The Wizard of Oz Cookbook; Breakfast in Kansas, Dessert in Oz ~ Sarah Key, Jennifer Newman Brazil, Vicki Wells

Alright, I'll admit this doesn't really seem to have been written with serious cooks in mind, but rather 'friends of Dorothy' and other fans of the movie. The chapter on Cocktails at the Witches Castle attests to the book not being necessarily aimed at children, though there is another chapter which specifically features kids party recipes, so they are trying to cover a fairly broad fanbase with this book.

There are quite interesting snippets of Wizard of Oz trivia scattered throughout the cookbook, and almost every recipe has relevant lines from the movie at the top. It was fascinating to learn how the horse of a different colour had been done, back in the days before special effects (think Jelly crystals).

Honestly I haven't tried terribly many of the included recipes, though I have made Glinda's Magic Wand Star Cookies for a children's birthday party and they were fine - ordinary but fine. The recipes themselves are ordinary, but pleasant, gaining their appeal as much from the carefully thought out names as from the making of them. That said I'm thinking the Rusty Tin Man (Scotch, Campari, Soda water and a lemon twist) might be worth a try sooner rather than later.

Recommended for fans of the Wizard of Oz, friends of Dorothy, and nine year old girls alike.

- kath