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Recipe Road Trip, Cooking Your Way Across the USA: 120+ Delicious Recipes and Fun and Surprising Facts from Every State
Take kids on a road trip across America―without leaving the kitchen! Explore the geography, history, and regional flavors of the United States through more than 100 recipes, fascinating state facts, laugh-out-loud food jokes, and vibrant original illustrations throughout. Young chefs will discover two recipes from every state, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories. Recipes are organized by region, making it easy to explore America's diverse food traditions one destination at a time. From Lobster Rolls in Maine and Philly Cheesesteaks in Pennsylvania to Chicago-Style Pizza, Texas Pulled Pork, Fish Tacos, and Key Lime Pie, every recipe is assigned a Level 1, 2, or 3 difficulty rating, allowing cooks to start with simple recipes and gradually tackle more challenging dishes as their skills grow. More than a cookbook, Recipe Road Trip combines cooking with geography, history, and state trivia while encouraging creativity and family time. Regional menu ideas make it easy to plan complete family meals, and colorful illustrations, fun facts, and "bad dad" food jokes keep kids laughing as they learn. Whether families cook their way across the country or flip to their
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232 pages, Hardcover
Published August 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
June 10, 2023
I received a free copy of, Recipe Road Trip, Cooking Your Way Across the USA, by Nanette Lavin, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love this recipe book, it has 120 recipes from the US, state by state. Fried Pickles from Arkansas, no bake peanut butter pie from Georgia, Chicago style pizza from Illinois, and much much more. A great recipe book for the entire family.
November 26, 2023
The e-book formatting made this difficult to read, but I managed well enough to know it's PERFECT. Having lived all over the country, I was interested in what recipes made the cut for each state. Lavin did an exceptional job. Each recipe is simple, well composed, and represents each geographical area. I'm headed straight to the bookstore now to buy copies for my nieces for Christmas.
June 23, 2023
As someone who isn’t from the USA but loves cooking and cooking with kids, I was pleasantly surprised to find this USA-centric kids recipe book on NetGalley - but the cookbook itself wasn’t quite what I’d excepted. (Thank you for the ARC; all opinions are my own.)
I loved the great selection of recipes, from desserts to entrées to candies to side dishes to drinks. Some of them are lovely, such as the peach pie and rosketti. The illustrations also were charming and fun! The index was also quite detailed and carefully created, which was great.
One major flaw for me was that this book contained no pictures of any of the recipes it boasted. I do understand why it would be difficult to take pictures of all recipes, but I’ve read many children’s cookbooks, and most include at least some pictures of the recipes. Why so? Well, firstly, for some of the dishes here - they’re not dishes I’ve heard of, and so I would liked to have seen what they looked like without having to use my phone to do so, and I think most readers would’ve preferred the same. Secondly - kids are notoriously picky eaters, and I know that when I was a kid, I’d leaf through cookbooks and anything that looked appetising would draw my eye. While the coloured illustrations are a nice touch, they don’t appear on every recipe, and I think all recipe books should include some pictures, just to show readers the finished product and whether it’s worth making, or looks doable, or appetising, etc.
This book also included jokes on every other page. While I understand that may be to draw younger readers in, it fell a bit flat for me. I bake often with kids, some of which I work with, and I know that those who enjoy jokes know they can find these sort of jokes on the internet or in a joke book - it was strange to see so many jokes in a cookbook, especially one that was also aimed to kids older than the age I’d match the jokes to. If kids are old enough to be reading the recipes, I’m not sure how many of the jokes would land for them.
Another disappointment was the ‘fun facts’ and information about each state or region. The information appeared to have been pasted straight from Google, most of the wording too advanced for kids with no attempts made to simplify it. For example, “Most of the interior of the Northeast is formed by the Appalachian Mountains, which stretch about 1,600 miles from Maine to Alabama. Some of the region’s resources come from underground, like granite, marble,
and coal. The Northeast is the nation’s most
economically developed, densely populated,
and culturally diverse area.” ^And all of the information in the book continues in this vein.
This information seemed to be too complicated and boring for the kids this book seems to be catering (forgive the pun) to. I would rewrite it as ‘Most of the Northeast is formed by the Appalachian Mountains, which are about 1 600 miles, starting from Maine and ending in Alabama. The Northeast uses lots of things they have underground, like granite (a type of stone), marble (another, smoother kind of stone), and coal (used to make electricity!). The Northeast is home to many different cultures even though the people who live there are often spread out.’
