The Parenting Cookbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Cooking, Eating and Entertaining for Today's...

In these times of pressure and over scheduling, the idea of the entire family gathering regularly to share a meal may seem a quaint concept. Maintaining that that scenario is more easily within reach than many family cooks imagine, Gunst (a Parenting columnist and author of Roasting) combines tasty recipes with sensible advice on issues from stocking the pantry to tempting the picky eater. To promote healthful, enjoyable family meals, she suggests that parents project a positive attitude about eating new foods and limit their own intake of junk food. She observes that kids may be weaned from their attachment to a pizza/macaroni/peanut butter diet by becoming involved in food choices and preparation; practical advice to that end includes taking children to farm stands or ethnic food stores and letting them select items, as well as enlisting their help in making snacks and helping to fix the family dinner. The 325 recipes, ranging from breakfast to birthday party menus, are fairly quick to assemble, especially if the kids help, and don't require exotic items. Although Gunst favors healthy food, she's no Puritan. Recipes for Chocolate Pretzels and some killer desserts like Peanut Butter Fondue are included. Nutritional analyses are given for each dish. Such dishes as Grilled Marinated Pork Tenderloin and Chicken and Sausage Paella may well have kids choosing the family dinner table over the local fast food outlet. (Nov.)