The Food Nanny rescues dinner Easy family meals for every day of the week

With the idea that shared family meals are the cornerstone of good parenting and relationships, self-styled "food nanny" Edmunds offers up a collection of 200 classic family favorites in this terrific home resource. Virtually every classic dish is represented, from Chicken Pot Pie, Pot Roast and Tuna Melts to Buttermilk Waffles and Apple Pie, as well as a few surprises like Sopapillas and even French Baguettes. Helpfully organized by theme ("comfort food," "Italian night," "Mexican night," "pizza night"), Edmunds offers dishes for varying tastes and skill levels. Even those who have never set foot in the kitchen will be able to put a meal together quickly with her easy-to-follow guidance; Classic American Lasagne, for example, calls for jarred sauce and prepared lasagna noodles, but also offers recipes for the noodles themselves and a Bolognese sauce for cooks so inclined. It's this distinguishing approach that makes the book suitable for honing skills and self-challenging. Themes of togetherness and "quality time" feel forced (what could possibly shut up kids faster than the suggested conversation starter, "Why do you think some kids need to bully others?"), but it's impossible to fault Edmunds broad, deep and crowd-pleasing collection, especially suitable for those new to the kitchen. (Sept.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.