Cooking the West African Way FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Susan Hepler, Ph.D.
This book is a revised and expanded entry in the "Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks" series. Opening chapters provide a glimpse of the way people live in West Africa, the countries from Senegal to Nigeria nestled under the western curve of the continent. A discussion of holidays and festivals, including many Muslim ones, are also included. Some cooking terms and general directions are followed by five sections of recipes for staples and snacks, fruits and vegetables, soups, main dishes, and special holiday food. Almost all of the ingredients can be easily purchased in the average supermarket and some recipes have been adapted for American cooks. For instance, fufu is made with Cream of Wheat and dried mashed potato flakes and sweet potatoes are substituted for yams. Full color mouth-watering photographs will make readers eager to try a few of these recipes; report writers will want to augment their research with samples for the class to try and adult readers can find a start on ethnic cuisine in this series. 2002, Lerner, Ages 10 to 14.
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-These revisions feature low-fat and vegetarian recipes along with a new format and colorful close-up photos. Holiday includes fascinating information on celebrations and a wide range of dishes from more than a dozen countries. West African, which incorporates some of the material found in Cooking the African Way (Lerner, 1988), begins with a discussion of the land and people of Africa, an illustrated map of the region, and mention of several holidays. In both titles, "Before You Begin" sections cover safety, utensils, special ingredients, healthy-cooking tips, and metric conversions while chapters focus on such topics as soups and main dishes. Sample dinner menus along with shopping lists are provided. Most ingredients are readily available with just one or two that may need to be purchased at a specialty store. Recipe titles are both in English and the language of the culture in most cases. Glossy covers, pictures throughout, and well-designed layouts add to the overall appeal of these volumes. Although these are not essential purchases for libraries owning the original editions, they are handsome, useful updates, along with Fran Osseo-Asare's A Good Soup Attracts Chairs: A First African Cookbook for American Kids (Pelican, 1993; o.p.), and Diane Vezza's Passport on a Plate (S & S, 1997; o.p.).-Augusta R. Malvagno, Queens Borough Public Library, NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
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