The recipes for the ‘Hawaii’ section were the biggest disappointment of this cookbook. The first recipe is ‘Roasted Pineapple Salsa’. For those who don’t know, in Hawaii, pineapples are a coloniser import, and have been a large contributor to the harmful trend of treating Hawaii, its culture and people, as an ‘aesthetic’ or ‘theme’ instead of a nation under threat, with a diverse and beautiful history and culture - that involves more than just pineapples.
While the author did say at the start of the cookbook that some of the recipes in the cookbook were inspired by ingredients grown locally in large quantities, I’m still disappointed that they chose pineapple - pineapples are already associated with Hawaii, it would’ve been so easy to include another easy local favourite instead of just making a pineapple salsa. For example, a dish like Hawaiian Bruddah Potato Macaroni Salad would’ve worked perfectly, and highlighted an aspect of Hawaiian cuisine that might’ve taught kids more about the culture than a fruit with existing ties to Hawaii that they’re already aware of.
The second recipe was ‘Spam Fries’. Yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like - cut up some Spam, deep fry it, and serve. The book uses the fun fact that Hawaii consumes more Spam than anywhere else in the USA to supplement this dish. While that’s true, I really wish the people behind the cookbook would’ve chosen a different recipe. This recipe felt like saying, in Maine lobsters are often caught, so here’s how to make lobster fries. While it’s true that spam is a staple in Hawaii, the locals usually incorporate it into dishes - which a quick Google search will illustrate. This book features recipes such as blueberry meringue pie, so I’m sure that it wasn’t concerned about difficulty levels. No - such recipes as a representation of Hawaii do a disservice to the vibrant culture and foods of Hawaii, and it was disappointing seeing such well-researched and interesting recipes for other American states, only to find ‘Spam fries’ for Hawaii, an easy recipe, along with salsa, another easy recipe.
There’s also a strange section at the back of the book called something like ‘road trip menus’, in which many recipes from earlier in book are simple repeated? I’m not sure what the point of this was.
I did revive an ARC of this book, so some details may (hopefully) change before publication. But I’d say that you’re better off looking up recipes from the internet to make with any kids you know - this book aimed quite high, but ultimately fell short.
I loved the great selection of recipes, from desserts to entrées to candies to side dishes to drinks. Some of them are lovely, such as the peach pie and rosketti. The illustrations also were charming and fun! The index was also quite detailed and carefully created, which was great.
One major flaw for me was that this book contained no pictures of any of the recipes it boasted. I do understand why it would be difficult to take pictures of all recipes, but I’ve read many children’s cookbooks, and most include at least some pictures of the recipes. Why so? Well, firstly, for some of the dishes here - they’re not dishes I’ve heard of, and so I would liked to have seen what they looked like without having to use my phone to do so, and I think most readers would’ve preferred the same. Secondly - kids are notoriously picky eaters, and I know that when I was a kid, I’d leaf through cookbooks and anything that looked appetising would draw my eye. While the coloured illustrations are a nice touch, they don’t appear on every recipe, and I think all recipe books should include some pictures, just to show readers the finished product and whether it’s worth making, or looks doable, or appetising, etc.
This book also included jokes on every other page. While I understand that may be to draw younger readers in, it fell a bit flat for me. I bake often with kids, some of which I work with, and I know that those who enjoy jokes know they can find these sort of jokes on the internet or in a joke book - it was strange to see so many jokes in a cookbook, especially one that was also aimed to kids older than the age I’d match the jokes to. If kids are old enough to be reading the recipes, I’m not sure how many of the jokes would land for them.
Another disappointment was the ‘fun facts’ and information about each state or region. The information appeared to have been pasted straight from Google, most of the wording too advanced for kids with no attempts made to simplify it. For example, “Most of the interior of the Northeast is formed by the Appalachian Mountains, which stretch about 1,600 miles from Maine to Alabama. Some of the region’s resources come from underground, like granite, marble,
and coal. The Northeast is the nation’s most
economically developed, densely populated,
and culturally diverse area.” ^And all of the information in the book continues in this vein.
This information seemed to be too complicated and boring for the kids this book seems to be catering (forgive the pun) to. I would rewrite it as ‘Most of the Northeast is formed by the Appalachian Mountains, which are about 1 600 miles, starting from Maine and ending in Alabama. The Northeast uses lots of things they have underground, like granite (a type of stone), marble (another, smoother kind of stone), and coal (used to make electricity!). The Northeast is home to many different cultures even though the people who live there are often spread out.’
The recipes for the ‘Hawaii’ section were the biggest disappointment of this cookbook. The first recipe is ‘Roasted Pineapple Salsa’. For those who don’t know, in Hawaii, pineapples are a coloniser import, and have been a large contributor to the harmful trend of treating Hawaii, its culture and people, as an ‘aesthetic’ or ‘theme’ instead of a nation under threat, with a diverse and beautiful history and culture - that involves more than just pineapples.
