Featured Review: The Sneaky Chef -A Cookbook for Picky Eaters

I liked that she doesn't expect you to cook everything from scratch. As a busy mom, the packages of mac & cheese and other foods often come out when I don't have time. The first puree I tested was the white bean puree. Open a can of white beans, add some water to a food processor or blender (which is what I used), make it the consistency of peanut butter (smooth, not wet and you don't want to see any pieces of bean) and you're done!  Then I added it to my packaged mac and cheese, after I cooked the macaroni and made the cheese sauce. Ben and even I, lapped it up. I could tell that the white beans were there (because I love them), but my child had no clue and loved it. She also has a list of substitutions for the purees (Missy recommends baby food such as Beechnut's sweet potatoes and carrot purees to make her orange puree). 

I also made the "Hi Fi Fish Sticks"- high fiber fish sticks, using the white puree (cauliflower and zucchini), egg, "her better breadcrumbs" - which were ground up wheat bread and wheat germ and were so easy to make. I didn't have whole wheat flour, so I substituted whole grain pancake mix. I took the tilapia, dipped it in the pancake mix, dipped it into the egg and white puree mixed together and then dipped it into the breadcrumbs. Then I grilled it with some olive oil (but you could have baked it too). Dear readers, this was such a HUGE hit in my household. Hubby and baby feasted. I also made the "magic meatballs" - with the green puree, but since Ben won't touch turkey meatballs or tomato sauce anyway, my husband ended up eating it.  My friend Melissa has made the brownies - with the purple puree for her daughter's school and everyone loved them. The French toast with the orange puree also came out wonderfully (but using Challah bread may taste a little better than the wheat bread I used).  The chicken fingers came out delicious too. I just made them smaller and called them "Nuggets" so Ben would eat them.   

My only complaint with the book was that I wanted to see MORE RECIPES. There are many, with categories of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and treats, but I wanted more!  Hopefully a companion book will be in the works!! I appreciated that there was a list of foods that you should buy organic (like peaches and strawberries- that have too many pesticides on it), to foods that you don't need to go organic for (like sweet corn).

As much as I wish I didn't have to sneak things into my child's food, I have to make sure he gets his nutrition. I will keep offering the veggies and fruits in the open, but at least I know he is getting his requirements in the mean time. If your toddler or child is giving you a war at every meal, this book is for you. I think it's worth your time! I kind of killed my blender making these purees, so I think its time I get a proper food processor!!

Celeb fans of this book include Chef Daniel Boulud, Jami Gertz, Denise Richards, Joel McHale from E!'s The Soup, and Miley Cyrus' mom, Leticia Cyrus.

Want to invite the Sneaky Chef to your abode? Click here to buy it.

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