Beans in Cookies
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After trying out some of the recipes, it wouldn't now occur to my kids that one could make cookies without beans :-) So, some of the book's ideas are very creative.
The ideas in this book, both for always having pureed veggies on hand, and for the sheer creativity of some of the recipes, are quite inspiring.
Having said that, however, not all the ingredients are listed in the quantities that best go with the recipes, e.g. the chocolate cookie dough is too thick (and, incidentally, works better with red kidney rather than garbanzo beans, and with milk rather than dark chocolate chips:-).
Also, I found the multiple course dishes that she claims to serve Jerry + their three kids at every meal somewhat over the top...
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Not good at all
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This book was very disappointing. I LOVE to cook, and found the recipes were very labour intensive (all that puree-ing, even for someone who loves to be in the kitchen...give me a break!). The foods I prepared were ixnayed by my kids, and my husband who eats almost anything wasn't so impressed either. I wish I could return it, but I've thrown out my receipt. Anyway, what I've learned from this is that yes, we all want our families to eat healthier foods. How do we accomplish this? Set the example by eating it ourselves, keep serving it to them (not hiding it, just making it really yummy!), and eventually they will follow suit. And if they grow up and hate broccoli? No problem, as long as they eat their carrots : )
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Useless and damaging
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Happily I didn't buy this book, but borrowed it from a friend who had received it as a gift (who wouldn't have bought it, either). Seinfeld's method of dealing with children's nutrition is about as deceitful as one can get, and will cause more harm than good. This book is the last thing you want if you plan on building trust between you and your child and believe in fostering their sense of adventure. Another book written by someone who thinks that their name makes them important, rather than actual expertise.
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Read the reviews carefully before purchase...
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I'm don't understand why there are reviewers giving this 3 stars (or more) when they haven't tried the recipes or, worse, they have tried the recipes and they have failed. I hope that potential buyers will read all the reviews carefully before making their decision as to whether to purchase this book.
My review is as follows: The concept is wonderful, the book is beautiful and the pictures are gorgeous; but this is a COOKBOOK and the recipes are disasterous. Let's face it...a Mercedes Benz is gorgeous too but if it doesn't have an engine, do you really want to buy it?
So far the items I have made from this book have not cooked properly (for example, the banana bread is heavy and moisture-laden and resembles a brick) and the vegetables are not well "hidden" as promised. Ginger spice cake with carrots and broccoli tastes like....carrot and broccoli bread. And I also ask myself, hmmm...hasn't this been done before and better? After grinding away at the broccoli and carrots with my food processor I had cause to recall my mother's wonderful "pumpkin loaf" (as we called it) and the zucchini nut bread of my youth. These also have vegetables cooked into them but they are yummier and more successful.
In short, this book was a disappointment and I'm sorry that it is too late to return it. It's a shame really because it seemed like a great idea. Buyer beware, as they say, and please note the content of some of the other reviewers of this *cook* book. I observed a 4(?) star rating from a reviewer who gave the book as a gift and has clearly doled out their rating based on concept alone.
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Deliciously Marketed
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Granted my initial introduction of this book was from the only time I watched Oprah in 2007 and seeing Jessica Seinfeld whipping up a few recipes with the Queen of Media dipping in and appearing to be overjoyed with the nearly gourmet outcome. The next thing I knew, my good friend was showing the same cookbook to me in her kitchen and said that it was selling out at our local bookstore. My mom eventually gets it for me for Christmas - a bunch of her friends got their daughters Deceptively Delicious (but really for their grandchildren). My copy sat on the counter for almost 3 weeks before my [...] asked to try out a recipe and we had fun grinding and chopping together. I haven't so much followed strict recipes as I have just started steaming and blending veggies and deceptively hiding them throughout many of our meals now and for this I am grateful as it wouldn't have occurred to me if not for Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook. Well done and thank-you.
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