While the author did say at the start of the cookbook that some of the recipes in the cookbook were inspired by ingredients grown locally in large quantities, I’m still disappointed that they chose pineapple - pineapples are already associated with Hawaii, it would’ve been so easy to include another easy local favourite instead of just making a pineapple salsa. For example, a dish like Hawaiian Bruddah Potato Macaroni Salad would’ve worked perfectly, and highlighted an aspect of Hawaiian cuisine that might’ve taught kids more about the culture than a fruit with existing ties to Hawaii that they’re already aware of.
The second recipe was ‘Spam Fries’. Yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like - cut up some Spam, deep fry it, and serve. The book uses the fun fact that Hawaii consumes more Spam than anywhere else in the USA to supplement this dish. While that’s true, I really wish the people behind the cookbook would’ve chosen a different recipe. This recipe felt like saying, in Maine lobsters are often caught, so here’s how to make lobster fries. While it’s true that spam is a staple in Hawaii, the locals usually incorporate it into dishes - which a quick Google search will illustrate. This book features recipes such as blueberry meringue pie, so I’m sure that it wasn’t concerned about difficulty levels. No - such recipes as a representation of Hawaii do a disservice to the vibrant culture and foods of Hawaii, and it was disappointing seeing such well-researched and interesting recipes for other American states, only to find ‘Spam fries’ for Hawaii, an easy recipe, along with salsa, another easy recipe.
There’s also a strange section at the back of the book called something like ‘road trip menus’, in which many recipes from earlier in book are simple repeated? I’m not sure what the point of this was.
I did revive an ARC of this book, so some details may (hopefully) change before publication. But I’d say that you’re better off looking up recipes from the internet to make with any kids you know - this book aimed quite high, but ultimately fell short.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
August 13, 2025Seems cute enough. I'm having trouble finding anything I want to make. A sketch is included for the majority of items, but what the heck is a Berger cookie from MD? (Turns out it's a cake-like cookie with lots of chocolate frosting.) Points for including D.C. and Commonwealths & Territories. Points off for almost no context, no sense of actually traveling to the various states.
I might try the Mambo Sauce (D.C.)
Not recommended.
Carefully skimmed August 2025.
I might try the Mambo Sauce (D.C.)
Not recommended.
Carefully skimmed August 2025.
November 20, 2023
Really fun cookbook. OMG loved the puns and jokes. So many interesting facts too!
September 4, 2023
A very cool concept and a great way to get kids involved with learning more about food. A fun book to take on a road trip and try and find the food talked about in each state.
Thank you, NetGalley and Kitchen Ink Publishing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you, NetGalley and Kitchen Ink Publishing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 21, 2023
Nanette Lavin’s Recipe Road Trip: Cooking Your Way Across the USA. teaches interesting facts and trivia, entertains with corny jokes sure to appeal to kids, and offers a wide assortment of recipes for parents or grandparents to help their children or grandchildren prepare at home. As the kids learn, they can experience American foods from coast to coast, from the U.S.-Mexico border to the U.S.-Canada border and beyond. As the author points out, some of the 120 recipes use crops widely grown in the region, have historical significance, and/or represent the nation’s cultural and ethnic diversity.
Packed with colorful drawings and maps and arranged by geographical regions, Lavin’s book takes us on a tasty trip through the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West, ending with Washington, D.C., and the commonwealths or territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Marianas Islands, and Guam.
The book includes a table of contents by region and state as well as a variety of alternate classifications, including possible menus for a full meal by region and a list of recipes by category (Drinks, Soups/Salads, Entrées, Sides, etc.).
Be ready to try such mouthwatering dishes as New Hampshire Corn Chowder, Philly Cheesesteak, Nashville Hot Chicken, Ozark Sloppy Joes, Denver Omelet, Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork, Wyoming Stew, Chimichangas, Senate Bean Soup, and Coconut Rice as well as breakfast treats or mouthwatering desserts as Breakfast Burritos, Apple Cider Doughnuts, Pecan Pie Mini Muffins, Huckleberry Pop Tarts, Avocado Toast, Empanadillas, Maple Candy, Mississippi Mud Pie, and Easy King Cake.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kitchen Ink Publishing for an advance reader copy of this handy cookbook for introducing kids to the diversity of American food.
Packed with colorful drawings and maps and arranged by geographical regions, Lavin’s book takes us on a tasty trip through the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West, ending with Washington, D.C., and the commonwealths or territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Marianas Islands, and Guam.
