Stirring It Up (Dish Series #1)

To Molly and Amanda, cooking classes with their friends Shawn and Peichi seem like the key ingredient for a super summer. That is, until their arch-nemesis, Natasha, shows up. But when tragedy strikes a local family, the girls decide to put their cooking skills to good use and make some meals for them. The meals hit the spot, plus the girls feel good about helping out. Maybe they can turn their hobby into something more?

Tired of the takeout dinners their parents bring home, eleven-year-old twins Molly and Amanda decide to take cooking classes with two of their friends. Includes recipes.

To Molly and Amanda, cooking classes with their friends Shawn and Peichi seem like the key ingredient for a super summer. That is, until their arch-nemesis, Natasha, shows up. But when tragedy strikes a local family, the girls decide to put their cooking skills to good use and make some meals for them. The meals hit the spot, plus the girls feel good about helping out. Maybe they can turn their hobby into something more?

Erica Bailey - Children's Literature

This first book in the "Dish" series centers on the lives of Molly and Amanda Moore, 11-year-old twin sisters. The novel focuses on Molly and Amanda's first attempts at cooking. Because their parents are busy at work many nights a week, the girls decide to surprise their family with a homemade dinner. When the dinner is a success, they decide to begin cooking lessons so that they can help out at home. The girls join their friends Shawn and Peichi in cooking lessons, and the girls fall in love with cooking. Their only problem is that the nasty Natasha threatens to ruin their fun. Soon after lessons begin, however, one of the girls' close friends experiences tragedy. With some help from Mom, the girls use their newfound talents in the kitchen to lend a hand. Amanda and Molly enjoy aiding their friends so much that they come up with an exciting idea to ease their summer boredom. In the process, they even begin to understand what is bothering Natasha. The novel is a great read for pre-teens or young adult readers, because it is written in very easy-to-understand language. Teens will not struggle with strong subject matter or words, and they will relate to the problems the girls face (boy embarrassments, friend trouble, and moral dilemmas). They will also be entertained by the various exploits of the two sisters and their friends. 2002, Grosset/Dunlap publishers, Ages 10 to 14.

Diane Muldrow lives in Brooklyn, New York. Barbara Pollak lives in San Francisco, California.