If you pick up an Irish cookbook that has been released in the last decade, there is a good chance you’ll find Kristin Jensen’s name inside. Cookbooks are her passion. She has edited more than 80 cookbooks and she is also the publisher, editor and food writer of an exciting range of cookbooks due to be released this year called Blasta Books. Her children Maeve (16) and Connor (13) have been cooking and baking with her since they were toddlers and she has picked her favourites for our Irish Farmers Journal Junior readers.

Learn to Cook with Neven

Neven Maguire

Gill Books

For all you young chefs, one of the first cookbooks to put on your list is Learn to Cook with Neven Maguire. I worked on this book and what I and my kids love is that every recipe has four simple steps so it’s really easy to follow.

It was an interesting project to work on. Because everything only had four steps, we had to really simplify the instructions but I think the end result is all the better. Everything is really streamlined and clear cut, you don’t get bogged down in the detail. It’s a great starting point on your food journey.

  • Pepper and pesto pizza scrolls: this is a really fun twist on pizza and you’ll be impressed with how good it looks.
  • Easy spaghetti bolognese: you get to serve up this family favourite.
  • Snickers shortbread: I think the name says it all!

    • 5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food

    Jamie Oliver

    Penguin Michael Joseph

    This book was released when my son Connor was about 10 and it really captured his imagination. Because, as the title suggests, every recipe only has five ingredients and yet they are still packed full of flavour.

    Nothing is terribly complicated and like Neven’s book, the layout is so clear and friendly.

    My son made loads of recipes really well and this helped to build his confidence in the kitchen and he was so proud of the finished product.

    We also used to watch the show together which brought the recipes to life. We still use it all the time, especially on busy days when we need to make something quick and easy but still tasty.

  • Super green spaghetti: you might not be too fond of kale but I promise you, give this kale pesto a go and your mind will be changed.
  • Messy meatball buns: my son has pencilled in five stars for this one in our copy. The whole family loves it.
  • Buddy’s flapjack biscuits: this is super easy and you might just find you can do the whole thing on your own.

    • Good Food No Stress

    Tara Walker

    Mercier

    Tara Walker runs East Coast Cookery School in Co Louth, so she has tested lots and lots of recipes. But in the cookery school, she also runs a cooking camp, for kids from six to teenagers, so she gets the feedback on her recipes first hand from her students.

    Again, this book is easy to follow. Tara is good at introducing new flavours. I remember my kids went to her camp and they made something with fish sauce. Not only do they like cooking with this book, they love eating everything I make for family dinners. In fact, I bought a second copy for their grandparent’s house so when they visit them in Sligo, they can have their favourite meals there.

    No-hassle smoked salmon pasta: this is a recipe that my kids regularly make themselves. The only help they might need is draining the hot pasta.

  • Chicken fajitas: this spice mix is so good that we use it in place of the spices in other recipes too.
  • Billie’s chocolate, amaretti and orange cake: this was the first cake that my daughter made all on her own and was proud to serve it to her grandparents.

    • Meals in Minutes

    Donal Skehan

    Hodder & Stoughton

    I’ve always appreciated Donal Skehan’s recipes. They are spot on with good taste combinations. This book takes things up a notch in terms of trying new flavours.

    Donal introduces Asian flavours really well. They aren’t too hot, they aren’t too spicy, just really well balanced, so you can gently start to explore different cuisines.

    One of our family favourite recipes is Donal’s Boom Boom Pho, which is a Nasi goreng, a stir-fried dish with an egg on top.

    In our house, we call those kind of dishes ‘spoon food’ – you eat them with a spoon, they are warm and comforting and ‘carby’ and perfect after school.

  • Garlic and rosemary chicken with confit butter sauce and gnocchi: don’t be fooled by the fancy title, this is simple and delicious.
  • Saltimbocca alla romana: the best part of this recipe is bashing the pork fillet with a meat hammer.
  • Chilli peanut butter noodles: whenever I ask my daughter what she fancies for dinner for the week ahead, she always says anything with soya sauce, so she loves these noodles.

    • top Tips for parents

  • Start cooking with kids from an early age, and I mean really early. When Maeve was a toddler, I would chop up all the ingredients when she was in playschool and then when she came home, she would help me dump everything into the pot and stir. Do the same measuring out ingredients for baking.
  • Embrace the mess. Cooking with kids can be frustrating as it is 10 times messier but try to concentrate on their happy faces and not the half pound of flour on the floor. Looking back, I only remember their happy faces licking the bowl, not the mess.
  • I am still trying to practise what I preach on this one but as a parent try to back off. As a perfectionist, this is hard for me as I want to pass on my knowledge and tips but my daughter likes her independence in the kitchen so I’m learning to bite my tongue so she can embrace her creativity.

    • Follow Kristin Jensen on Twitter: @blastabooks @9beanrowsbooks @edibleireland

    Read more

    Neven Maguire: cooking with the kiddies

    Neven Maguire: a Neven favourite