The book includes a table of contents by region and state as well as a variety of alternate classifications, including possible menus for a full meal by region and a list of recipes by category (Drinks, Soups/Salads, Entrées, Sides, etc.).
Be ready to try such mouthwatering dishes as New Hampshire Corn Chowder, Philly Cheesesteak, Nashville Hot Chicken, Ozark Sloppy Joes, Denver Omelet, Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork, Wyoming Stew, Chimichangas, Senate Bean Soup, and Coconut Rice as well as breakfast treats or mouthwatering desserts as Breakfast Burritos, Apple Cider Doughnuts, Pecan Pie Mini Muffins, Huckleberry Pop Tarts, Avocado Toast, Empanadillas, Maple Candy, Mississippi Mud Pie, and Easy King Cake.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kitchen Ink Publishing for an advance reader copy of this handy cookbook for introducing kids to the diversity of American food.
June 9, 2023
Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
Take kids on a road trip around America without leaving your kitchen. Did you know that Baked Alaska is not from Alaska? This recipe was created in Louisiana. The first Twinkie was made in Illinois, and Virginia was the first state to grow peanuts. Explore the geography, history, and regional charm of the United States as you help children prepare different dishes with this entertaining book. Food humour sprinkled throughout the book will have you laughing out loud.
Kids can look at the map of the United States to see where a recipe comes from, compared to where they live. The recipes offer a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn cooking along with US geography. Includes more than one hundred recipes—with easy-to-find ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions. Fun food facts and jokes are sprinkled throughout the book, along with colourful, engaging illustrations to highlight state products and inventions. Informative and delicious for kids and their families!
I love this book and this type of book for they say that if you get your kids involved in the cooking they are more likely to eat what is on their dinner plate. I enjoyed all the trivia, and the humour was kid-level and the recipes are easy to make no matter the age or kitchen skills of your kids. (I adore peanuts, but I once tried boiled peanuts .... not a favourite of mine, for sure, even though they are available at every gas station in the south. I prefer Picard's Chip Nuts' White Cheddar Dill mixed with Picard's Cookie Nuts' Caramel Cookie: I am all about the salty and sweet ) Great book! #shortbutsweetreviews
June 28, 2023
Honestly I was really excited about this book. What a great way to teach about our states all the while creating yummy recipes. This would also be a great way to get conversations started about regions, individual states and the people that live there.
Unfortunately, the formatting was terrible. I don't expect the books to be perfect or in their final look when receiving a free ARC, but this one was just bad. The recipes were varied and I feel reflected the regions well (all except for a few), but only a few were marked with which state they were from. I had no idea other then the region, where the recipes came from. I feel this is importatnt and should be addressed.
There were also many areas where the writing was broken up. For instance, you would start a recipe, find part of a fact inserted in the middle of it and then the rest of the recipe. Recipes were also broken up badly, in that the reader sees part of the ingredients, then instructions, then more ingredients.
Inserted among the recipes, are jokes and some state facts. The facts were some what dry and the wording a little too advanced for young readers. The jokes? I'm sure some kids would find them funny. They fell flat for me and took away from the purpose of the book.
Overall, It was a very confusing and hard book to read. Hopefully a lot of these issues will be addressed before publishing. If so, I think this would be a very valuable cookbook for young chefs and those learning about the States.. Right now though, it's not something I can see referring back to, suggesting our library to purchase or even wanting a hard copy on my shelf.
I received a free e-ARC from Kitchen Ink Publishing and Netgalley for my honest review.
Unfortunately, the formatting was terrible. I don't expect the books to be perfect or in their final look when receiving a free ARC, but this one was just bad. The recipes were varied and I feel reflected the regions well (all except for a few), but only a few were marked with which state they were from. I had no idea other then the region, where the recipes came from. I feel this is importatnt and should be addressed.
There were also many areas where the writing was broken up. For instance, you would start a recipe, find part of a fact inserted in the middle of it and then the rest of the recipe. Recipes were also broken up badly, in that the reader sees part of the ingredients, then instructions, then more ingredients.
Inserted among the recipes, are jokes and some state facts. The facts were some what dry and the wording a little too advanced for young readers. The jokes? I'm sure some kids would find them funny. They fell flat for me and took away from the purpose of the book.
Overall, It was a very confusing and hard book to read. Hopefully a lot of these issues will be addressed before publishing. If so, I think this would be a very valuable cookbook for young chefs and those learning about the States.. Right now though, it's not something I can see referring back to, suggesting our library to purchase or even wanting a hard copy on my shelf.
I received a free e-ARC from Kitchen Ink Publishing and Netgalley for my honest review.
