The potatoes Mary Lennox roasts in the earth in "The Secret Garden." The lemon meringue pie that's the only thing Amelia Bedelia knows how to do right. The fried apples 'n' onions in "Farmer Boy." The chocolate "fooj" (a.k.a. fudge) in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." And what about Wilbur's delectable slops in "Charlotte's Web"? "Skim milk, crusts, middlings, bits of doughnut, wheat cakes with drops of maple syrup sticking to them, potato skins..." If I had been able to find a recipe for slops when I was little, I would have rushed to the kitchen.

Well, now that I'm a grown-up I can do something about it. I can find a recipe, make it for my kids, and bring their favorite stories to life in a new way. My younger sister is the one who inspired me here. As soon as her kids were old enough to appreciate Mrs. Goose, she baked and frosted a cake, put it into a Tupperware container (her stock of hatboxes being low), and let the children take turns throwing the box into the front hall closet. Why didn't I think of this? But never mind. It's a great idea, and at least I can pass it along.

RECIPES
The recipes here are tie-ins to a couple of my children's own favorite stories. I hope you'll use them as the starting point for more bookish cooking adventures with your kids.