hungry-monkey1I never, ever videotape shows any more (yes, we still have a VCR, and no, we don’t have a DVR). On Tuesday, I’m making an exception, because Matthew Amster-Burton, author of Hungry Monkey (and my brother-in-law) will be appearing on CBS’s The Early Show with my niece, Iris.

What’s Hungry Monkey?  Originally, Matthew told me he was writing a cookbook, but Hungry Monkey is much more. It’s a memoir of exploring food with a child, recipes included. Oh, and I’m in it. Page 190.

…my sister-in-law Kathleen, a working mom with three adorable girls…

Thanks, Matthew. :-)

I also had the privilege of testing some of the recipes in the book before publication. My favorite? Super-easy and delicious Penne With Brussels Sprouts and Bacon (page 89).  This is the best way to cook Brussels sprouts ever, and quick enough for a weeknight.

I promise, you will love the food.  But I also giggled through the whole book.

Solids are messy and complicated. I’m thirty-three years old and I still dribble them on my shirt several times a week.

And it resonated with my own experience. You see, Matthew doesn’t believe in special foods for babies and children.  Well, except for breastmilk and formula (although he admits to tasting it).  The book begins with Iris’s adventures in breastfeeding, and progresses to the baby food stage and beyond.

The First Rule of Baby Food is that there’s no such thing as baby food.

Matthew and Laurie (my sister) mostly shared whatever they were eating with Iris, cut into small pieces or mashed.  Parents and would-be parents, this is the way to go! It’s easy, nutritious (well, depending on your diet), and it’s what your kid really wants anyway. Haven’t you seen them reaching for your food?

That said, Matthew did apparently take to preparing foods that both he and Iris could enjoy for lunch (he’s the at-home parent during the day), like Baby Creamed Spinach and Baby Chicken and Mushrooms.

And then in chapter 3, he admits to sometimes using canned chili and frozen foods!  Gasp!  Matthew, Laurie and Iris live in the real world, too!  I’m so relieved.

If you have kids and love food, this is the book you’ve been waiting for. Or that you didn’t know you were waiting for.

Matthew and Iris will be appearing on CBS’s The Early Show this Tuesday, May 19 (check your local listings; it’s on from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 am. Pacific).  Matthew is also visiting several West Coast cities to read from Hungry Monkey and sign books (mine is charmingly autographed by both Matthew and Iris).  Portlanders, he’ll be at Annie Bloom’s on June 2 at 7:30 p.m. (and on AM Northwest that morning).  You can also get more of Matthew and Iris on his blog, Roots and Grubs.

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