July 16, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recipe Road Trip: Cooking Your Way Across the USA by Nanette Lavin is a delightful book that takes kids on a culinary journey through America, all from the comfort of their own kitchen. It explores the geography, history, and regional charm of the United States while helping children prepare different dishes.
One of the highlights of this book is how it intertwines food and humor. With witty jokes sprinkled throughout, it guarantees laughter from both kids and adults alike. Additionally, the inclusion of colorful illustrations not only adds visual appeal but also serves to highlight state products and inventions.
A standout feature of Recipe Road Trip is its educational aspect. Kids can engage with the map of the United States to see where each recipe originates from in comparison to their own location. This provides an opportunity for them to learn about US geography while enjoying the cooking experience.
With over one hundred recipes included, this book offers a wide variety of dishes that utilize simple ingredients and provide easy-to-follow instructions. Youngsters will find it easy to navigate through each recipe as they embark on their culinary adventure.
In conclusion, Recipe Road Trip: Cooking Your Way Across the USA is a fun-filled book that combines colorful illustrations, delicious-sounding recipes, and cheesy jokes to create an engaging experience for children. It serves as an excellent introduction to cooking while simultaneously teaching them about different foods found across the country. Perfect for families looking for an informative and enjoyable activity!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Recipe Road Trip: Cooking Your Way Across the USA by Nanette Lavin is a delightful book that takes kids on a culinary journey through America, all from the comfort of their own kitchen. It explores the geography, history, and regional charm of the United States while helping children prepare different dishes.
One of the highlights of this book is how it intertwines food and humor. With witty jokes sprinkled throughout, it guarantees laughter from both kids and adults alike. Additionally, the inclusion of colorful illustrations not only adds visual appeal but also serves to highlight state products and inventions.
A standout feature of Recipe Road Trip is its educational aspect. Kids can engage with the map of the United States to see where each recipe originates from in comparison to their own location. This provides an opportunity for them to learn about US geography while enjoying the cooking experience.
With over one hundred recipes included, this book offers a wide variety of dishes that utilize simple ingredients and provide easy-to-follow instructions. Youngsters will find it easy to navigate through each recipe as they embark on their culinary adventure.
In conclusion, Recipe Road Trip: Cooking Your Way Across the USA is a fun-filled book that combines colorful illustrations, delicious-sounding recipes, and cheesy jokes to create an engaging experience for children. It serves as an excellent introduction to cooking while simultaneously teaching them about different foods found across the country. Perfect for families looking for an informative and enjoyable activity!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
October 21, 2023
Although created for a young cooking audience (with recipe skill levels from 1-3 included indicating potential difficulty in preparation), this bright, colorful, creative and yummy collection, “Recipe Road Trip—Cooking Your Way Across the USA,” by Nanette Lynn (and illustrated by Kate Eroshina) is one of the most unique cookbooks that I’ve discovered in recent memory.
Road Trip includes dishes and ingredients common to each of the 50 States, DC and all US Territories. It’s also jam-packed with area trivia and silly jokes that kids will love. Even I was laughing out loud at much of the ditzy humor that was scattered throughout this fantastic cookbook.
From super simple recipes like a Louisiana Mardi Gras King Cake made with refrigerated cinnamon roll dough to more complex Arkansas baked cheese grits and Massachusetts Mini Boston Cream Pies—that are actually delicious little cakes—this culinary compendium has something for everyone’s tastes and abilities. Furthermore, it’s a wonderful approach for bite sized history lessons about our extensive American culture through food and geography.
In closing, an example of one of my favorite jokes included in Road Trip, is: “Why were the pirates happy when they washed-up to shore and saw cakes, ice cream, and pie?” “Because it was a desserted island.”
JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Nanette Lynn and Illustrator Kate Eroshina, as well as Kitchen Ink Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.
Road Trip includes dishes and ingredients common to each of the 50 States, DC and all US Territories. It’s also jam-packed with area trivia and silly jokes that kids will love. Even I was laughing out loud at much of the ditzy humor that was scattered throughout this fantastic cookbook.
From super simple recipes like a Louisiana Mardi Gras King Cake made with refrigerated cinnamon roll dough to more complex Arkansas baked cheese grits and Massachusetts Mini Boston Cream Pies—that are actually delicious little cakes—this culinary compendium has something for everyone’s tastes and abilities. Furthermore, it’s a wonderful approach for bite sized history lessons about our extensive American culture through food and geography.
In closing, an example of one of my favorite jokes included in Road Trip, is: “Why were the pirates happy when they washed-up to shore and saw cakes, ice cream, and pie?” “Because it was a desserted island.”
JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Nanette Lynn and Illustrator Kate Eroshina, as well as Kitchen Ink Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.
December 7, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me the privilege to review this cookbook I was really excited because it's suppose to be a cookbook for kids, but honestly it's really not. The only recipes in here that kids might actually like are desserts and that's mainly if they like chocolate. My kids found this boring, a lot of jokes and product facts went over their heads and there's barely any photos and none that are real which would make someone actually know what some of the recipes would look like if they've never heard of it before. Alot of the recipes too are rather labour intensive when they could have simplified it way easier for certain things and should have been, and than the ones you expect to have actual cooking and be slightly labour intensive have premade store bought components which just doesn't make any sense. There weren't many descriptions either for what the food items you're suppose to be making is (which is hard if you've never heard of it before) especially the Mambo sauce recipe, I shouldn't have to google something to find out what it is and what you could use it on. Big main recipe but no idea what it was. The only good thing this book has going for it, is that actually covers the literal whole us which I really loved.
July 26, 2023
One Line Synopsis: Young chefs cook their way across the United States while learning facts about each state.
Written to entertain, educate, and invite children to explore the tastes and textures of food from across the United States, this delightful cookbook is sure to entertain aspiring youth chefs. Recipes are sorted by regions of the United States. Not only states are represented - recipes are provided for a federal district, commonwealths, and U.S. territories are also included. Each recipe is ranked by difficulty levels 1-3, and rankings are based on number of steps required and the amount of adult supervision needed.
Recipes are divided into regional maps of the United States, and each section includes introductory information about the region. Recipes range from smoothies to burgers in puff pastry, to Samoan Poi. With such a wide range of recipes, young cooks will be eager to try new cooking techniques and be adventurous eaters, too. Sprinkled throughout this fun recipe book are plenty of jokes that are sure to get laughs from young readers. What a fun book to give to a young chef!
August 16, 2023
Recipe Road Trip, Cooking Your Way Across the USA is a fantastic family cook book exploring popular foods from the United States of America.
I loved the layout and the way the recipes were grouped into sections such as South West, Midwest etc.
There is a good selection of recipes, which have clear instructions and an easy to follow ingredients list. With the help of adults the book is straight forward enough for budding young chefs.
There is a wide selection of dishes to choose from - starters, mains, desserts, salads, soups, bread....
Throughout the book there are various short, fun facts to widen the readers knowledge and little jokes to add a comical aspect to the pages.
I like the map at the beginning, showing the different states and the illustrations of the food is a nice touch to brighten up the book.
The contents page and index allow the reader to easily find the page of a specic recipe.
Overall, it is a nice family cookbook that will help children develop their cooking skills and learn a variety of new recipes from across the pond!
I would recommend this book to anybody from 8 years plus.
I loved the layout and the way the recipes were grouped into sections such as South West, Midwest etc.
There is a good selection of recipes, which have clear instructions and an easy to follow ingredients list. With the help of adults the book is straight forward enough for budding young chefs.
There is a wide selection of dishes to choose from - starters, mains, desserts, salads, soups, bread....
Throughout the book there are various short, fun facts to widen the readers knowledge and little jokes to add a comical aspect to the pages.
I like the map at the beginning, showing the different states and the illustrations of the food is a nice touch to brighten up the book.
The contents page and index allow the reader to easily find the page of a specic recipe.
Overall, it is a nice family cookbook that will help children develop their cooking skills and learn a variety of new recipes from across the pond!
I would recommend this book to anybody from 8 years plus.
June 21, 2023
The title of the book and description is engaging enough to draw you in! There are couple of nice recipes in there that I would like to try out in the coming weeks and look forward to seeing how they turn out! I was however disappointed in the discrepancy of the book description mentioning about the history and regional charm. To me that was what set it apart from other cookbooks. However going through the book I realized these are just some random facts or jokes literally “sprinkled” over the book. I was expecting more context or historical anecdotes surrounding a dish or the region or how a dish came about being of significant importance in a particular region. Not like some random facts thrown around with the information that I can easily google.
I was provided with an ARC via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
I was provided with an ARC via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
July 21, 2023
I like that this book contains multiple recipes for each state. For most states the recipes chosen are a good representation of the state. For Hawaii, however, I feel the frying sticks of SPAM is not a good representation of Hawaiian food culture. There are many other recipes or better SPAM recipes that could have been used in its place. The biggest thing missing, specially for a cookbook with an MSRP of $25, is photographs of the food. Most of these food items are completely foreign to the intended audience, children. Every children’s cookbook that I’ve purchased has photographs of the food, at the very least, and most have photographs of the steps to create it. This cookbook feels more like a copy and paste Google search for recipes by state and facts for states, than a well thought out and tested book of recipes.
