Description: Reviews from: LOS ANGELES TIMES CHICAGO TRIBUNE by Russ Parsons Not every good cookbook has to be serious. Sara Perry's Summertime Treats is a prime example. It's slight, and slightly giddy, the way you might remember from the last week of vacation. Soccer moms should delight in the crafts suggestions: everything from an ingenious method for making semi-permanent castles from a homemade sand based clay to decorations citronella candles with grass and fake bugs. The recipes are evenly divided between summertime drinks (all, of course, nonalcoholic though not necessarily childish) and the kinds of dishes you might call beach food. Included among the smoothies and shakes are a splendid-sounding lime fizz, a pretty convincing coffee frapp and a strawberry lassi. The food runs to big, bold flavors guaranteed to rise above even saltwater and suntan lotion. by Ren e Enna Summertime Treats, by Sara Perry, is a lively and beautifully photographed book designed for families, with recipes and crafts that accentuate, warm weather living. Quick-to-make dishes concentrate on picnic classics such as potato salad and deviled eggs (which get dressed up with cocktail umbrellas), as well as ethnic favorites, including orange mint tabbouleh and gazpacho-to-go. Corn on the cob gets an update with a variety of flavored butters to serve alongside it. We fell in love with the recipe for fresh strawberry shortcake with summer cream (pictured on the book's corner). The crafts are fun too. Vacation place mats are made from postcards and maps, and a "One-for-the-Road" lunch box is designed to accommodate the restless-on-road-trips crowd. -- -

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