Williams-Sonoma Family Meals: Creating Traditions in the Kitchen

by Maria Helm Sinskey, Williams Sonoma

For Maria Helm Sinskey—author, award-winning chef, and mother—one of the best ways to spend time with family and friends is to gather in the kitchen to cook. Whether tossing a salad of lettuces fresh from the garden, or filling the house with the scent of Banana–Brown Sugar Muffins and hearty Braised Beef Stew, Maria and her family show you how effortless it is to have fun in the kitchen. Filled with delicious, easy to prepare, made-from-scratch recipes such as Fresh Rosemary Focaccia, Corn Fritters with Lime, Chicken-Coconut Curry, and Baked Butterscotch Puddings, Family Meals is written for people of all ages. Maria’s experience with her own children and those of friends and family prove that when kids help select ingredients and join in the fun of meal preparation, they're more eager to eat what they've cooked, and revel in their culinary triumphs at the table. Family Meals is much more than just a collection of recipes. Each chapter sparks curiosity about where food comes from and how the foods we love are made through culinary projects such as curing bacon, smoking salmon, and making homemade ricotta cheese. This book is sure to become a staple in your kitchen, and will launch the small to the tall on a delicious culinary journey filled with fresh, wholesome, seasonal meals that are a joy to create and satisfying to eat.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2009

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this! I seldom find a recipe book that makes me want to make everything in it. This is no joke. I really do want to make it all. Oh man, I'm buying this one.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon just gave me this book for my 1st Mother's Day. I have a weakness for cookbooks, something I've inherited from my mom. Well, this one certainly doesn't disappoint. The book is split into sections: Dairy, Meat, Vegetables, Sweets, etc. At the beginning of each section is a receipe of sorts, showing that food is not only fun, but healthy, and do-able. Example? Make your own ricotta. Cure your own bacon. Make fresh marshmallows. Sooooo fun. And it seeks to get the whole family involved in meal time, verses the American standard of the wife in the kitchen. I'm very excited to eat through this book with Jon and Adelaide and create memories in the kitchen that we'll all remember for years to come.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this wonderful book at Sam's club and am loving it. Even though my daughters are moving form teens to adults there are great recipies and fun ideas. Plus their Overnight Cinnamon Rolls are easy and yumm!

[Kamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent family cookbook with fun activities for parents and kids in the kitchen. The recipes are of the quality you would expect from Williams-Sonoma books. This would be a good way to get your kids to help out with family meals without making it a chore.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great cookbook. There are simple recipes and complicated, but the author makes it seem really easy to do both. It got me excited to cook again.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dig this book.

Sourdough starter, coconut curry, lemony lemon bread-- good stuff. Plus it is full of great photos. I have it out on loan from the liberry-- but I could see buying this one.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of family favorites. Unfortunately, most of the recipes I've tried have fallen into the "good, but nothing special" category.

[Rachel Maxwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

THis was more of an idiots how-to. Didn't find a single gem here. Boooo

[Danae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun, easy recipes. I haven't tried all of them, but I haven't been disappointed in any so far!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book to read

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My absolute favorite cookbook at the moment! Great food for a family.

[Lizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really basic but great family-friendly recipes with a nice variety.