Thank you NetGalley and Kitchen Ink Publishing for the opportunity to review this book prior to publication.
Thank you NetGalley and Kitchen Ink Publishing for the opportunity to review this book prior to publication.
June 23, 2023
I was thrilled to see this book listed for review. Not only because my sister and I (35 and 23) are always looking for new recipes but my nieces and nephews LOVE to cook with their grandma and I thought this would be perfect for them too.
The recipes were great, some more original than others, but 35 year old me was struggling to build up the confidence to make anything bigger than the smoothies. I think this is way too advance for children and even logged back in to NetGalley to make sure it was listed in the Children's category. I think the lack of any pictures of the recipes, steps etc is also a huge drawback.
If you have a budding chef on your hands maybe this is perfect but for the most part it seems like an adult cookbook with a kid centric cover.
The recipes were great, some more original than others, but 35 year old me was struggling to build up the confidence to make anything bigger than the smoothies. I think this is way too advance for children and even logged back in to NetGalley to make sure it was listed in the Children's category. I think the lack of any pictures of the recipes, steps etc is also a huge drawback.
If you have a budding chef on your hands maybe this is perfect but for the most part it seems like an adult cookbook with a kid centric cover.
August 8, 2023
A fun easy cookbook. Recipes are grouped by region and state with some full menu suggestions as well. The recipes are easy to follow with there are many that are kid friendly to make and definitely to eat. Nothing terribly sophisticated and some really old school that I cannot imagine ever making (Pineapple Cucumber Jello salad - yikes!), but most really fun. Made salt water taffy, chocolate dipped chips (also did some pretzels), frozen lemonade and maple candy on a hot rainy day with the kids and we all had a lot of fun!. It seemed like a national tour of state fairs, but yum! Would have liked some more photos.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 16, 2023
When I saw this book I was interested because I always love these articles on the internet about the best..whatever recipe from 50 states. They never get it right for my state, and I wondered if this one would. (They didn't.) I don't know about other states. I was also surprised to see so many recipes using convience foods, but then I realized it was written for children, and that made a lot more sense.
Some of the recipes sounded interesting, but PLEASE cookbook authors, stop adding sugar to cornbread. No Southern cook worth her spatula would add sugar cornbread. THAT is corn muffins. Which aren't bad, but they're more of a breakfast bread.
If you want a simple overview of national recipes, this isn't a bad place to start, but there are a lot better sources for regional recipes.
Some of the recipes sounded interesting, but PLEASE cookbook authors, stop adding sugar to cornbread. No Southern cook worth her spatula would add sugar cornbread. THAT is corn muffins. Which aren't bad, but they're more of a breakfast bread.
If you want a simple overview of national recipes, this isn't a bad place to start, but there are a lot better sources for regional recipes.
November 26, 2023
I was excited for this book. My children love cookbooks! This book however, was very difficult to follow. The grammatical errors were a lot. The recipes were split up and sometimes there would be a fact with the recipe included in the middle.
Besides all the formatting errors. My kids were bored. The jokes were cute, not sure if my kids understood many of them though. We all wanted to see real pictures of the food. The facts of the states were too lengthy and too difficult for a child to understand, or pay attention to.
The recipes themselves would of also been nice to have how long it would take to make.
I wish I had more positive things to say. I feel like if more time was taking, this could of been a much better quality book.
Besides all the formatting errors. My kids were bored. The jokes were cute, not sure if my kids understood many of them though. We all wanted to see real pictures of the food. The facts of the states were too lengthy and too difficult for a child to understand, or pay attention to.
The recipes themselves would of also been nice to have how long it would take to make.
I wish I had more positive things to say. I feel like if more time was taking, this could of been a much better quality book.
November 26, 2023
This book offers kids and adults a chance to make some food together and build some memories. The recipes that make up this title are organized by regions of the country. For example, in the Northeast section, kids will find apple cider doughnuts from New Hampshire or Philly Cheesesteak from Pennsylvania. I saw a recipe for Johnny Cakes a food from my childhood in Rhode Island. Every section of the country has something good to offer in these pages
In addition to the recipes, the book also includes some menus. For example, the Southeast one suggests coleslaw, corn and Southern fried chicken. As an extra bonus, some interesting facts about the states are included.
Browse, cook, enjoy. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kitchen Ink Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
In addition to the recipes, the book also includes some menus. For example, the Southeast one suggests coleslaw, corn and Southern fried chicken. As an extra bonus, some interesting facts about the states are included.
