Teens A League of Their Own, A Perfect Culinary Blend Cooking and Baking Recipes
by Christine Burton
Trafford Publishing

reviewed by Jacquelyn Gilchrist

“Teens and young adults today always rush or are on the go, yet eager to try new recipes and food combinations.”

The heart of a home is its kitchen, in which generations come together to celebrate time-honored traditions and usher in new ones. Burton draws on her background working with young adults and working for a catering service to develop dozens of recipes sure to please any palate. Her recipes give a nod to her German and Polish ancestry, as well as her experiences living in Wisconsin and traveling around the world. Teens and their parents will enjoy finding old favorites like banana nut bread, apple pie, and loaded potato shells. Burton also includes new versions of popular recipes, including cayenne and smoked paprika popovers, amaretto bran muffins, and for the more adventurous chef, pork tenderloin with spiced cream soda pear sauce.

Encouraging children and teens to develop kitchen skills will serve them well when it’s time for them to strike out on their own. It’s also a wonderful alternative to videogames and TV. In the kitchen, teens can improve their problem-solving skills and math abilities, as well as discover the importance of sound nutrition. Burton’s cookbook may encourage kids to try new ingredients they may never have heard of before, including celeriac, jicama, polenta, kohlrabi, fenugreek, and orzo.

While Burton’s exhaustive list of recipes is certainly impressive, the cookbook could have benefited from a few alterations. The recipe index may be a little difficult for novice chefs to navigate. Although the list of baking recipes is easily found at the beginning of the book, the list of cooking recipes is buried toward the middle. The illustrations are colorful and playful; however, the photographs of finished meals could have benefited from a professional photographer’s touch.