Betty Crocker's Cookbook for Boys and Girls,

Wow, how weird is it when you AND your mother learn to cook out of the same "classic" kid's cooking book and then they republish it, in all its original trimmings? I remember Mom pulling this out when I was younger and excited to learn how to cook "all by myself." And yes, the book looks hauntingly familiar and decidedly retro, with its two-toned illustrations of perky-looking girls in their frocks with aprons and the boys with their hair all slicked back or neatly combed. Of course, all the 245+ recipes are the same too, running the gamut from cakes and other "party" recipes to breakfasts, lunches, dinners, "campfire" cooking, and more. Lists of helps and tips are also included, such as cakemaking tips, cooking "rules", lists of how to measure common ingredients, pictures of common cooking utensils, definitions of cooking terms, and of course, important kitchen manners. Each recipe is simple and kid-friendly (even today!) with necessary ingredients listed in separate boxes, step-by-step directions linked to the ingredients they use, and serving directions. Full-color photos are included of some of the recipes, and a helpful index is found at the back. The whole book is, like the original, spiral-bound in a hardcover jacket, built to stand up to years of kitchen abuse. Destined to be a kitchen "classic" for your home as well. - Jess