clay. This books covers all the basics and gives ways of varying basic meals. Being a more glossy book I think this would appeal to a child more.

Finally the one I always go back to and the one I sort of learnt to cook by, (with help from my mum and gran ) is good ol Delia Smith, and her complete cookery course.

I'd look in your local libary or maybe get them to order in some of the books mention by the posters on here, then your son could see which would be most helpfull to him before rushing out to buy one.

skint_chick

Have you been to your local library - he could have a look through some books and see if there was anything he liked the look of. I second the Usbourne beginners cookbook - their choc brownies are the best EVER!:D Also student cookbooks as well as they have simple recipes with a few basic ingredients that he can learn really easily. Have you also considered the financial lessons he can learn from taking him to the supermarket and giving him a budget to get his ingredients- so he learns about quantities and pricing and how to compare things. Or making his own apron? Then you can find some fabric he likes and show him how to make it too.

A little scared I'm turning into my mum now :eek: with the OS moneysaving. I still have great memories of learning to cook cakes with my mum in school holidays

mouseymousey99

Delia - always works - the current biggy is £15 at amazon (its fantastic though) and would last him a lifetime. Best wishes..

InfamyInfamy

My 10 year old with dyslexia likes Mrs Beetons (the modern reprint ones) which you can normally get in discount stores. The recipes are straight forward & easy to read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Beetons-Easy-Everyday-Cooking/dp/0304368318/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240155672&sr=1-1
:j