Jewish Holiday Cooking

I just received Jayne Cohen’s Jewish Holiday Cooking: A Food Lover’s Treasury of Classics and Improvisations from Wiley Publishing. Just in time for my Passover cooking (sigh!). There is a great quote from Cohen on the front flap of the book:

“Food is truly magical. Through the simple act of eating, Jews partake of a mystical but very real communion with their families, their traditions, and the world itself.”

I could not agree more. What I love about the book is how the recipes are broken down by holidays so if you are stuck for a recipe on say Passover or Chanukah...fear not there is something for you. The book includes almost 300 recipes, plus tips and resources. Most of the recipes are from an Ashkenazi perceptive, but there are some great recipes from other Jewish communities. I can’t wait to make the Egyptian Black Eyed Peas w/ Cilantro and the North African Cooked Carrot Salad!

I am thrilled say there is more soul in Jewish Holiday Cooking than most of the other Jewish cookbooks that are out on the market. It would be a wonderful book to add to your collection…you go Jayne Cohen!


Nosh on,
Shoshi
www.yolandashoshana.com

Kickin' it Kosher

A little bit of shameless promotion..I won the bronze medal for People's Choice on JBlog Central and Martha Stewart's people got in contact with me about the blog, because they enjoy reading it. If only I could have lunch with Martha. I so can imagine Martha and I kickin' back with a cocktail, talking red velvet cake and fried chicken.

I say all this to say thanks to the peeps who read. And also mainly as a affirmation of what is happening in the kosher food market!

Yesterday someone in a group I was with made a comment that most people don't care about kosher food. I didn't argue with her, because the facts and numbers speak for themselves. The kosher food business is a 14.6 billion dollar business.

Jewish peeps are not the only ones who eat kosher foods anymore. I am still looking for the most current numbers, but one survey says that the number of non Jewish consumers eating kosher food is actually more than double to the number of Jewish consumers. Not to mention ethnic foods are attractive to more and more people. The business is booming and companies are running to be all about the K/OU! Holla!

Sweet Cornbread

I did get chosen to be a Community Chef with Just Food, which I am thrilled about. Some many people are not aware of there food options and/or how to make good food. And I had an interview with The Laundromat Project about my Harlem community cookbook proposal. So I will let you know if it is a go. And without further ado...Sweet Cornbread. Yum!


Sweet Cornbread

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray or lightly grease a 9 inch pan.

In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. Stir in egg, milk and vegetable oil until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for around 22 minutes (depending on your oven), or until golden brown.

When you pull out of the oven, spread butter over the top.

Let it cool. Serve.

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When I wear my Rabbi's Daughter's "Yenta" t-shirt (www.rabbisdaughters.com) and wear my Star of David at the same time, I do get a bit of attention. So, I wasn't surprised when after a man asked me for directions he asked me about my shirt and star. I told him I was Jewish and he was delighted. Then we got into me being a kosher intercultural chef, etc and he got even more excited. Right before we parted he looked at me and said " I wouldn't have picked you" and he laughed. How dare he!?!? People think they are so cute with their " funny you don't look Jewish" comments. If I had a dollar for all the times someone said something so not kosher to me I would be living next door to Oprah.

It's all good..my response is showing Jewish diversity through food. I am developing a course that fuses Jewish history/food/recipes. It can not be denied.. Jews come from everywhere and have ALWAYS been a multiracial and multicultural people.