Over the course of a year, Emily Franklin introduces her four children to new dishes, some exotic, some thrown together with whatever she has in her cabinets, to varying degrees of success. Undaunted by failure ("this tastes like sand!"), Emily writes with great humor about the highs and lows of parenting in the kitchen, and shows how our lives and memories are inextricably linked to food. Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, 102 New Recipes ~ A Memoir of Tasting, Testing, and Discovery in the Kitchen details the chaos that surrounds mealtime with four children ages eight and younger with no childcare.

Too Many Cooks is Franklin’s charming, comedic, and wise memoir of her life in the family kitchen. Peppered in equal parts with how-I-did-it advice on parenting (one son gobbles even fava beans when she labels them "Cajun") and flexible, mouthwatering recipes (salmon can sit in Impromptu Asian Marinade overnight, for thirty minutes, or no time at all), it’s a deliciously entertaining, and wonderfully inspiring, book about the joys, anxieties, and delightful surprises to be found around the dinner table.

With over 100 original recipes, this book combines the food memoir and the parenting memoir in a relatable, fun voice that is sure to appeal to foodies and parents. A former chef on historic and luxury yachts and personal chef, Emily’s recipes are easy to follow, and easily devoured by the whole family.

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Read a review from thekitchn.com

Try a recipe: Easy Baked Vanilla French Toast

Try a recipe: Crunchy Granola Bars