Advantages: kids love it, teaches kids hygiene and satety
Disadvantages: you have to clean up the kitchen after they've tried to cook stuff!!

...my little one tootles into the lounge singing.... "Big Cook, Little Cook Welcome to our Cafe Big Cook, Little Cook Want you to come and play Meeting all the friends we cook for Sharing stories, tripsand fun Big Cook, Little Cook will cook for everyone!" does that sound familiar? If not, and you have kids it won't be long until your humming along too! If you haven't seen it i'll explain. Shown on CBeebies Big Cook, Little Cook are a genius culinary duo! The 2 characters Big Cook Ben and Little Cook Small run a cafe together and cook for all their amazing guests in this DVD. On this DVD which by the way lasts 100 minutes we see Frankie the Footballer, Denise the Dentist, a Clown and a disco dancer arrive to eat something delicious cooked by our favourite chef duo! Each of the four episodes have the same format... the nice song... Read review

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Advantages: good ideas for cooking
Disadvantages: Ainsley Harriot

...This show was much more proffesional when Fern Britton was presenting it. Ainsley Harriot was much better as a cook. I find him very irritating now, he uses the same few old jokes time after time. Fern used to ask sensible questions to the cooks, but Ainsley seems to talk down to them now. It is almost as if he is thinking "I wouldn't have done that". I like to watch it as it gives me different ideas for new twists on basic foods. I like the new bit they have on the show where both the celebrity cooks have a set of ingredients and they have to say what they would cook. The audience vote for it and that chef (and Ainsley) cook it. The show is great, but please change the presenter.... Read review

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Advantages: Simple, easy to use, the best way to cook!
Disadvantages: Timer not 100% accurate

...And this review is coming from someone that thinks cooking is putting something in the microwave! I cooked a roast last night and used this steamer in order to cook the vegetables. We had brocolli and sweetcorn. I was astounded at how easy it was to use and the value for money that it offers you. This is definately the most nutrious way to cook vegetables to keep the goodness locked in. This is definately a really good steamer for someone that doesn't cook. Just having it out on the side definately gives your guests the right impression. The aroma from the steam that this machine creates is remarkable. Such a homely smell. Steaming is the way forward, and the way forward is with this steamer.... Read review

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Advantages: get kids in to cooking
Disadvantages: have to watch it at least ten times a day

...this programme is great.... i seem to spend most of my time watching kids programmes these days, but i am kind of getting used to it.. This one really consists of two cooks, one is the main chef.. he is a normal sized adult and does all the cooking, and some really daft dancing, the other is a small helper cook, he is about the size of a small doll, and he does all the mixing and singing and some more daft dancing.. which really makes me giggle when they are both at it... The main cook is really good at letting the children no what they are going to make and making it sound fun.. makes me want to cook... he he... and the little one as the food is cooking goes on his flying spoon and travels around looking for interesting things... for example one day he flew to a farm to see where the eggs came from and how they got in to the shops... Read review

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Advantages: Handy, easy to store, multifunctional
Disadvantages: steaming bowl too small

...I've bought this just recently on ebay. i got it at an unbelievable bargain at £5 for a new product but the delivery fees was £ 7.99. I've looked around elsewhere and found out that this would cost around £50. It also comes with a 12 months warranty. This is a must have in every kitchen. It is a 3-in-1 cooker, allowing it to act as a rice cooker, steamer and slow cooker. It comes in two colours -silver and white. I've personally got the white one. Along with the cooker comes a condensation collector (which is extremely useful, preventing water droplets from dripping over), spoon storage and spoon, and a plastic cup (for measuring the amount of rice). I must remind you that the plastic cup can only be used for measuring rice and not water, unless you are only cooking 1 cup of rice. Also, do serve with the plastic spoon as this would... Read review

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Advantages: It is fun for the whole family
Disadvantages: Some of the movements are hard to perform

...I bought this game for my 4 years old.He loves it. At the beginning was difficult, but now he knows how to play. Basically you have a cooking book with recipes for all over the world. With the wii remote you have to do the cutting, slicing,peeling, in fact everything to prepare the food. when you \'cook\' one recipe another recipes are add to the book. The best part really is when two people cook at the same time. this is good because the fun is double, you want to cook and you want to win the other player. My 9years old daughter always win, so my 4 years son gets upset. Still good game. It is the first time I have ever play a game and I really enjoy it. My 11 years old son thinks is boring , but he is a \'professional\' with the games. The only thing i do not like is that some of the movements are quite difficult, like cracking... Read review

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Advantages: The ability to customise everything!
Disadvantages: Only limited diary entries

...Cooking Mama 2 is definitely worth getting if you want a game to keep you entertained when your bored! It has so many different modes, there is the basic cooking mode where you can cook over 60 recipes in total which you can unlock later, you earn bronze silver or gold medals depending on how well you do. There is also a mode to cook with friends where you cook a meal for one of cooking mama's friends and they give you a rating, when you do really well you unlock more friends. The other mode is where you do certain cooking method e.g. cutting, mixing etc and try to master them. I love the fact that you can customise Mama with clothes and accesories you unlock and I also love the diary that you can keep with pictures of your food which you can seal with seals you unlock, the only bad thing is you can only have limited diary entries... Read review

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Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...Ready Steady Cook takes simple people with basic ingredients and makes some great recipes using simple foods. It is similar to Can't Cook Won't Cook, although there is not quite as much guest participation. The show on a whole is very good for all people who are fans of cookery programmes or who are looking for simple easy to create recipes. I admit that the host is mildly annoying with her stupid questions and tendency to appear a lot during the show, but this is made up for by the rest of the show. Overall a very good programme suitable for most people.... Read review

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Advantages: Colourful, easy to follow recipes and useful general ideas.
Disadvantages: Sometimes needs a bit more detail.

...If you want to learn how to cook, then in this mag have a look. There's lots of recipes for you to try, and doesn't leave your kitchen like a pig sty. Whether it's sweet, healthy, veg or meat, this guide for you will be hard to beat. It gives you lots of cooking tips, and soon will have you licking your lips. It's got lots of ideas, from chefs of the telly and they give you great ideas for filling your belly. You don't need to be a Ramsay or White, just quick simple ideas that turn out just right. With lots of ideas and a reasonable price, you'll soon be making food that's dead nice. So don't hang around, have a quick look, you'll be surprised what you learn by reading easy cook.... Read review

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Advantages: Simple and easy to understand, fun to cook
Disadvantages: None that I can think of

...This cookbook is the sort which has simple recipes that anybody can cook. Jamie Oliver, a working chef at London's River Café, strips back the recipes to their bare essentials, and basically cooks simpler versions of food he might cook everyday, but without the precise measures. He applies this to all his recipes - from salads to roasts, desserts to pastas, and avoids using culinary jargon. In the book you'll also find suggestions for ingredients to keep in your larder and herbs to grow on your windowsill. There are also tips on how to cook live lobsters, how to make gravy, preparing pulses for cooking, and how to make the perfect roast chicken. A terrific cookbook, and interesting read, and a book you WILL use in the kitchen.... Read review

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