Product Description

No one has helped more families find time to fit home-cooked meals into their daily routines than Rachael Ray. Now with the help of Yum-o!, the organization she founded to help kids and adults develop a healthier relationship to food and cooking, she has put together the ultimate family cookbook, which includes recipes that both kids and their parents will love cooking–and eating–together!

Rachael knows that every family wants to make the best possible food choices–and get the very most out of their food-budget dollars. The recipes here feature more whole grains, use less fat, and make the most of fresh fruits and vegetables so they are as good for you as they are delish, and they’re all quintessential Rachael–fun and creative.

You’ll also find notes on how to get even very young kids involved in the cooking process; great ideas for everything from breakfast to the lunchbox to dinner; wholesome snacks; and loads of new double-duty dinners that let you cook once, then eat twice or more.

With lots of full-color photos and tons of helpful tips for making mealtime the very best part of the day, Yum-o! is a must-have for every busy family.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #192882 in Books
• Brand: Cookbook
• Published on: 2008-04-29
• Released on: 2008-04-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Features

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About the Author
RACHAEL RAY is the host of her own talk show, Rachael Ray, as well two popular Food Network shows. She is also the bestselling author of 13 previous books.

All of Rachael Ray’s proceeds from sales of this book will be donated to her charity, Yum-o! For more information, please visit yum-o.org.

Customer Reviews

Good cookbook like her others that I own
Frankly, I was quite surprised at the negative reviews on this cookbook. I found it to be a very good one and my kids have liked every recipe I have tried. I think what people have to remember is that when you're making a recipe for the first time, it may take you a little longer than 30 minutes because it's new. As with any of the recipes I've tried by Rachael Ray, it takes me a little longer the first time around. Once I've made it a few times, I'm right at the 30 minute mark. Also, cookbooks are designed to appeal to a wide variety of people - I think everyone will agree that there are recipes in ANY cookbook that you may not like, but someone else will. As far as the ingredients go, I agree that she uses quite a few (maybe even ones people have never used before) but they are used to add to the flavor of a dish. She puts together ingredients that most people may not have thought to put together before and, while one person might say "Gross!!", another will be saying "Yum-O"!!! I think the majority of her recipes are easy to execute - can anyone really say that about Martha Stewart (as referenced in another review)? In any case, I think it's a great cookbook, along with her others that I own (I especially like 365 No Repeats), and would recommend it to anyone.

Healthy and Tasty
In the introduction, Rachael Ray writes: "The goal of Yum-o! The Family Cookbook is to make eating healthier as a family easier, more affordable, and fun."

And it IS a fun and colorful cookbook that is also loaded with practical advice. Full color photographs abound, with kids and food as the centerpiece. The cookbook is designed to get young kids to look at it and get into healthy eating. Very well done.

The book is divided into three parts: healthy breakfasts, lunches & snacks, and dinners. Many of the recipes are classics that have been embellished to make them more nutritious. For example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich adds banana, honey and turkey bacon slices on whole wheat.

There are sections called Great Ideas. One is to designate a shelf in the kitchen and a shelf or drawer in the refrigerator for easy to grab snacks. Ray provides a list of healthy snacks, too.

There is a list showing how greens differ in nutrition.

Dinners look great and are appealing to both kids and adults. For example, cornflake-crusted tilapia with sweet and spicy watermelon salsa and mega turkey nacho dinner.

This is a terrific cookbook for families with young kids who want to eat nutritional, tasty and easy to make meals.

From the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet.

So far, so good!
My wife and I bought this cookbook to help teach our eight-year-old son how to cook and to encourage him to eat better. He might not be your average kid because he loves Rachael Ray and enjoys watching the Food Network, but so far we are pleased with the book.

Within the first week of getting Yum-O, he picked out two recipes (Sukiyaki Stir-Fry and That's Shallota Flavor Spaghetti) and insisted on doing all of the steps himself. We did slice the beef for him for the sukiyaki, lifted some heavy pots and pans, and stood over his shoulder as he cooked, but otherwise he needed little help.

I agree with other reviewers that some of the recipes do have a large number of ingredients, but if your family enjoys spending time in the kitchen together, I recommend this book. The fact that most of the recipes seem to be fairly healthy is just an added bonus.

The only reason I am not giving Yum-O five stars is that, frankly, I don't see my son eating many of the recipes here. Though he loves watching cooking shows, he is a very picky eater. Anything with tomatoes, green beans, or peas is going to be a total non-starter with him.

If we can get another dozen or so recipes out of this book and get our son to complain a little less about what's for dinner, the money spent will have been well worth it.