Browse, cook, enjoy. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kitchen Ink Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
August 13, 2023
When I first saw this title, I thought, what a great idea! Nanette Lavin has taken that idea and given us the opportunity to build some really great memories with the younger members of our families. Just pulling them into the kitchen doesn't always work, but giving them the stories behind the recipes surely caught and held the attention of the children in our large family. Then, they shared those stories with their friends and siblings so another generation was introduced to the wonderful feel of cooking together, then eating what you cooked. All because Nanette Lavin had such a wonderful idea!!!!
August 23, 2023
I was excited to read this book. Our family loves to travel and to try different cuisines that are local to the area. I did find this book wonderful with various recipes from each state that are on the easier end for the daily cook. I didn't find anything too complicated. I will say this. There seemed to be some things missing. Take Georgia for example. Not one peach recipe. That is what they are known for! My suggestion would be to get rid of the "suggested meal plans" and potentially add a couple more recipes from each state. Most states are so diverse and that would give more opportunities to try new things. Overall, a great read!
June 12, 2023
This cookbook combines two of my favorite things, cooking and traveling. In this cookbook you are taken on a culinary adventure. Many of these recipes you may be familiar with such as you know that Florida is known for Key Lime Pie but now you have a recipe and you can pretend you are hanging out down in the Keys. Or maybe you want to try the famous Philly cheesesteak from Pennsylvania. You can relive some of your favorite vacations eats at home. They combine some of these favorites into menus from the different regions of the country. So much fun to try at home.
June 27, 2023
A road trip that will work while at home or in preparation of the family vacation. This cookbook has little one liners the kids can learn and say along the way. A wonderful dedication to her husband as well as her children, this recipe book will also provide a little history for things many take for granted. For example, the first recipe for ketchup where and when. Nicely broken down by region and simple recipes that families can make together.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (nicely done) and the publisher.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (nicely done) and the publisher.
July 23, 2023
I received a free copy of this book from NetGallery. I really enjoyed the dad jokes and fun facts for each state but I feel like this book fell short. When I am reading a cook book I tend to prefer those with images of the meals over drawings. I also feel like some of the recipes were too basic- for example, corn on the cob. Some of these recipes are very easy while others are a bit more challenging. In that sense I think this is a good book for everyone. Overall, I wouldn’t purchase this book but definitely checkout from a library.
August 13, 2023
Thanks Nanette Lavin and NetGalley for this wonderful advance readers copy of Recipe Road Trip, Cooking Your Way Across the USA. The recipes in this book are absolutely amazing and delicious. I love that they are ranked 1-3 in ease of making so that beginners to experts can easily find something to make. There are fun dishes from every state as well as some surprises. I’m looking forward to learning how to make some of these recipes that I have never made before but with her easy step by step recipes I look forward to making them.
November 24, 2023
Thank you Kitchen Ink Publishing and NetGalley for the electronic review copy of this fabulous book. “The goal of this book is to educate, entertain, and create delicious food for everyone to enjoy,” states the introduction, and that’s exactly what this book does. This fun book takes children on a delightful culinary adventure across the United States and its territories one recipe, fun fact, and joke at a time. I can’t recommend this book enough and would be using it with my students and grandkids.
December 4, 2023
I read this book as a free ebook on Netgalley.
I really enjoyed this book. There were many recipes that I plan on making included in here. The facts about the different foods and origins were really interesting. Most of the jokes, I just rolled my eyes at but a kid would probably be entertained by them. The formatting for reading in my kindle app definitely threw things off a little bit but I was able to figure out what the next steps were. I totally plan on buying this book in physical form. Thanks Netgalley!
I really enjoyed this book. There were many recipes that I plan on making included in here. The facts about the different foods and origins were really interesting. Most of the jokes, I just rolled my eyes at but a kid would probably be entertained by them. The formatting for reading in my kindle app definitely threw things off a little bit but I was able to figure out what the next steps were. I totally plan on buying this book in physical form. Thanks Netgalley!
June 14, 2023
Colorful illustrations display with large and neat font.
Recipe Road trip cookbook teaches you geographical stats such as the names of the states and the regions of the US map. Each state proudly present their iconic recipes and some fun facts and jokes!
I believe that this book is ideal for all ages.
The book also includes other book references for readers who are passionate about cooking.
Recipe Road trip makes a wonderful. gift for readers who share their love for cooking and geography..
Recipe Road trip cookbook teaches you geographical stats such as the names of the states and the regions of the US map. Each state proudly present their iconic recipes and some fun facts and jokes!
I believe that this book is ideal for all ages.
The book also includes other book references for readers who are passionate about cooking.
Recipe Road trip makes a wonderful. gift for readers who share their love for cooking and geography..
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