The Naptime Chef
Fitting Great Food into Family Life
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Having children changes your life, but it doesn't have to change what you cook. Like her blog, www.TheNaptimeChef.com, Banfield's cookbook is equal parts pragmatic parent and ardent foodie. The result is a tasty playbook of meals, made over to save time without compromising taste. Some favorites are the 45-minute artichoke lasagna, assembled in the morning or afternoon and held in the fridge until dinnertime; a roast chicken that's rubbed down with herbs in the morning stays moist and flavorful when roasted later in the evening; a French toast casserole that can be tossed together the night before and popped in the oven in the morning for a special breakfast. Soups, salads, veggies, sides, main courses, and desserts are all adapted to the time that you have -- whether it's during naptime, before bedtime, in the morning, or on the weekends -- without sacrificing quality or flavor. Take back dinner, one dish at a time!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Banfield started her blog thenaptimechef.com after her daughter was born. A self-professed foodie, Banfield was frustrated by her inability to cook good food and care for a baby at the same time. She became "focused on preparing food efficiently while still maintaining quality and taste." She found that her daughter's naptime provided her with the time she needed to once again assemble delicious meals. Assuming that your child naps, that you are home when these naps take place, and that you yourself don't partake in "sleeping when the baby sleeps," Banfield might just provide the answers you've been looking for regarding making satisfying meals for your family. She addresses working parents, suggesting "be a bedtime chef and prepare dinner ahead for the next day." She also suggests cooking while your children are at, say, soccer practice, so you had better hope your kids are athletic as well as good sleepers. The book contains some tasty recipes such as sweet potato and lentil stew, artichoke lasagna, Dutch oven pulled pork, and pumpkin spice bars with maple cream cheese frosting. Banfield's make-ahead tips, like how to properly store certain foods like guacamole and toasted almonds, are also helpful.