'The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen' - Cookbook Spotlight

'The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen'
Recipes by Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson
Hearst Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson, a pair of stay-at-home moms who are also contributing editors to Country Living Magazine (with whom this book was co-produced) have been sharing simple, good food with their families and friends for years. With the release of their first book, comprised of 80 percent recipes, 10 percent family stories and 10 percent kitchen crafts, readers get an open door into the lives of these two women.

Both residents of the state of Washington, these gals aren't milking cows and herding sheep, they're "farming" for antiques, which are many times found in old barns. They quickly became famous for their finds and homemade goods and now hold yearly antique shows.

Filled with recipes like Apple Puff Pancakes, Sour Cream and Onion Zucchini Cakes, Savory Sweet Potato Soup and Butterscotch Pie, the book will make you feel at home with classics that won't keep you slaving over a hot stove.

What we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Takeaway tips: Skipping dinner, the Farm Chicks focus on breakfast, lunch and dessert with an emphasis on using seasonal bounty. Useful equivalent charts are tucked away in the back, but the most interesting tidbit is the very last -- blank -- page. The Chicks encourage their readers to write in their book: "We often alter recipes to suit the taste of our families, so making notes means a better outcome for future cooking."

Quality of pictures: Photographs of food mixed with family photos creates an intimate setting, but didn't satisfy a hungry stomach. There weren't enough images of the dishes, which can sometimes cause hesitation when deciding whether to make a recipe.

We tested: Apple Puff Pancake

If you've ever wanted a good excuse to have apple pie for breakfast, this pancake will do the trick. Butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and apples are tossed together and baked until puffy. The Chicks recommend drizzling maple syrup over the top, which makes it irresistible. With the sweet smoky scent of apples, cinnamon and pastry creating a haze in the kitchen, everyone will be asking, "is it done yet?" We couldn't tell you if it reheats well, since everyone dug in and finished it off in no time.

Worth the investment: The book is cute and well written, but we found ourselves most intrigued by the breakfast section. We did love that this is a family cookbook through and through, and that these chicks are their own Martha Stewart -- with a farmer, uh, edge.