The New York Times reports on a fuss over two books that look awfully similar in content:

The basic concepts for several of Ms. Lapine’s recipes — spinach in brownies, avocado in chocolate pudding and sweet potato in grilled cheese sandwiches — also appear in recipes offered by Ms. Seinfeld.

Silly ruffled feathers aside, why don’t people learn how to cook GOOD REAL FOOD instead of devising insane strategies to “hide” “healthy” food. Forgive the quotation marks there, but there is nothing “healthy” about stuffing cooked to death squash in mac and cheese, and putting spinach in brownies? Whatever.

Not that my experience is necessarily anything to extrapolate from, but I’ve found that good quality food cooked appropriately, with love (and a little skill) has presented no problem for my daughter.

She, at just about four years old, routinely eats and enjoys the following:

  • brussels sprouts
  • stinky cheeses
  • any meat she can get her hands on
  • tofu
  • seitan
  • hummus
  • bean sprouts
  • all manner of indian food, to varying levels of spice (heat)
  • every kind of cuisine she’s tried

In other words, she’s enjoyed everything we’ve given her - and from what I can remember, always has. Generally, the first few times she’s introduced to a new food, she’s uncertain, but after the second time she generally digs in without a second thought. No hiding, no cajoling, no subterfuge, no nothing.

So my two cents? Skip the cookbook. Send us, your loyal authors, the money so we can pay for this site, and as my friend M. said over IM the other day, use
“the right ingredients, and the heart, and the creativity and palate”

to make food that your family will love.

And please, stop hiding squash in the chocolate cake.